고대 메소포타미아의 신왕사상 (Divine Kingship in Ancient Mesopotamia)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국서양고대역사문화학회
· 수록지 정보 : 서양고대사연구 / 24호 / 35 ~ 66페이지
· 저자명 : 배철현

초록

Unlike ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamians did not regard their kings as divine. Divine kingship in Mesopotamia should be analyzed in the specific historical contexts. Divine kingship was introduced by Shulgi, the second ruler in Ur III dynasty to strengthen his imperialistic ambitions. Mesoptamian kingship is sacred but under special historical circumstances.
Rather, it is illuminating to trace various terminologies concerning ‘king’: EN, LUGAL and sharum. EN seems originally to have been used to designate a high priest or priestess of a Sumerian city-state’s patron-deity. It is the original title of the ruler of Uruk. In [Gilgamesh Epic], Gilgamesh is a typical EN with dual functions: hieros and heroic. He can be a high priest as well as a charismatic military leader under emergency.
In [Victory Stele of Naram-Sin], the Akkadian sovereign is LUGAL. He wears a conical helmet with horns - a symbol traditionally the privilege of the gods - and is armed with a large bow and an axe.
This victorious ascension chiseled in stone thus celebrates a sovereign who considers himself on an equal footing with the gods. In official inscriptions, Naram-Sin’s name was therefore preceded with a divine determinative. He pushed back the frontiers of the empire farther than they had ever been, from Ebla in Syria to Susa in Elam, and led his army “where no other king had gone before him.” He now appears as a universal monarch, as proclaimed by his official title “King of the Four Regions” - namely, of the whole world.
[Code of Hammurabi] describes Hammurabi as ‘sharrum’ who was selected by General Assembly of gods in order to demonstrate justice within the land and to improve the welfare of the people. There is nothing divine in Hammurabi, except he was endowed the power of ruling people on behalf of gods.

영어초록

Unlike ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamians did not regard their kings as divine. Divine kingship in Mesopotamia should be analyzed in the specific historical contexts. Divine kingship was introduced by Shulgi, the second ruler in Ur III dynasty to strengthen his imperialistic ambitions. Mesoptamian kingship is sacred but under special historical circumstances.
Rather, it is illuminating to trace various terminologies concerning ‘king’: EN, LUGAL and sharum. EN seems originally to have been used to designate a high priest or priestess of a Sumerian city-state’s patron-deity. It is the original title of the ruler of Uruk. In [Gilgamesh Epic], Gilgamesh is a typical EN with dual functions: hieros and heroic. He can be a high priest as well as a charismatic military leader under emergency.
In [Victory Stele of Naram-Sin], the Akkadian sovereign is LUGAL. He wears a conical helmet with horns - a symbol traditionally the privilege of the gods - and is armed with a large bow and an axe.
This victorious ascension chiseled in stone thus celebrates a sovereign who considers himself on an equal footing with the gods. In official inscriptions, Naram-Sin’s name was therefore preceded with a divine determinative. He pushed back the frontiers of the empire farther than they had ever been, from Ebla in Syria to Susa in Elam, and led his army “where no other king had gone before him.” He now appears as a universal monarch, as proclaimed by his official title “King of the Four Regions” - namely, of the whole world.
[Code of Hammurabi] describes Hammurabi as ‘sharrum’ who was selected by General Assembly of gods in order to demonstrate justice within the land and to improve the welfare of the people. There is nothing divine in Hammurabi, except he was endowed the power of ruling people on behalf of gods.

참고자료

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