An Aramaic Ritual for Burning Straw in Sefire IA:36â37
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Abstract
The Old Aramaic inscription Sefire I (KAI 222) includes, in a series of mimetic curses, a debated clause that has been read by most previous scholars to involve a mysterious {gnbʾ} gannÄbaʾ(?) âthiefâ, which (or who?) is symbolically burned (Sefire IA:36â37). The present article argues that there are lexicographic (cognates in later Aramaic dialects) and phonological (geminate prenasalization) grounds for understanding {gnbʾ} to encode instead ganbaʾ (< *gabbaʾ) âstrawâ. The burning of this straw to symbolize consequences should a treaty partner renege has clear parallels in Mesopotamian and Syro-Anatolian magical and ritual language, including treaty curses, and produces a more typical image in a list of mimetic curses involving materials (wax), objects (a bow and arrow), and animals (a calf).
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An Aramaic Ritual for Burning Straw in Sefire IA:36â37
In: Aramaic StudiesSearch for other papers by Jessie DeGrado in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Madadh Richey in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The Old Aramaic inscription Sefire I (KAI 222) includes, in a series of mimetic curses, a debated clause that has been read by most previous scholars to involve a mysterious {gnbʾ} gannÄbaʾ(?) âthiefâ, which (or who?) is symbolically burned (Sefire IA:36â37). The present article argues that there are lexicographic (cognates in later Aramaic dialects) and phonological (geminate prenasalization) grounds for understanding {gnbʾ} to encode instead ganbaʾ (< *gabbaʾ) âstrawâ. The burning of this straw to symbolize consequences should a treaty partner renege has clear parallels in Mesopotamian and Syro-Anatolian magical and ritual language, including treaty curses, and produces a more typical image in a list of mimetic curses involving materials (wax), objects (a bow and arrow), and animals (a calf).
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 898 | 249 | 13 |
| Full Text Views | 37 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 100 | 10 | 0 |
