The use of (perfumed) oil in Hittite rituals with particular emphasis on funerary practices: Consumption of perfumed oil in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East: funerary rituals and other case studies

Matteo Vigo

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Abstract

According to the Hittite texts, Late Bronze Age Anatolia was known for the diversity of its agricultural products. Oil-bearing plants are listed among them. Hittite scholars distinguish ‘oil’, ‘fat’ and similar products on the basis of their attestations. Additionally, lexical analysis of Hittite terms or their equivalents - usually concealed behind logograms - helps philologists to identify oil products. The use of oil obtained from different plants is richly attested in different genres. In this respect, the description of ritual scenarios seems to be very productive. From procedures of the rituals we can infer that oil was used for several purposes. In this article attention is placed on the use of ‘perfumed oil’ in rituals with particular emphasis on funerary practices. In addition, selected possible comparisons with other funerary contexts are briefly presented.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2014/1
JournalJournal of Intercultural and Interdisciplinary Archaeology
Volume2014
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)25-37
ISSN1824-1670
Publication statusPublished - May 2014

Keywords

  • Faculty of Humanities
  • Late Bronze Age Anatolia; Hittite; Oil products; Perfumed oils; Ritual scenarios; Funerary ritual practices.

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