Prophecy in ancient Middle East
Code
711051159
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
História
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Francisco Caramelo
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
- To understand the prophetic phenomenon and its similitudes with divination and the phenomenology of communication with the divine;
- To recognize the aspects of homogeneity within the context of the prophetic phenomenon in the ancient Middle East;
- To understand the differences between oracle and the text; the process of textual formation and prophetic literature;
- To know the theological aspects of some biblical prophets;
- To understand the complexity of prophetic language and its literary dimension.
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
1. Prophecy
The world of divination
Divinatory techniques
Definition of prophecy
2. Prophecy in the Ancient Middle East
Egyptian prophecy
Babylonian prophecies
Other occurrences of prophecy
Prophecy in the Classical World
3. Prophecy in Mari
The historical context
Political and religious themes in the prophecies
Categories of prophets and their techniques
Oracle and text
4. Assyrian prophecy
Historical context
Political and religious themes in the prophecies
Categories of prophets and their techniques
Oracle and text
5. Biblical prophecy
The historical contexts of Hebrew prophecy
Political and religious themes in the prophecies
Categories of prophets and their techniques
Oracle and text
6. Prophetic literature of the Old Testament
Before the Exile
During and after the Exile
7.The Prophetic Language
Literary production and reception
Figurative dimension
Intertextuality
Performativity
Bibliography
- BOTTÉRO, Jean, «Symptômes, signes, écritures en Mésopotamie ancienne», in Jean-Pierre Vernant et al., Divination et
Rationalité, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 1974.
- CARAMELO, Francisco, A Mensagem Política de Jeremias na Crise de 609-587 a.C., Lisboa, Patrimonia, 1996.
A Linguagem Profética na Mesopotâmia (Mari e Assíria), Lisboa, Patrimonia, 2002. [selecção de textos a indicar nas aulas]
- LEMAIRE, André (dir.), Prophètes et Rois. Bible at Proche-Orient, Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2001, pp.119-301.
- López, Jesús e Sanmartín, Joaquín, Mitología y Religión del Oriente Antiguo I Egipto - Mesopotamia, Sabadell, Editorial
Ausa, 1993.
- Overholt, Thomas W., Prophecy in Cross-Cultural perspective: a source book for biblical researches, Atlanta, Scholars
Press,1986.
- Petersen, David L., The Roles of Israel´s Prophets, Sheffield, Sheffield Academic Press, 1981.
Teaching method
-Theoretical classes, where the content is exposed.
-Didactic support, projecting images, maps, texts and schemes.
-Practical exercises, analysing texts and iconographic documents.
Evaluation method
Two written tests: 50% each.