O Λέκτωρ της Θεολογικής Σχολής Αθηνών κ. Χρήστος Καραγιάννης εισηγήθηκε το θέμα "Προφήτης Ηλίας και βασιλιάς Αχαάβ" παρουσιάζοντας τη σχέση του Προφήτου Ηλιού με τον βασιλιά Αχαάβ και τον έλεγχο της εξουσίας ως μέρος της ζηλωτικής δράσεως του Προφήτου.
Πέμπτη 4 Απριλίου 2013
The Assyrian tree of Life and Jewish Menorah
Dr. Christos Karagiannis
The
idea of the tree of Life in the Ancient Near East
All ancient Near Eastern cultures have some account of
a tree of life and of a man’ s quest to obtain its fruit. First of all the
Mesopotamian god Enki plants a tree at the bottom of the sea before the
beginning of the formation of the world. This fruitful tree[1] covers the sky
and the earth and stands beside the altar of the god as a shield, under which
the human beings refresh. In the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, the hero
undertakes a ritual journey in order to find the plant that gives life.[2] Characteristic
is the story with Gilgamesh and the goddess Siduru-Sabatu. She is seated under
a vine in the paradise garden, which is described as of "dazzling
beauty". Siduru-Sabatu is addressed as Goddess of Wisdom, Genius of Life,
and referred to as "Keeper of the Fruit of Life". Gilgamesh asks her
for the gift of the eternal life but she refuses.[3] Beside this on
an Akkadian tablet it is written the story of a tree of life in the creation of
the universe. In this story the goddess Ishtar gives to Gilgamesh a magical
drum and drumstick, made by the tree of life that she planted in her garden.[4] The myth of
Etana tells about a hero who manages with the aid of an eagle to fly to heaven
and obtain the plant of birth.[5] In the
Babylonian traditions god Eridu’ s earthly dwelling is in a tree. Marduk occurs
as «a dispenser of the plant of life».[6]
[2]
Pritchard, B. J.: (ed.) Ancient Near
Eastern Texts relating to the Old Testament, Princeton University Press
1992, pp. 89-90, 93-97.
[3]
Albright W. F.: Goddess of Life and
Wisdom, Hebraica 36 (1920), pp. 258-259.
[4]
Pritchard, B. J.: (ed.) Ancient Near
Eastern Texts, p. 97.
[5]
Pritchard, B. J.: (ed.) Ancient Near
Eastern Texts, pp. 114-118.
[6]
Perrot, N.: "Les Repra sensations de Farbre Sacra sur les monuments de
Mesopotamie et d’ Elam", Babyloniaca
XVII (1937) p. 11.
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