RLB23 Ancient Near Eastern Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tibor Sedláček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLB23/P: each odd Wednesday 14:10–15:45 J22, D. Papoušek, T. Sedláček
RLB23/K: Fri 11. 10. 15:50–17:25 J31, Fri 8. 11. 15:50–17:25 J31, Fri 6. 12. 15:50–17:25 J31, D. Papoušek, T. Sedláček
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/80, only registered: 0/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Annotation
The course outlines main religious systems of the ancient Near East - religions of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine. Starting with their general characteristics, it provides a survey of their mythological background, structure of the pantheons and the most important ritual practices.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate the basic factual knowledge of the religions of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Syria-Palestine;
- apply the basic terminology used in the study of the ancient Near Eastern religions;
- interprete key literary and archaeological sources connected with the topic;
- compare main cosmogonic and vegetative myths of the ancient Near East;
- characterize the typological category of ancient religions, including their specific features in the Near East.
Syllabus
  • (0) Introduction to the course. (1) General characteristics of ancient religions. (2) Egypt I: Annu cosmogony and the mythical establishment of the Egyptian state. (3) Egypt II: The conception of Re and the Theban triad. (4) Egypt III: Osiris' cycle and the conception of death. (5) Class discussion I: Akhenaten's Great Hymn to the Aten. (6) Mesopotamia I: Survey of Mesopotamian pantheons. (7) Mesopotamia II: Ritual life. (8) Class discussion II: Enuma eliš. (9) Syria-Palestine I: Survey of Canaanite pantheons, transformations of deities. (10) Syria-Palestine II: Ritual life. (11) Class discussion III: Baal's cycle. (12) Final test.
Literature
    required literature
  • Heller, Jan. Starověká náboženství: Náboženské systémy starého Egypta, Mezopotámie a Kenaanu. 2. vyd. Praha: ÚCN - Kalich, 1988.
    not specified
  • BOTTÉRO, Jean. Nejstarší náboženství Mezopotámie. Translated by Jiří Prosecký. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2005, 287 s. ISBN 8020013482. info
  • DAVID, A. Rosalie. Náboženství a magie starověkého Egypta. Translated by Hana Vymazalová. 1. vyd. v českém jazyce. Praha: BB art, 2002, 485 s. ISBN 8073416980. info
  • Religions of the ancient world : a guide. Edited by Sarah Iles Johnston. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2004, xvii, 697. ISBN 0674015177. info
  • Der Alte Orient : Geschichte und Kultur des alten Vorderasien. Edited by Barthel Hrouda - Jean Bottéro. München: C. Bertelsmann, 2003, 463 s. ISBN 3809415707. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, three class discussions based on home readings and individual written commentaries, final written test.
Assessment methods
Requirements for the colloquium:
(a) active participation in class discussions;
(b) written commentaries in given sources;
(c) final written test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2004, Spring 2006, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Spring 2011, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2016, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2013/RLB23