Was Sind Hieroglyphen

Ägyptisches Kulturgut im phönikischen und punischen Sardinien (2 vols.)

From the early part of the first century BC, Egyptian cultural artefacts spread to an increasing degree into Palestine and Syria and (via the Greeks and Phoenicians) into the Greek, Italian and Western Phoenician spheres. Following a presentation of the Near Eastern background and a survey of Sardinian findspots, this work lists the types of monument found on Sardinia (from the 8th c. to the Roman period). In the case of both amulets (gods in human and animal form) and scarabs made if steatite and fayence an attempt is made, using a carefully developed typology (both of material and form) and other statistical criteria, to derive a characterisation of groups of differing origin (Egyptian, Eastern Phoenician, Punic). These objects reflect the expansion and adaptation of polupar Egyptian magic. Even the Egyptian motifs on hard-stone Punic scarabs and precious-metal artefacts have a religious significance, which is very closely related to Egyptian concepts. In the same way the Egyptian elements on Punic steles and portions of architecture underline their sacral character. This study pursues methodological goals using evidence from the whole of Mediterranean area.

Constructing Tradition

The question of constructing tradition, concepts of origin, and memory as well as techniques and practices of knowledge transmission, are central for cultures in general. In esotericism, however, such questions and techniques play an outstanding role and are widely reflected upon, in its literature. Esoteric paradigms not only understand themselves in elaborated mytho-poetical narratives as bearers of “older”, “hidden”, “higher” knowledge. They also claim their knowledge to be of a particular origin. And they claim this knowledge has been transmitted by particular (esoteric) means, media and groups. Consequently, esotericism not only involves the construction of its own tradition; it can even be understood as a specific form of tradition and transmission. The various studies of the present voume, which contains the papers of a conference held in Tübingen in July 2007, provide an overview of the most important concepts and ways of constructing tradition in esotericism.

El México Antiguo