The rise of blood sacrifice and priest-kingship in Mesopotamia

A 'cosmic decree

Bibliographic Data

ID4372001
AuthorsGunnar Heinsohn (0009-0004-2343-217X, University of Bremen, corresponding author)
Year1992
Volume22
Issue2
Pages109-134
Publication date1992-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0048-721X • E-ISSN: 1096-1151
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/0048-721x(92)90054-8
OpenAlexW1964977301
LanguageEN
References cited29

The first stage of civilization appeared in the Bronze Age with templecentred urban settlements. It is not known why priest-kings were suddenly accepted as hierarchically superior rulers entitled to provisions by their fellows who thereby turned themselves into mankind's first commoners. Sophisticated blood rituals became the most prominent activities of the first permanent lords. The origin of these sacred procedures remained equally enigmatic. Though well documented, the textual and archaeological sources, which point to catastrophic preconditions for the emergence of a sacrificial élite, are only rarely taken into consideration by students of religion. This paper tries to show the essential correctness of Mesopotamian myths, which claim the first ‘cult places’ and their priestly personnel to have emerged as institutions for ‘beclouded’ people in need of ‘counselling’ after natural disasters had inflicted ‘destructions’ on their habitats

Ancient history · Archaeology · Bronze · Civilization · Cult · Decree · Human settlement · Mesopotamia · Monarchy · Mythology · Natural (archaeology) · Political science · Politics · Sacrifice · Settlement (finance) · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Ancient Near East History · Classics · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Law

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