Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Subject: The liturgical history of Uruk: local traditions and textual transmission.
Supervisor: Prof. Uri Gabbay.
Abstract: My doctoral thesisIn my doctoral thesis I will examine the continuity and change in the liturgy of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia, in the second and first millennium BCE. Uruk (Warka, Iraq) is the first city known to us, with a long liturgical tradition. My research will be based on Sumerian and Emesal prayers, written in cuneiform on clay tablets. These prayers were regularly performed in Mesopotamian city temples, accompanied by musical instruments, incense and sacrifices, and their purpose was to pacify the gods and goddesses.