Ebook: The Aramaeans in Ancient Syria

I. Introduction (Herbert Niehr) 1

II. History (Helene Sader) 11
1. Geographical and Chronological Scope 11
2. The Sources for a History of the Aramaeans of Ancient Syria 13
3. The Aramaeans in the Iron Age I (1200–900 B.C.): From Kin-Based Groups to Polities 16
4. The Iron Age II: Aramaean Polities and the Assyrian Conquest 27
5. Concluding Remarks 36

III. Society, Institutions, Law, and Economy (Dagmar Kuhn) 37
1. Society 37
2. Institutions 47
3. Law and Jurisdiction 61
4. Economy 62

IV. Language and Script (Holger Gzella) 71
1. Introduction 71
2. Script and Orthography 76
3. Phonology 79
4. Morphology and Morphosyntax 84
5. Syntax 105
6. Lexicon 105

V. Literature (Paolo Merlo) 109
1. Introduction 109
2. Terminology 109
3. Overview on History and Literary Genres 110
4. Historical Narrative in Royal Inscriptions 111
5. Elements of Religious Literature 117
6. Wisdom Literature 123

VI. Religion (Herbert Niehr) 127
1. Introduction 127
2. Between the Tigris and Euphrates 128
3. From the Euphrates to the Mediterranean 150
4. Middle Syria 193
5. Outlook 200

VII. Art (Dominik Bonatz) 205
1. Introduction 205
2. Monumental Art in Architecture 208
3. Free-Standing Sculptures 225
4. Seals and Minor Arts 242

VIII. Architecture (Mirko Novak) 255
1. Introduction 255
2. City Planning 256
3. Citadels and Fortifijications 261
4. Palaces 265
5. Temples 267
6. Houses and Workshops 270
7. Conclusion 271

IX. Outlook: Aramaeans Outside of Syria 273
1. Assyria (Martti Nissinen) 273
2. Babylonia (Michael P. Streck) 297
3. Anatolia (Andre Lemaire) 319
4. Phoenicia (Herbert Niehr) 329
5. Palestine (Angelika Berlejung) 339
6. Egypt (Alejandro F. Botta) 366
7. Northern Arabia (Herbert Niehr) 378

X. Aramaean Heritage (John F. Healey) 391
1. Edessa, Hatra, Palmyra 394
2. Mesopotamia, Judaea, Nabataea 398
3. Areas under Strong Greco-Roman Influence (Antioch to Dura Europos) 399

Bibliography 403
Indices
Index of Persons 453
Index of Deities 456
Index of Lands, Peoples, Tribes, Cities, Sites 458

The historical and cultural role of the Aramaeans in ancient Syria can
hardly be overestimated. Thus The Aramaeans in Ancient Syria gives
precise and up-to-date information on different aspects of Aramaean
culture. To that end, history, society, economy and law, language and
script, literature, religion, art and architecture of the Aramaean
kingdoms of Syria from their beginnings in the 11 century B.C. until
their end at approximately 720 B.C. are covered within the handbook.
The wide survey of Aramaean culture in Syria is supplemented by
overviews on the Aramaeans in Assyria,Babylonia, Phoenicia, Palestine,
Egypt, North Arabia and on the Aramaean heritage in the Levant.