ancestry and descent in .mesopotamia from the old babylonian to the neq-assyrian period. pkm

366 Pages·2017·21.37 MB·English

ANCESTRY AND DESCENT IN . MESOPOTAMIA
FROM THE OLD BABYLONIAN TO THE
NEQ-ASSYRIAN PERIOD.
P.K.M. BAYLISS
ProQuest Number: 10752722
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Abstract
This thesis is a study of the institutions and concepts
of recruitment and transmission by kinship groups in ancient
Mesopotamia from C. 2,000 B.C. to C. 600 B.C.
Chapter I examines the evidence of Isinship relations
and the structure of households, and draws the conclusion
that extended households existed, and may even have been
typical, at least in the MA period, whereas lineage groups
were never typical in Mesopotamia. Evidence points to the
authoritarian role of the father as household head and the
crucial importance of the relationship between father and
son. Daughters, however, were only temporary members of the
kinship group, leaving it on marriage.
In Chapter II systems of inheritance and succession
are examined. At all periods control of property, especially
land, lay with men, and deviations from the norm of father-
to-son succession to both property and roles were rare. The
Chapter also shows the supplementary methods of recruitment,
especially adoption.
The remainder of the thesis examines Mesopotamian concepts
of the relationship between descendants and ancestors. The
desire for descendants to perpetuate individual identity was
apparently widespread, but it would appear that only in the
royal family was the memory of ancestors preserved for more
than a few generations, whether by written records or by the
practice of ancestor worship.
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The last Chapter deals with lineage as a concept.
Birth was not the exclusive measure of status in Mesopotamian
society, but was frequently used to maintain status,
especially by NA kings. Among commoners descent was less
important, but its importance increased in the course of
history, at least in Babylonia, as shown by the development
of ancestral names•
An Appendix of notes on kinship terminology and a
Glossary of relevant terms are added.
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Preface
The research for this thesis has consisted for the
most part of the sifting of the published cuneiform texts
for evidence of the concepts held by the people of ancient
Mesopotamia of their relationship with their ancestors and
descendants. My aim has. been to attain as wide a perspective
as possible on these concepts and their continuing importance
in the Babylonian and Assyrian cultures and social structures
by reviewing and comparing different categories of texts.
My interest in this field of research arose out of the explor
ation of the us.es.; that might be made of the discipline of
social anthropology in deepening our insight into Babylonian
and Assyrian institutions,
I have no formal training in social anthropology and
am aware that there is scope for a much more thorough
treatment of the institutions included within my field of
research, ideally by collaboration with anthropologists.
My research is presented only as a preliminary survey of the
subject.
This thesis wotild never have been completed without
the constant encouragement and confidence of my Supervisor,
Professor D. J. Wiseman, Professor of Assyrlology in the
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London,
who has given generously of his time and his knowledge of
the Assyriological field.
X am also indebted to Miss B. E. Ward of the Department
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of Anthropology and Sociology of the School of Oriental and
African Studies for her enthusiastic interest and guidance
at the research stage of my work. All responsibility for
anthropological judgements made in the thesis is, of course,
entirely my own. I have also been given some assistance on
an informal basis by students of the Department of Anthropology
and Sociology, for which I am grateful.
My thanks are also due to Mr. N. Postgate of the
Department of the Near and Middle East, School of Oriental
and African Studies, for giving time to discuss, aspects, of
the Neo-Assyrian documents, helping me in particular to
understand parts of the Assyrian Doomsday Book.
Finally I acknowledge my obligation to the Governing
Body of the School of Oriental and African Studies for their
award in 1967 of a Postgraduate Exhibition, which enabled
me to pursue my research full-time for two years.
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Contents
Page
List of diagrams and tables. 9
Introduction, 10
I, , Hou&e>io.ld gtn,ic11vre and IClntshlp, 18
1*. Direct evidence of household structure. 19
1:1, The Assyrian Doomsday Book and other
„ ua Ijcj. 5
Xis8*. A MB ration.list, .
1j3. Supplementary evidence ; numbers of
children.
gE* . Indirect evidence of household structure, 36
2;3.«. Expectation of life,
2:2, The evldeiice of family, lav documents.
