The corpus of Aramaic incantation bowls from Sasanian Mesopotamia is perhaps the most important source we have for studying the everyday beliefs and practices of the Jewish; Christian; Mandaean; Manichaean; Zoroastrian and Pagan communities on the eve of the Islamic conquests. In Jewish Aramaic Curse Texts from Late-Antique Mesopotamia; Dan Levene collects and analyses a selection of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic incantation bowls. While such texts are usually apotropaic or healing in purpose; those collected here are distinctive in that their purpose was to curse or return curses against human adversaries. This book presents new editions of thirty texts; of which fourteen are edited here for the first time; with an introduction; commentary; analysis and glossaries; as well as photographs. "In this valuable addition to the literature on the role of bowls with aggressive texts in magic practices in this period; Levene (Jewish history and culture; U. of Southampton; UK) presents a summary of newly edited and already published bowls with Aramaic transcription; English translation; its type (e.g.; invocation of demons to attack a named person; counter-charm); publication source; formulaic parallels in other texts; and notes." Reference Research Book News; 2013.
#6756617 in Books Brill Academic Pub 1997-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.48 x .95 x 6.46l; 1.43 #File Name: 9004087761285 pages
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