Na eden hrvatski forum pisuvav za kanaanitskata mitologija, pa, bidejki se raboti za pred-judaizmot, vsusnost, politeistickite koreni na religijata, mislam deka tuka e soodvetno da zakacam nesto ovakvo (ako ima tema za bliskoistocnite mitologii, a jas ne sum ja videla, administratori i moderatori, prefrlete)
Near Eastern Religion and Morality
If we study the literature of the ancient Babylonians and Sumerians, we can no longer believe the description of "pagan" religion that has long been part of Western tradition and is still often found in modern religious writing. Instead of the benighted paganism of the Western imagination, cuneiform literature reveals to us an ethical polytheism that commands serious attention and respect. But this new valuation of paganism creates its own dilemmas and awakens new questions. If the Bible is not the first dawn of enlightenment in a world of total darkness, then what is it? If polytheism was not the dark disaster that our cultural tradition has imagined it to be, why was it abandoned in Israel and replaced by biblical monotheism? If the old religions swept away by our own monotheist tradition were not grossly deficient, how can we find the precise significance of one God as opposed to the many? How does a monotheistic religion develop? Did the god of Israel simply absorb all the functions and attributes of the pagan gods, essentially changing nothing? Or did monotheism represent a radical break with the past after all, a break not as simply defined and immediately apparent as has been believed, but no less revolutionary? The discovery of advanced polytheism poses a central theological issue: if polytheism can have such positive attributes, what is the purpose of monotheism? Did the Bible simply substitute another system, one that represented no advance towards a better understanding of the universe and a more equitable way of living? Indeed, were there some aspects of paganism lost in the transition that present, in fact, a more positive way of living in the world? The immediacy of these issues makes imperative an analysis of the nature of paganism and the precise nuances and essential messages of the monotheist revolution of the Bible. We cannot build our spiritual quest on prejudiced assumptions and polemical attributions. We must attain a profound knowledge of ancient polytheism and a sophisticated reading of the biblical texts informed by this knowledge. Thanks to the discovery of ancient Near Eastern literature, we have the ability to study these questions, understand our own past religious development, and make informed contributions to our future.
Od knigata;
In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth, Tikva Frymer-Kensky
Povekjeto lugje ovaa mitologija ja poznavaat kako majkata na demonologija. Zaradi predominacijata na hristijanstvoto, baziranoto vrz judaizmot, iminjata na najpoznatite horror demoni svoite koreni im gi dolzat na bogovite na Malata Azija. Bidejki vlianieto vrz razlicnite kulturoloski koncepti, koi sto retko se zamuvaat vo previd, zosto se dlaboko vkoreneti vo nasata sopstvena, evropska kultura, e tolku znacitelno, se raboti za mnogu politicka pozicija.
No, pred obidot da ja obelezam taa "politika", ke navedam nekoi opsti karakteristiki; ovaa mitologija e del od pogolemata familija na bliskoistocnite religii-bi mozele da kazeme deka ranite Semiti(Akadijci, Aramejci), zaedno so Sumer i Egipet se voedinile vo komitet za proizveduvanje na demonologijata, "drugata strana" na idnite svetski religii-judaizmot, hristijanstvoto i islamot.
Komparativnata Trijada;
Otecot-Oziris/ El /Jupiter/ Anu/ Šamaš/ Odin/
Majkata-Izida/Elua/ Ašerah/Marija /Junona/Ea/Ištar /Freya
Sinot/kerkata- Horus / Baal/Isus /Minerva/Enlil/Tammuz/ Thor/
Spored Thorkild Jacobson (The Treasure of darkness:a history of mesopotamian religion) glavnite bogovi na 3.milenium p.K. bile Anu-avtoritet, Enlil-bogot na vegetacijata i vremento-sila, Ninhursag-majkata-produktivnost i Enki-intelektot. Prema negovoto mislenje, edinstveno Enki ne go zadrzal mestoto vi Trijadata. Vsusnost, go zadrzal vo svetskite religii-kako liceto na "Neprijatelot".
