Gods, goddesses, and images of God in ancient Israel
By: Othmar Keel and Christoph Uehlinger ; translated by Allan W. Mahnke.
Contributors: Uehlinger, Christoph.; Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutschsprachigen Katholischen Alttestamentler und Alttestamentlerinnen.
Publisher: Fortress Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Minneapolis, MN
Language: eng
Number of pages: 466
Subjects: Goddesses -- Palestine.; Gods, Semitic -- Palestine.; Idols and images -- Palestine.; Jewish art and symbolism -- Palestine.; Palestine -- Religion.; Palestine -- Antiquities.
Description: Keel and Uehlinger's unique study brings the massive Palestinian archaeological evidence of 8,500 amulets and inscriptions to bear on these questions. Vindicating the use of symbols and visual remains to investigate ancient religion, the authors employ iconographic evidence from around 1750 B.C.E. through the Persian period (c. 333 B.C.E.) to reconstruct the emergence and development of the Yahweh cult in relation to its immediate neighbors and competitors.

They also fully explore whether female characteristics were present in the early Yahweh figure and how they might have evolved in Israelite religion. Keel and Uehlinger's major study marks the maturation of iconographical studies and affords an exciting glimpse into the vibrant religious life of ancient Canaan and Israel.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 422-495) and index.

Translation of: Göttinnen, Götter und Gottessymbole. Herder Verlag, c1992.