An Ethical View of Human-Animal Relations in the Ancient Near East

Ancient Human-Animal Ethics

An Ethical View of Human-Animal Relations in the Ancient Near East examines early ideas about human-animal relationships in biblical and Mesopotamian literature. It analyzes Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian sources alongside biblical texts from the third to first millennium BCE. The book applies modern ethical and historical approaches to explore how animals were understood and treated in ancient societies.

Key Features

• Explores ancient human-animal relationships
• Focuses on the Ancient Near East
• Examines biblical and Mesopotamian sources
• Covers Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian traditions
• Studies texts from the third to first millennium BCE
• Provides an ethical analysis of historical texts
• Examines proverbs and aphorisms
• Covers myths and epic literature
• Includes wisdom literature and historiography
• Discusses prophecy and ancient law codes
• Uses modern biblical scholarship
• Applies ancient Near Eastern scholarship
• Connects history with contemporary animal ethics
• Develops new perspectives on human-animal relations
• Useful for scholars and graduate students