'There's such Divinity doth Hedge a King'

Selected Essays of Nicolas Wyatt on Royal Ideology in Ugaritic and Old Testament Literature

Nicolas Wyatt author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:19th Jul '05

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'There's such Divinity doth Hedge a King' cover

The ideology of power is as much a part of modern life as in the ancient world, in which it has its long-lasting roots. Communities have always provided a supernatural sanction for the maintenance of power by the few, often dressing it up in elaborate mythic fictions, rich iconography and complex rituals. This volume presents Nicolas Wyatt's discussions of royal ideology, its mythic and ritual expressions and various literary treatments in ancient Israel, viewed from a comparative perspective. Exploring the possibility that in many of the manifestations of Israelite kingship we can detect the influence of broader cultural patterns, notably as found in Egyptian and West Semitic contexts, he considers the main early cultural influences on Israel and emphasizes the mythic dimension in which the 'divinity' of the king is a real factor.

'Over the years Professor Nicolas Wyatt, whose translation of the Ugaritic literary and religious documents is now a standard textbook, has been exploring the ancient near eastern mythological background to biblical traditions, particularly in respect of kingship. The present collection offers a sure guide through these ancient texts, often providing a new and refreshing slant while making them intelligible to the modern reader.' W.G.E. Watson, Department of Religious Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne 'The author, who often suggests - and risks - new interpretations, is to be congratulated on this useful and stimulating collection.' International Review of Biblical Studies

ISBN: 9780754653301

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 740g

312 pages