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The munus.meššu.gi and the kin Oracle

New Perspectives on the Oracle Inquiry
  • Livio Warbinek EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: July 7, 2017
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Abstract

This paper focuses on the role played by the munus(.meš)šu.gi within the Hittite kin oracle system. The analysis of several oracular operations is used to evaluate the presence of Old Women in kin texts in order to understand in depth the practical aspects of these investigations. In addition, some features of the kin such as its symbolic values, as well as Old Women’s proper names, will be presented in light of new considerations deriving from an exhaustive study of this Hittite divination system.

Acknowledgements

The kin oracle system and its structure is the main topic of my PhD research project at the University of Florence (Dottorato in Studi Storici, XXX ciclo); its present title is “Il sistema mantico ittita KIN”; see: http://www.anatolistica.unifi.it/vp-187-il-procedimento-mantico-ittita-kin.html. I would like to thank Prof. Giulia Torri who supported me throughout this project. I also owe much thanks to Prof. Joost Hazenbos for his kind help to clarify doubts I had. And I want to express my gratefulness to Dr. Hannah Marcuson for sharing with me her PhD dissertation. Of course, any mistakes are my own. Bibliographical abbreviations follow the rules of the Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie (RlA).

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Published Online: 2017-7-7
Published in Print: 2017-7-6

© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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