2:2:1 o The role of the househo3.d
heed .
2:2:2. Marriage and residence patterns.
2:2:3. Joint fraternal households.
2:2:4* Compound households,
3.- More extended.kinship groups. 49
Motes. 51
II. Transmission and .Recruitment by Kinship. G-roupu. 72
1. Transmission of material property;.. 72
1:1. Types of property,
1:2, In he r 11 an e e r\ >. 1 e s ,.
1:2:1, partition of estates,
1:2;2. Disposition of property by
the father.
3.: 2; 3. Transmia a ion of property
11 iro ugl i f e med e s ,
2*. Transmission of intangible assets, 8o
2:1, Succession to occupational roles
2:2. Indivisible roles,
2:2:1, 0 c o up a. ti on s,
2:2;2. Royal succession,
2:2:3# Collateral royal, suecehsion,
2:2:4# Dlstlnctios of seniority among
brothers, *
3 # . Assi man oe o f cont ir).'!.i.a t i on. 9 2
3:1. In troduct i on.
3:2. Hechariisms of recniitiv•}t,
4. Gon.olus.ions» 94
Notes, 96
III. The Mesopotamian Experience of Despendants. ll£L
1#.Cultural expressions of the desire for
offspring, 119
1:1# The source s,
1:2,. Omens and personal names,
1:3# Curses, blessings, prayers & dedications.
3. ;3 *3., Curses agains o.eboenuent s,
0
1:3:2, Blessings, prayers & dedications.
1:4# Conclusions.
2#. Obligations of descendants to their
ascendants, 142
2:3., Monuments.
2:1:1. Roya3. monumen t s,
2:1:2, l5rivate laonuiae 1 its.
2:2, Contracts.
2:2:1,. Priva te contract s,
2; 2: 2, S ta t e t re a 11 e s ,
Notes.. 159
IV. The Mesopotamian Cult, of ' Ancestors. 176
1,. The non-royal ancestor cult,. 176
'u. 1:1, Attitudes towards dead bin.
Page
112.. The extent of the ancestor cult,.
2, The royal ancestor cult,. 187.
Notes, 19&
V, . The. Mesopotamian Eyper jrence of As;cendan ts» 199
1; References to ancestors in the plural, 200
1i1, Royal an e e sters,
1:3. :1* The ancestors of Babylonian
& Assyrian kings..
1:1:2, Other royal, ancestors,
1:2, Ancestors of private persons,
1:3* Ancestors of gods,
2, Individual ancestors, 205
2:1, Build in g ins criptions,
2.:2* Other sources,
3, Note on the Mesopotamian view of the past. 215
Notes. 217
.
VI* Personal Genealogy...& the Concept of Lineage--
Royal. 224
r*. Genuine genealogies,. £24
1:1.. Repetitive genealogies,.
1;2, Standard genealogle s,
~ "EgorOQutred11 Genealogies.
a 2 ularilas ox0 descent. 231
3. The Genealogy of the Hamraur&bi Dynasty, 235
4* The concept of royal lineage, 237
5, Conclusions, 2/j.Q
Notes, 243
VII. Personal Genealogy & the Concept of Lineage--
Non-royal.
250
XU. Genealogies. 250
2. Ance s tral name s, 252
2:1.. Ancestral names in the MB & early. M
periods,
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Page
2:1:1, Ancestors of tribes & clans.
2:1:2. Other MB ancestors,
2:2, Assvrian ancestral names,.
2;3, The development of family names.
3» The concept of non-royal lineage. 264
Notes. 270
VIII. Conclusions. 284
Appendix: Notes on Terminology. 294
1, Kin, 294
2, Affin.es, 300
3* Kinship groups. 303
Notes, 313
Glossary. 327
List of Abbreviations. 345
Bibliography. ^50
Subject Index, 359
List of Diagrams and Tables,
Tables I - V ; Composition of Households, 28 - 33
Table VI ; Regular Collateral Roys.! Succession in
Assyria, e. 1700 - 1400 B.C. 89
Diagrams I - II : Kinship Terminology! -
I, Kin.’ 299
II & III, Affines. 302.