RELI 146 Topics in the Religions of Antiquity (Spring 2015)

SID# 832429; Jacobo Myerston, Instructor

Ancient Cosmologies and Magic

Since very old times, humans have envisioned both temporal and spatial models of the universe. In temporal models, the origin of the world and its subsequent development are told as stories in which cosmic forces in the form of gods fight, reproduce and evolve. In spatial models, the cosmos is represented as human bodies, caves, royal palaces, temples, and maps in which different cosmic regions are included as the earth, heaven, and the underworld.  As in our times, ancient cosmologies served as models of orientation, which situated humans in the larger context of the universe. But differently from now, ancient cosmologies were often associated with magical powers and the possibility of transforming reality. Hence cosmologies were not only used for cognitive orientation but also as part of healing rituals, incantations, and in the making of magical amulets.

In this class, we will learn about the oldest models of the universe expressed in mythic narratives such as, for instance, the Babylonian Epic of Creation, the Kumarbi cycle of ancient Anatolia, and the Greek cosmogonies of Hesiod and the Orphics. We will also study some of the first known maps, like the Babylonian Map of the World, which is carved on cuneiform tablets, and series of ancient amulets that contain representation of the cosmos. In combination with the mythical narratives and the first cosmic maps, we will also study the first philosophical models of the universe developed in ancient Greece by Thales of Miletus, Anaximander, and Empedocles, and the Atomists.

Requirements: Attendance and preparation of the readings is mandatory. Students will write two 5-6 pages research papers plus a final exam.