Samenvatting

Although the impression may still linger that Assyrian women are hidden and unavailable for study, nothing could be farther from the truth. There is a rich treasure trove of textual, visual and archaeological information that gives a detailed and coherent picture of women in the temples and palaces of Assyria. This study reveals that women in Assyria were definitely in the public arena and their lives were not as circumscribed or limited as has been previously supposed. The positions they held in palaces and temples frequently required administrative abilities, business acumen and literacy. In the temples women participated in public rituals and female prophets revealed messages to heads of state. Female musicians performed at public events while foreign female musicians were popular and much sought after. Royal women had names and images displayed in public. Women in the temples and palaces of Assyria generated great respect from the king himself, his circle of advisors and Assyrian and foreign officials. They actively and noticeably participated in the "great institutions" of Assyria. This study makes an important contribution to the increasing number of publications on women in other areas of Mesopotamia and the larger ancient Mediterranean world.

Brief Table of Contents

     Introduction

     I. Temple Women

          Women Cultic Officiants

          Female Prophets and Prophecy

     II. Musical Women

          Textual Evidence

          Visual Evidence

          Conclusion

     III. Palace Women

          Households

          Royal Women

          Sammuramat

          Tašmetum-šarrat

          Ešarra-hammat

          Libbali-šarrat

          Conclusion

     IV. Naqia/Zakutu – Queen Extraordinaire

          Two Names: Naqia and Zakutu

          Titles

          Religious Activities

          Political Arena

          Personal Information

          Three Theories

          Visual Image: The Bronze Relief

          Loyalty Oath

          Conclusion

     Conclusion

     Bibliography

     Indices

Recensie

Boekinformatie

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