Exploring the earliest literary evidence for human-animal relations, this volume presents and analyzes biblical and Mesopotamian (Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian) sources from the third millennium BCE through to the consolidation of the biblical literature in the first millennium BCE.
Key Features:- Provides the first comprehensive study of these texts from an ethical perspective.
- Examines proverbs, popular aphorisms, myths, epic literature, wisdom literature, historiography, prophecy, and law codes.
- Applies methodology from current contemporary biblical and ancient Near Eastern scholarship and human-animal ethics, thereby raising new questions that lead to fresh insights.
An Ethical View of Human Animal-Relations in the Ancient Near East is essential reading for scholars and graduate students of animal ethics, applied ethics and biblical studies.
Author(s): Idan Breier
Series: The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 261
City: New York
Series Editors’ Preface
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Contents
1: Introduction
Bibliography
2: Fauna in Ancient Sumerian Proverbs: The Role Animals Played in Shaping Southern Mesopotamian Social Norms and Conventions
The Sumerian Proverb Collections
Wild Animals in the Sumerian Proverbs and the Educational Lessons They Convey
Domesticated Animals in the Sumerian Proverbs and the Education Messages They Convey
Conclusion
Bibliography
3: Sumerian Faunal Fables: Talking Animals and Educational Lessons
Introduction
The Fables
Conclusion
Bibliography
4: Human Relations with the Animal Kingdom in Mesopotamian Literary Genres
Introduction
Mythic and Epic Literature
The Role Animals Play in Mesopotamian Creation Stories
The Functioning of the Primal World and the Gods’ Attitude Towards the Animal Kingdom
The Treatment of Animals by Hybrid Creatures
Human-Animal Relations
Conclusion
Bibliography
5: Animals in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law Codes
Ancient Law
Animals in Pentateuchal and Ancient Near Eastern Tort Law
Animals in the Ethical/Humane Laws in the Hebrew Bible
The Disparities Between Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law
Conclusion
Bibliography
6: Human-Animal Relations in Biblical Narrative and Historiography
Conclusion
Bibliography
7: Human-Animal Relations in Classical Prophecy
Introduction
Conclusion
Bibliography
8: The Place and Role of Animals in the Psalms and Biblical Wisdom Literature
Introduction
Conclusion
Bibliography
9: Conclusion
Index
