Where the gods are
Subtitle: spatial dimensions of anthropomorphism in the biblical world
By: Mark S. Smith
Series: The Anchor Yale Bible reference library; Anchor Yale Bible reference library
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 221
ISBN-13: 9780300209228
Subjects: Bible; Narrative Criticism; Ugaritic Gods; Space; Ugaritic literature; Relation to the Old Testament; Criticism, interpretation; Religious aspects; Anthropomorphism; Symbolism in the Bible; Image of God; Biblical teaching; God; Attributes
Other titles: Spatial dimensions of anthropomorphism in the biblical world
Description: "The issue of how to represent God is a concern both ancient and contemporary. In this wide-ranging and authoritative study, renowned biblical scholar Mark Smith investigates the symbols, meanings, and narratives in the Hebrew Bible, Ugaritic texts, and ancient iconography, which attempt to describe deities in relation to humans. Smith uses a novel approach to show how the Bible depicts God in human and animal forms--and sometimes both together in human places and spaces. Mediating between the ancients' theories and the work of modern thinkers, Smiths boldly original work uncovers the foundational understandings of deities and space."--Dust jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 113-188) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Introduction : the place of anthropomorphism; title: Part one. Spatial representations of divine anthropomorphism. The three bodies of God in the Hebrew Bible; title: Like deities, like temples (like people); title: Part two. Anthropomorphism and theriomorphism in cultic space. The construction of anthropomorphism and theriomorphism; title: The calf images at Dan and Bethel : their number and symbolism; title: Part three. Gods of cities, cities of gods. Gods and their city sites; title: The royal city and its gods; title: Epilogue : ancient theorizing about anthropomorphism and space.