Mesopotamian Mysticism/Esotericism

[david]

I've been reading this book called 'Religions of the Ancient World' by Sarah Iles Johnston, she's the general editor and it focuses on different religions of the ancient world, from Mesopotamia, to Hittite, Egyptian, Iranian, ancient Israel, Canaanite, Greece, Rome, and early Christianity. It has different sections in the book, from Sin to death, to Sacred Time and Places, to Mythology, etc, and how they were approached in each religion, the section that really interests me is on Mysticism and Esotericism, and there's a section on Mesopotamia, I haven't read it all yet, but, it does mention that mysticism did exist in Mesopotamia, it seems, just from me, basically, skimming it (like I said I haven't read it all yet), that it was practiced to secure some type of better afterlife, or personal immortality, that it was linked with for the devotee, that it had its roots in the institution of Divine Kingship that some forms of mysticism was associated with the Cult of Inanna, and that her devotees would emulate her (especially the suffering she went through in the Descent of Inanna), etc.

Some of the recommended reading includes:

Alasdair Livingstone 'Mystical and Mythological Explanatory Works of Assyrian and Babylonian Scholars', which you can get from Eisenbrauns for $40.05, www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_2L216YCT9.HTM

Simo Parpola 'Assyrian Prophecies' which you can get for $33 at Eisenbrauns, www.eisenbrauns.com/ECOM/_2L2173ERL.HTM

Has anyone read these books, or does anyone know anything about Mesopotamian mysticism/Esotericism, as it's a topic I really am interested in.

Thanks

David.

[madness]

Livingstone's Mystical and Mythological Explanatory Works is a great book that I find myself referring to quite often, as it contains many first millennium texts that speculate on deity names, mystical numbers, the order of the world*, syncretic depictions of the body of gods, rituals, etc. Understanding these texts would normally be beyond the layman (a lot of it hurts my head), but fortunately Livingstone provides a thorough commentary.

* [ On the Mesopotamian view of the world, I highly recommend Wayne Horowitz, Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography ]


Parpola's Assyrian Prophecies contains a new edition of the oracle texts which were given as encouragement to the Assyrian king Esarhaddon, plus some texts for prince Assurbanipal. It is Parpola's lengthy introduction to these texts that has become controversial, as he reads Kabbalistic and Neoplatonic concepts back into the Assyrian religion. A good read, nonetheless; these oracle texts do seem to reflect some of what Parpola is saying, such as trinity-in-unity and the human king as the son of god and goddess.

[david]

Feb 20, 2009 20:25:22 GMT -5 madness said:

Livingstone's Mystical and Mythological Explanatory Works is a great book that I find myself referring to quite often, as it contains many first millennium texts that speculate on deity names, mystical numbers, the order of the world*, syncretic depictions of the body of gods, rituals, etc. Understanding these texts would normally be beyond the layman (a lot of it hurts my head), but fortunately Livingstone provides a thorough commentary.

* [ On the Mesopotamian view of the world, I highly recommend Wayne Horowitz, Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography ]


Parpola's Assyrian Prophecies contains a new edition of the oracle texts which were given as encouragement to the Assyrian king Esarhaddon, plus some texts for prince Assurbanipal. It is Parpola's lengthy introduction to these texts that has become controversial, as he reads Kabbalistic and Neoplatonic concepts back into the Assyrian religion. A good read, nonetheless; these oracle texts do seem to reflect some of what Parpola is saying, such as trinity-in-unity and the human king as the son of god and goddess.

Thanks for the recommendations, I will definitely try and check those works out sometime, as it's a topic I'm really interested in.

David.