Glavnite bogovi;
El- vrhovniot bog, najverovatno od korenot na zborot sto znaci mok. Go pretstavuvaat kako starec, a negoviot simbol e bik. Toj gi odreduva patrijarhalnite strukturi na opstestvoto. Megjutoa, sprema nekoi pokazateli, toj ne e manifestnata strana na bogot, kako Baal, tuku apstraktnata. So vreme go zamenuva midijanskiot Jahve. Vo mesopotamskite jazici, zborovite el i dingir gi oznacuvaat bogovite, isto taka i zborot en, koj sto e, megju ostanatoto i kopula na glagolot da se bide („sum“). Jas sum toj sto sum, kaza najpoznatiot svetski bog, a povrznicata pomegju zborot jas i bog baza e na mnogu misticni doktrini.
Aserah-kralicata na neboto, svetata majka, zena mu na El. Simbol na Drvoto na zivotot, narecena i Hawah (Zivot), se prikazuvala kako zmiska bozica, so broncani zmiski figuri, iskopani na podracjeto na Levant (Nehushtan)
Baal-Hadad – sinot bozji
Gospodar, Adon, Re'ammin-(gromovnikot), bogot na vegetacijata, dozdot i neboto. Spored legendite, go porazil bogot na haosot Yam (ta-zmija(ili rebro)+yam(more+at-oznaka za zenskiot pol-Tiamat).
Anat
Vo ugaritskata mitologija, Anat je ratnicko bozestvo, sestra mu ili ljubovnica na Baal, kerka mu na El. Spored nekoi legendi ona go ubila bogot na smrtta, Mot i bogot na haosot, Yam. Vo Egipet se poistovetuva so fenickata Astarte i se smeta za karka na Ra i zena na Seth. Ja povrzuvale i so kanaanitskiot Reshep, i so egipetskoto bozestvo Neith. Kaj Akadijcite e poznata kako Antu, zenska verzija na Anu, a na Kipar e izednacena so Athena Soteira Nike, sto, zaedno so Hermes /Anubis go sovetuvala El kako da go pobedi tatko mu Uran. Vo Palmyra ja znaele kako Atah ili Atargatis.
Eshmun-
Fenickiot bog na isceluvanjeto, obozuvan so bozicata na zdravjeto Hygeia, Spored Herodot vo nekoi kraevi bil narekuvan Herkules, isto taka i Belus, Ammon, Apis, Kronos, Zeus, Serapis, Apolon, Faeton, Mithras, Gamos(brak) i Paeon(iscjeljitelj ) Imal atributi na solarno, ama i morsko bozestvo.
Reshep ili Reshef- bozestvo na vojna i bolest, isto taka, grmuski i vreme. Ugarskiot ekvivalent mu e Nergal, a na Kipar go povrzuvale so Apolon. Imeto znaci ogin ili grom, ponatamu strela i treska. Vo fenickite zapisi go narekuvaat Reshep od gradinata, a vo Biblijata se pretvora vo cudoviste, eden od neprijatelite na Jahve, kako i Levijatan.
Melek
Baal, Moloch, Apis, Chemosh , zlatno tele, nekoi se od mnogu iminja posveteni na ova punsko bozestvo koe sto cesto go prikazuvale kako bik ili minotaur. Vo pisanite verzii imeto mu se mesa so evrejskiot zbor mlk (kral) . Se smeta deka se raboti za ekvivalent na Saturn, Kronos, a se povrzuva i so legendi za ritualno zrtvuvanje na deca.
Shahar- ugaritski bog na utroto, zorata, brat mu na Shalim, bogot na samrakot.
Shemesh, Shapshu- bozica na sonceto, kerka na El i Ašerah, Nejziniot maski ekvivalent e akadskiot Shamash. Vo severnata Afrika ja smetale za zena mu na Baal, a ja povrzuvale so Ištar, Tanit i Anat.
Yarikh, Jerah, Jarah, Jorah-bog na mesecinata. Gradot Jerihon go dobil imeto od nego, a Erusalim im e posveten na nego i Salim, bogot na samrakot.
