Perceptions of the serpent in the Ancient Near East : its Bronze Age role in apotropaic magic, healing and protection

• Main Author: Golding, Wendy Rebecca Jennifer
• Other Authors: Le Roux, M.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Amulet; Apophis; Ašerah; Bašmu; Brooklyn Papyrus; Chaos; Deity; Eve; Healing; Healing serpent; Inanna; Isis; Ištar; Leviathan; Magic; Magician; Medicine; Mušhuššu; Nehuštan; Ningizzida; Protection; Protective serpent; Serpent; Snake; Snake charmer; Snake priest; Staff; Tiamat; 932.01; Amulets > Middle East; Bronze age > Middle East; Serpent worship > Middle East; Serpents > Mythology > Middle East; Magic > Middle East; Gods > Middle East; Middle East > Antiquities; Middle East > Civilization > To 622
• Online Access: Golding, Wendy Rebecca Jennifer (2013) Perceptions of the serpent in the Ancient Near East : its Bronze Age role in apotropaic magic, healing and protection, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13353>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13353

In this dissertation I examine the role played by the ancient Near Eastern serpent in apotropaic and prophylactic magic. Within this realm the serpent appears in roles in healing and protection where magic is often employed. The possibility of positive and negative roles is investigated. The study is confined to the Bronze Age in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Syria-Palestine. The serpents, serpent deities and deities with ophidian aspects and associations are described. By examining these serpents and deities and their roles it is possible to incorporate a comparative element into his study on an intra- and inter-regional basis. In order to accumulate information for this study I have utilised textual and pictorial evidence, as well as artefacts (such as jewellery, pottery and other amulets) bearing serpent motifs. === Biblical and Ancient Studies === M.A. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)