Overview

This book focuses on the element of thresholds – makeshift gates, makeshift structures and house doors – as concepts of liminality in ancient Near Eastern magical rituals, and the idea of transformation they reflect. Readers gain an in-depth understanding of theories of liminality and rites of passage, and how they illuminate fascinating aspects of social behavior and religious and cultic practices in ancient Near Eastern societies, specifically those of Hatti and Mesopotamia. Ritual liminality, manifested in the use of makeshift and permanent architectural elements, was meant to facilitate two different aims: transformation from one category to the other (using makeshift gates and structures) and separation between categories (using house doors). The book presents the pertinent ritual texts in their original languages, analyzes these texts in detail and offers comparative discussions of the different cultures that practiced these rituals. Magical Passages in Ancient Near Eastern Rituals is suitable for students and scholars interested in ancient religions, rituals and cults, particularly in the ancient Near East, as well as those working on ancient history, philology, anthropology and religious studies more broadly.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ilan Peled (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.650kg
ISBN:  

9781041066323

ISBN 10:   1041066325
Pages:   254
Publication Date:   24 September 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Introduction; Part 1: Hatti; Chapter 1: Hittite Rituals Using Makeshift Gates in the Public Domain; Chapter 2: Hittite Rituals Using Makeshift Gates in the Private Domain; Chapter 3: Hittite Rituals Using Makeshift Structures in the Public Domain; Chapter 4: Hittite Rituals Using Makeshift Structures in the Private Domain; Chapter 5: Hittite Rituals Using the House Door; Part 2: Mesopotamia; Chapter 6: Mesopotamian Rituals Using Makeshift Structures in the Public Domain; Chapter 7: Mesopotamian Rituals Using Makeshift Structures in the Private Domain; Chapter 8: Mesopotamian Rituals Using Makeshift Gates in the Private Domain; Chapter 9: Mesopotamian Rituals Using the House Door; Part 3: Interpretation and Discussion; Conclusions.

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Author Information

Ilan Peled is a historian working at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, Netherlands. He is the author of Masculinities and Third Gender (2016), Law and Gender in the Ancient Near East (2020) and Magic in the Ancient Near East (2026), and the editor of Structures of Power (2017).

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