Toth i Atina se spomnuvaat kako asistenti na El vo borbata protiv tatko mu, sto e mnogu slicno kako vo indoevropskite mitovi. Spored Euzebius od Caerareia, El/Kronos go ponudil svojot sin Sadidos, kako zrtva na vistinskiot bog na neboto. Konceptot na zrtvuvaniot bog se prenese i vo hristijanstvoto, a samiot Hristos poprimi mnogu slicni karakteristiki so sudbinite na solarnite/vegetaciski bogovi koi sto umirale i voskresnuvale, kako sto i prilici vo ciklickite religii-nisto nema pocetok, nitu kraj. Bez ogled na tie slicnosti, kako i mnogu rituali prezemeni od evropskite pagani, hristijanstvoto go otfrluva ciklickiot koncept i se postavuva kako eshatoloska religija. (Religiski stav deka se ima tocno odreden pocetok i tocno odreden kraj, sprotivno od ciklickite religii koi sto veruvaat vo vecna transformacija i kruzenje.)
Deuteronizam
Deuteronomiskata reforma bila program predvoden od kralot Joshiah (639.-609.) so cel na politicko ojaknuvanje na judejskoto kralstvo pod vodstvo na eden bog-patrijarh.
Bez ogled na Biblijata, spored arheoloskite istrazuvanja nemalo pan-izraelski narod pred naseluvanjeto na Kanaan, tuku bil oblikuvan od nezavisnata migracija od strana na prosirenite klanovi i od izbeganite selani koi sto sakale da se trgnat od opresivnata aristokracija vo gradovite.
Yahweh e vnesen od robovite od Midijan i dobil ime spored eden od midijanskite gradovi-YHW. Vo početokot se pojavuva kako simbol na buntot na robovite, ama naskoro ke se pretvori vo patrijarh koj sto ke ja simbolizira novata politicka drzava na kralot Joshiah.
Drugite bogovi od trijadata, bozicata Ašerah i sinot Baal se otfrluvaat, megjutoa, narodot prodolzuva da gi pocituva. Taka vo tekot na 8. i 7. vek pred novata era, kultot na Aserah tolku se zasiluva sto go proizveduva deuteronomiskiot pokret, koj sto gi zabranuva site drugi bogovi i simboli. Samata bozica, simbolot na Drvoto na zivotot, narecena i Hawah, stanuva obicna zena vo Knigata na postanokot (i toa gresna), a imeto i e izobliceno vo Aštoreth ("sram"). Vo istata forma se pojavuva i pokasno, vo hristijanskata demonolgija, kako Astaroth. Bozestvoto Beelzebub, zastitnikot na gradot Ekron, civo ime znaci gospodarot na Zebub, isto taka se preoblikuva vo "gospodarot na muvite".
Slicna sudbina gi zadesuva i drugite bliskoistocni bogovi, a najgolemiot neprijatel i izvor na grevot stanuva "Kurvata Vavilonska". Losoto ime na Vavilon, za zal, zadrzano e i do denesnite denovi, kako simbol na dekadentna kultura, sto nikako ne e vistinata za ovaa fascinantna civilizacija.
Literatura;
Israelite Religion to Judaism: the Evolution of the Religion of Israel By David Steinberg
Home page http://www.houseofdavid.ca/
Canaanite and Phoenician religions http://i-cias.com/e.o/can_phoe_rel.htm
The Temple of the Deities - Room One - The Major Deities in the Myths of Ugarit http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2938/majdei.html
Canaanite/Ugaritic Mythology FAQ, ver. 1.1
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/mythology/canaanite-faq/
Official Religion and Popular Religion in Pre-Exilic Ancient Israel
http://www.adath-shalom.ca/israelite_religion.htm
PEOPLES OF THE PAST: PHOENICIANS by Glenn E Markoe
Steinberg, David Ugarit and the Bible: Ugaritic Literature as an Aid to Understanding the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) http://www.adath-shalom.ca/ugarit.htm
http://www.bible.org/docs/ot/topics/baal.htm
Canaanite/Ugaritic Mythology FAQ, ver. 1.2
http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/canaanite-faq.html
Canaanite/Ugaritic Mythology FAQ, ver. 1.1
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/mythology/canaanite-faq/
http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html#anchor87202
HEBREW HENOTHEISM http://www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/henotheism.htm
A CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE JEWS Tzvi Howard Adelman, Jerusalem
Đavo, Alfonso di Nola
