Constructions of Space V - Place, Space and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World

This fascinating collection investigates the inherent spatiality of human existence. The contributors discuss ancient Mediterranean texts and societies from a decidedly spatial perspective, debating over such issues as narratological space, critical spatiality, sociological theories on space, space and identity, space and body. The volume consists of three parts and commences with three studies focusing on theoretical approaches towards spatial analysis and application of the theory to specific Old and New Testament texts. The essays in the second part examine the sacred space and the formation of identity, with particular attention to Jerusalem and the temple seen as sacred space and the lived experience of authors describing this space in various ways. The third part discusses the spatial theory and its application to a variety of texts ranging from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the New Testament.>

List of contents

Introduction: Place, Space, and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World - Christl M. Maier and Gert T. M. Prinsloo
Part I: Prospectives, Perspectives and Methods
1. Space and Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Theory and Practice with Reference to the Book of Jonah, Gert T. M. Prinsloo
2. Fiction and Space in Deuteronomy,
Michaela Geiger, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
3. Critical Spatial Theory 2.0,
Matthew Sleeman, Oak Hill College, UK

Part II: Sacred Space and the Formation of Identity
4. The Implied Transcendence of Physical and Ideological Borders and Boundaries in Psalm 47, Jo-Mari Schäder, University of Pretoria, South Africa
5. Jerusalem, the Holy City: The Meaning of the City of Jerusalem in the Books of Ezra-Nehemiah, Maria Häusl, University of Dresden, Germany
6. Whose Mother? Whose Space? Jerusalem in Third Isaiah,
Christl M. Maier, University of Marburg, Germany
7. The Menalyaning of the City of Jerusalem in the Book of Tobit: An Asis of the Jerusalem Hymn in Tobit 13.8-18
Johanna Rautenberg, University of Dresden, Germany

Part III: Place, Space, Identity: Theory and Practice
9. From the Walls of Uruk: Reflections on Space in the Gilgamesh Epic
Gerda de Villiers, University of Pretoria, South Africa
10. Family as Lived Space: An Interdisciplinary and Intertextual Reading of Genesis 34,
Reineth and Gert Prinsloo, University of Pretoria, South Africa
11. (Re-)Siting Space and Identity of Gibeonites and Japanese Americans
Johnny Miles, Texas Christian University, USA
12. Narrative Space and the Construction of Meaning in the Book of Joel
Mary Mills, Liverpool Hope University, UK
13. Unfocused Narrative Space in Tobit 1.1-2.14
Ronald van der Berg
14. From Urban Nightmares to Dream Cities: Revealing the Apocalyptic Cityscape
Carla Sulzbach, McGill University, USA

Index

About the author

Gert T.M. Prinsloo is Professor of Semitic Languages in the Department of Ancient Languages at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Christl M. Maier is Professor of Old Testament at Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.

Product details

• Authors: Christl M Maier, Gert T M Prinsloo, Gert T.m. Maier Prinsloo
• Assisted by: Christl M. Maier (Editor), Andrew Mein (Editor), Gert T. M. Prinsloo (Editor), Gert T.M. Prinsloo (Editor)
• Publisher: T. & T. Clark Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 28.08.2014
• EAN: 9780567656872
• ISBN: 978-0-567-65687-2
• No. of pages: 288
• Series: The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies; Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Te; Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Te; The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / General, Christianity, Ancient World, Mediterranean countries, Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts, Biblical Studies & Exegesis, Mediterranean countries / Mediterranean basin