Prophecy in the Ancient World

Catalog description

Who were the ancient prophets, both biblical and non-biblical? When do gods speak directly to humans via prophets, and when is a third-party human intermediary necessary to mediate between that prophet and the ruler? This course will probe the scope of political authority in Mesopotamia, Ancient Israel, and Ancient Greece with a particular focus on the role of prophets and diviners in society. Through critical analysis of a spectrum of ancient sources from Mari (modern-day Syria), Ancient Israel and Judah, and Delphi and Claros (Greece), we will investigate the system of mediation among prophets, intermediaries, and kings to undertake an interdisciplinary study of ancient prophecy.