Losing One's Head in the Ancient Near East

Interpretation and Meaning of Decapitation

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Archaeology, History, Ancient History
Cover of the book Losing One's Head in the Ancient Near East by Rita Dolce, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Rita Dolce ISBN: 9781351657099
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: December 15, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Rita Dolce
ISBN: 9781351657099
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: December 15, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

In the Ancient Near East, cutting off someone’s head was a unique act, not comparable to other types of mutilation, and therefore charged with a special symbolic and communicative significance. This book examines representations of decapitation in both images and texts, particularly in the context of war, from a trans-chronological perspective that aims to shed light on some of the conditions, relationships and meanings of this specific act. The severed head is a “coveted object” for the many individuals who interact with it and determine its fate, and the act itself appears to take on the hallmarks of a ritual. Drawing mainly on the evidence from Anatolia, Syria and Mesopotamia between the third and first millennia BC, and with reference to examples from prehistory to the Neo-Assyrian Period, this fascinating study will be of interest not only to art historians, but to anyone interested in the dynamics of war in the ancient world.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In the Ancient Near East, cutting off someone’s head was a unique act, not comparable to other types of mutilation, and therefore charged with a special symbolic and communicative significance. This book examines representations of decapitation in both images and texts, particularly in the context of war, from a trans-chronological perspective that aims to shed light on some of the conditions, relationships and meanings of this specific act. The severed head is a “coveted object” for the many individuals who interact with it and determine its fate, and the act itself appears to take on the hallmarks of a ritual. Drawing mainly on the evidence from Anatolia, Syria and Mesopotamia between the third and first millennia BC, and with reference to examples from prehistory to the Neo-Assyrian Period, this fascinating study will be of interest not only to art historians, but to anyone interested in the dynamics of war in the ancient world.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Contemporary Psychotherapies for a Diverse World by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book World Yearbook of Education 2010 by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Paula Rego's Map of Memory by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Banking Regulation of UK and US Financial Markets by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Marketing the Group Practice by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book The Global Political Economy of Raúl Prebisch by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Comparative Deviance by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book The Market, Happiness and Solidarity by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Boutiques and Other Retail Spaces by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Medieval Canon Law by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Historical Sketch of the Cherokee by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Doing Business in a New Climate by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Emotions, Decision-Making and Mass Atrocities by Rita Dolce
Cover of the book Supporting the Professional Development of English Language Teachers by Rita Dolce
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy