The arrival of the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in ancient Greece during the Archaic period is often presented as an established fact. Given that the chicken was referred to as ‘the Persian... Show moreThe arrival of the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in ancient Greece during the Archaic period is often presented as an established fact. Given that the chicken was referred to as ‘the Persian Bird', and because the bird only appears in Greek written sources from the 6th century bc onwards, there seemed to be good grounds to do so. Over the years, however, osteological remains have been found in much earlier contexts, and although recent studies have now cast some doubt on the reliability of this evidence, various early depictions of and references to the bird strongly suggest that the chicken was already known at a much earlier date. By surveying all the available evidence, including faunal remains, iconography, and written sources, this paper challenges the traditional date of the chicken's introduction in Greece and instead argues that the bird was known in the Aegean at least as early as the Middle Bronze Age. Show less
The location of Persepolis remained lost for about eighteen centuries. During the 17th century CE, the attitude of European travellers towards the monumental complex and its inscriptions changed.... Show moreThe location of Persepolis remained lost for about eighteen centuries. During the 17th century CE, the attitude of European travellers towards the monumental complex and its inscriptions changed. António de Gouveia visits Persepolis in 1602 CE and published his travel account in 1611. His account describes in detail the architectural features, mentions the cuneiform inscriptions. Supporting his interpretations upon classical and biblical sources, Gouveia's account distinguishes itself from previous ones and provides the pattern for following travel reports. The present paper compares Gouveia's description with other accounts of the 17th century, and clarifies its influence on later travel accounts on Persepolis.Destruída em 330 BCE, Persépolis esteve perdida cerca de dezoito séculos. No séc. XVII, dá-se uma alteração na relação dos viajantes europeus com o complexo e as suas inscrições. António de Gouveia visita Persépolis em 1602. Publicado em 1611, o seu relato descreve as estruturas arquitetónicas e menciona inscrições cuneiformes, suportando as interpretações em fontes clássicas e bíblicas. O relato de Gouveia distingue-se dos anteriores e inaugura o padrão dos relatos sucessores. Esta artigo compara a descrição de Gouveia com outros relatos do século XVII (Silva e Figueroa (1619), Valle (1621), Chardain (1666), Struys (1672)) e analisando o teor, o contexto e o impacto de cada relato, procura clarificar a influência de António de Gouveia nos relatos posteriores. Show less
This thesis is a philological study of redemption as it was practiced in Mesopotamia in the Old Babylonian period (c. 2000-1600 BC). It reconstructs, edits, and analyses texts and private archives... Show moreThis thesis is a philological study of redemption as it was practiced in Mesopotamia in the Old Babylonian period (c. 2000-1600 BC). It reconstructs, edits, and analyses texts and private archives showing the working of this traditional right in a number of local traditions in the Old Babylonian period. It contributes to the study of redemption of persons a philological treatment of key technical terms. The traditional right of redemption also had a royal analogue, and chapter 4 of the thesis provides a critical treatment of a putative royal edict from the kingdom of Larsa mandating redemption based on a new classification of the text. Show less
This dissertation investigates the life of Judean deportees in Babylonia in the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. The results from the study of Judeans are placed in the wider context of... Show moreThis dissertation investigates the life of Judean deportees in Babylonia in the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. The results from the study of Judeans are placed in the wider context of Babylonian society and are evaluated by using a group of Neirabian deportees as a point of comparison. The sources of this study consist of 289 clay tablets written in Akkadian cuneiform, such as promissory notes, leases, receipts, and lists. The dissertation shows that there was considerable diversity in the deportees’ socio-economic status and integration into Babylonian society. The majority of deportees were settled in the countryside and integrated into the land-for-service system, which was aimed at increasing agricultural output and providing the state with labour, soldiers, and tax income. In addition, foreign professionals were employed in cities, and the worlds of commerce and royal administration were open to some deportees. A relatively small number of deportees were donated to Babylonian temples. The Babylonian practice of settling deportees in ethnically homogenous rural communities supported the survival of their culture and traditions in the countryside. Adoption of Babylonian names and culture was faster among those Judeans who lived in cities and were in regular contact with the native population. Show less
The Amorites are known throughout the history of the Ancient Near East: they occur in texts from the Ur III empire (2100–2000 bc), but also in the Bible. In the Old Babylonian period (2000–1600 bc)... Show moreThe Amorites are known throughout the history of the Ancient Near East: they occur in texts from the Ur III empire (2100–2000 bc), but also in the Bible. In the Old Babylonian period (2000–1600 bc), several dynasties of Amorite kings ruled all over the Middle East. They came to power in the early Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000–1800 bc).This thesis explores several aspects of these Early Old Babylonian Amorites. A philological and bibliographical chapter shows the state of research up until now. The role that ‘Amorites’ had in texts from the period is explored, as well as the matter of Amorite ethnicity and their distribution among the local population.The main part of this thesis is in the last chapters where the role of the Amorites and Amorite rulers in the early Old Babylonian period is reappraised Show less
This four-part work provides a philological analysis and a theoretical interpretation of the cuneiform lexical texts found in the Late Bronze Age city of Emar, in present-day Syria. These word and... Show moreThis four-part work provides a philological analysis and a theoretical interpretation of the cuneiform lexical texts found in the Late Bronze Age city of Emar, in present-day Syria. These word and sign lists, commonly dated to around 1100 BC, were almost all found in the archive of a single school. They served to educate apprentice scribes in the Ancient Mesopotamian ‘science of writing’, the basics skills of which included the learning of Sumerian logograms and acquisition of vocabulary in Akkadian, the lingua franca of the Near East. Part 1 provides a new edition of the individual texts. Part 2 gives a composite edition of the specific lexical compositions to which these texts belong, including English translations and systematic references to parallel material. Part 3 gives a synchronic analysis of the formal and organizational structure of the lexical series - in addition it contains a new analysis of the scribal redaction notes and an excursus on the diachronic position of the Emar corpus within the overall lexical tradition. Part 4 provides a theoretical interpretation of the Emar lexical texts based on three models developed in the social sciences: Foucault’s epistemological model, Goody’s ‘technological’ model and Lévi-Strauss’ structuralist model. Show less
