Studying external stimuli to the development of the ancient Aegean The 'Kingship in Heaven'-theme from Kumarbi to Kronos via Anatolia
It is commonly accepted nowadays that ancient Aegean culture included many elements that were not indigenous. But scholars still question the importance of these for the development of the region. I contend that such scepticism is mistaken. Ideas about the ancient Aegeanâs cultural independence are founded in the history of research in this field, and could be countered by more detailed studies of specific cultural elements. The following issues should be addressed: the likelihood of an indigenous development of elements; reasons for transmission and the process of embedment; the process of transmission. These issues I discuss in the introduction. Next, a case study follows on the connection between the appearances of the âKingship in Heavenâ-theme in the Hittite Song of Going Forth (âSong of Kumarbiâ) and the Hesiodic Theogony. I explain these by proposing a specific scenario. An analysis of the song shows that it focused on the storm-god more than is commonly assumed. Subsequently, the variant of the theme in the Theogony and its similarities with that of the song are described. Various elements of the theme that appear similarly in the Theogony and the song probably originated outside the Aegean.
van Dongen, Erik Wilhelmus Maria
Studying external stimuli to the development of the ancient Aegean The 'Kingship in Heaven'-theme from Kumarbi to Kronos via Anatolia. It is commonly accepted nowadays that ancient Aegean culture included many elements that were not indigenous. But scholars still question the importance of these for the development of the region. I contend that such scepticism is mistaken. Ideas about the ancient Aegeanâs cultural independence are founded in the history of research in this field, and could be countered by more detailed studies of specific cultural elements. The following issues should be addressed: the likelihood of an indigenous development of elements; reasons for transmission and the process of embedment; the process of transmission. These issues I discuss in the introduction. Next, a case study follows on the connection between the appearances of the âKingship in Heavenâ-theme in the Hittite Song of Going Forth (âSong of Kumarbiâ) and the Hesiodic Theogony. I explain these by proposing a specific scenario. An analysis of the song shows that it focused on the storm-god more than is commonly assumed. Subsequently, the variant of the theme in the Theogony and its similarities with that of the song are described. Various elements of the theme that appear similarly in the Theogony and the song probably originated outside the Aegean.
studying external stimulus development ancient aegean heaven theme via anatolia commonly accept nowadays ancient aegean culture include many element indigenous scholar still question importance development region contend scepticism mistaken ideas ancient aegean cultural independence found history field could counter detailed_study specific cultural element follow issue_address likelihood indigenous development element reason transmission process process transmission issue_discuss introduction next case_study follow connection appearance kingship heaven theme hittite song going forth song explain propose specific scenario analysis song show focus storm god commonly_assume subsequently variant theme similarity song describe various_element theme appear similarly song probably originate outside aegean