Ancient Semitic Civilizations

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    ANCffiNT SEMITIC CIVILIZATIONS

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    By the same author:Le califat d al-Hadi, Helsinki 1946L epigrafia ebraica antica 1935-1950, Rome 1951UQriente antko, Milan 1952Orients in nu&va luce, Florence 1954I mmosritti ebraid del deserto di Giuda, Rome 1955II profile dcU Oriente mediientmeo^ Rome 1956I predeccssori d*Israele t Rome 1956ChifMono i Semiti?, Rome 1957

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    AncientSemitic Civilizations

    SABATINO MOSCATIProfessor of Semitic Philology

    in the University of Rome

    CAPRICORN BOOKSG. P. Putnam s Sons New York

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    1957 BY ELEK BOOKS LIMITEDCAPRICORN BOOKS EDITION 1960

    All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, maynot be reproduced in any form without permission.

    Library of Congress CatalogCard Number: 58-10415

    Third Impression

    This work was originally published in Italyby Gius Laterza & Figli of Ban, under thetitle Storia e Civilta del Semiti.

    MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe author wishes to express his gratitude to thefollowing scholars for help in obtaining permissionto reproduce photographs, and to the following institutions for granting permission: Mr. R. D. Barnettand the British Museum; Prof. H. Gazelles and theLouvre; His Excellency Dr. Naji al Asil and theDirectorate General of Antiquities, Baghdad; Dr. N.Avigad and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Prof.A. Jamme and the American Foundation for theStudy of Man; the Dumbarton Oaks Collection;Prof. C Giannelli and the Vatican Library; Dr. A.Caquot and the Archaeological Department, AddisAbaba.

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    CONTENTSAcknowledgements Page 5

    Foreword nI THE STAGE 13Arabia Syria and Palestine Mesopotamia Lines of communicationConclusion.n THE PLAYERS 23

    Name and diffusion Languages Peoples Races.m THE PROLOGUE 34The problem of Semitic origins Area whence the Semites spread Social

    conditions Religious forms The nomad heritage.IV THE BABYLONIANS AND ASSYRIANS 43DISCOVERIES: Excavations Interpretation of tie documents System of

    writing.HISTORY: Sumerians Ancient Babylonian dynasties Foreign incursionsand Assyrian pre-eminence Last Babylonian, revival Conclusion,RELIGION : Nature ofMesopotamian civilization Deities Demons and sin

    Priesthood; magic, divination, burial Ritual.LITERATURE! Introduction Myths of the gods Myths of the heroes

    Lyric Wisdom literature Prose,LEGAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Mesopotamian laws Persons Family,marriage and inheritance Property, commercial and economic life Penallaw and procedure Authority and armed forces.AST: General characteristics Architecture Sculpture Painting and theminor arts.V THE CANAANTTES 99SOURCES: Direct sources Discoveries at Ugarit Indirect sources The

    alphabet.HISTORY: Palestine and Syria in history Up to the coming of the Israelites

    Israelitic times.RELIGION: Canaanitc civilization Deities Priesthood and ritual.

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    CONTENTSLITERATURE: Myths of the gods Myths of the heroes The background toGreek mythology.

    ART: General characteristics Major arts Minor arts.VI THE HEBREWS 124HISTORY: From the origins to the Exodus The conquest ofPalestine Theestablishment of the monarchy Saul, David, Solomon The divided kingdom and the prophets Hie exile and the return from exile,RELIGION: From the origins to the establishment of the monarchy Themonarchy and the prophets The exile and religious standardization,THE BIBLE: Hebrew literature Pentateuch Historical books Propheticalbooks Lyrical books Sapiential books.

    LEGAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Hebrew law Persons Marriage and thefamily Inheritance Commercial and economic life Penal kw Judgesand procedure.

    ART: Architecture ReliefVH THE ARAMAEANS 167

    HISTORY: Sources Initial phase Apogee Decline.LANGUAGE.CULTURE: Introduction Religion literature Art Conclusion,

    Vffl THE ARABS 181SOUTHERN ARABS: Sources History Gods Religious life Politicaland social life Arts.CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ARABS: Introduction History Religions

    Literature Arts.MOHAMMED AND THE RISE OF ISLAM : The Koran and other sources Youth andrevelation First preaching At Medina Success Mohammed s

    personality The Arabs set out to conquer the world.DC THE ETHIOPIANS 220

    ABYSSENIA-HISTORY: Sources From the origins to the introduction of ChristianityFrom the introduction of Christianity to the seventh century.

    RELIGIONS : Paganism an