The Bloomsbury Handbook of Material Religion in the Ancient Near East and Egypt

Description

With 29 contributions spanning from the Neolithic Age to the Iron Age, this book offers important insights into the religions and ritual practices in ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern communities through the lenses of their material remains. The book begins with a theoretical introduction to the concept of material religion and features editor introductions to each of its six parts, which tackle the following themes: the human body; religious architecture; the written word; sacred images; the spirituality of animals; and the sacred role of the landscape. Illustrated with over 100 images, chapters provide insight into every element of religion and materiality, from the largest building to the smallest amulet. This is a benchmark work for further studies on material religion in the ancient Near East and Egypt.

Nicola Laneri is Director of the Museum of Archeology and Professor of Archeology and Art History of the Ancient Near East at the University of Catania, Italy. He is also Director of the School of Religious Studies at CAMNES, Italy. Sharon R. Steadman is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Rozanne Brooks Museum at SUNY Cortland, USA.