Kingship and the Gods

A Study of Ancient Near Eastern Religion as the Integration of Society and Nature

By: Henri Frankfort

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Paperback | 15 July 1978 | Edition Number 1

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470 Pages

Edition Type
New edition

Dimensions(cm)
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.8

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This classic study clearly establishes a fundamental difference in viewpoint between the peoples of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. By examining the forms of kingship which evolved in the two countries, Frankfort discovered that beneath resemblances fostered by similar cultural growth and geographical location lay differences based partly upon the natural conditions under which each society developed. The river flood which annually renewed life in the Nile Valley gave Egyptians a cheerful confidence in the permanence of established things and faith in life after death. Their Mesopotamian contemporaries, however, viewed anxiously the harsh, hostile workings of nature.

Frank's superb work, first published in 1948 and now supplemented with a preface by Samuel Noah Kramer, demonstrates how the Egyptian and Mesopotamian attitudes toward nature related to their concept of kingship. In both countries the people regarded the king as their mediator with the gods, but in Mesopotamia the king was only the foremost citizen, while in Egypt the ruler was a divine descendant of the gods and the earthly representative of the God Horus.

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List of Illustrations
List of Abbreviations Chronological
Table of Kings
Introduction
Concepts of Kingship in the Ancient Near East Book I. Egypt
The Founding of Kingship
The Historical Foundation: The Achievement of Menes
The Theoretical Foundation: The Memphite Theology
The King's Person: Horus A. Horus
the Great God
Lord of Heaven
Son of Osiris
The Functioning of Kingship
The King's Rule
The King's Potency: The Ka
The Ka of Commoners
The Ka of the King
The King's Ceremonial: The Sed Festival
Opening Festivities
Main Celebrations
The Dedication of the Field
The Concluding Ceremonies
The King's Supporters: The Royal Ancestors
The Followers of Horus
The Standards
The Souls of Pe and Nakhen
The Dual Shrines
The Influence of the Ancestral Spirits
The Passing of Kingship
The Royal Succession
The Coronation
The Transfiguration of the King's Predecessor
The Mystery Play of the Succession
Kingship and the Divine Powers in Nature
The Gods of the Egyptians
The Power in the Sun: Creation
The King, Image of Re
Creation and Circuit
The King, Son of Re
The Power in Cattle: Procreation
Egypt in Africa
Sun and Sky
The King and Hathor
The Power in the Earth: Resurrection
Osiris, Son of Geb and Nut
Osiris in the Grain
Osiris in the Nile
Osiris in Orion and the Moon
Osiris, King of the Dead Book II. Mesopotamia
The Foundations of Kingship
The Historical Forms of Kingship in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamian Beginnings and Primitive Democracy
The Temple Community
Designations of the Ruler as Evidence of Unbroken Tradition
The Making of a King
The Theological Aspect of Kingship
The Accession
The Functions of the King
Government
Administration of the Realm
Interpretation of the Superhuman
Representation of the People
The Service of the Gods
The Perils of Service and the Substitute King
The Joys of Service and the State Festivals
The Rewards of Service and the Building of Temples
Kingship and the Divine Powers in Nature
The Gods of Mesopotamia
Cosmic Powers and Social Justice
The Suffering God Excursus: Tammuz, Adonis, Osiris
The Deification of Kings
The Union of King and Goddess
The King as "Son" of the Gods
The King Worshipped in Temples
The Worship of Royal Statues
The King of Personal Names
The King and the Powers in Nature
The New Year's Festival
The Significance of the Celebrations
The Festival at Babylon and Assur Epilogue The Hebrews
Notes
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Kingship and the Gods

A Study of Ancient Near Eastern Religion as the Integration of Society and Nature

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

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