철기 Ⅱ 시대 트랜스요르단의 에돔종교 연구 - 문헌적/고고학적 증거를 중심으로

An Integrative Study of the Edomite Religion in Transjordan during the Iron Age Ⅱ Period: The Textual and Archaeological Evidence

&nbsp;&nbsp;The purpose of this article is to make an integrative study of the Edomite religion of the Iron Age Ⅱ period with its biblical, extrabiblical, and archaeological evidence. Although there are articles focusing on the Edomite religion, there are not thorough integrated study. In fact, more and more recent archaeological finds relating to the state of Edom in Transjordan such as the discoveries of Edomite sanctuaries require update and extended study to reveal its religion.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;This study will investigate the ANE textual and archaeological evidence, but since there are at least biblical, extrabiblical, and archaeological evidence relating to the Edomite religion issue, this research will start from the written evidence, both biblical and extrabiblical. In terms of extrabiblical evidence, the most significant sources requiring close investigation are inscriptions. In addition to the epigraphic evidence, the archaeological artifacts will include the objects of temples, sanctuaries, figurines, some cult objects together with their archaeological contexts. Thus, this article will try to recognize the objects of their worship and the practices of their religious rituals.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding the Edomite religion, this article will investigate certain new evidence requiring update study, including the excavated Edomite sanctuaries Busayra, &quot;En Haseva, Horvat Qitmit, and some recently unearthed cult objects. Thus, this study will identify the Edomite religion through written evidence and pay special attention to Qos, the Edomite national deity.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;First of all, although the biblical and extrabiblical evidence does not say much about Edomite religion during the Iron Age Ⅱ period, it is certain that the Edomites practiced polytheism as early as the first half of the eighth century BCE.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Secondly, although the biblical evidence does not indicate which deity/deities the Edomites worshiped, it is evident that the cult of Qos, an Edomite deity, had existed at least from the eighth century BCE. The identity of Qos as a deity can be attested by the blessing formula mentioned by a letter discovered from Horvat ‘Uza.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Thirdly, the structure from Busayra suggests the possibility of the existence of a temple in the capital of Iron Age Ⅱ Edom. The temple consists of a “cella” (or “holy of holies”), a staircase to the cella, a purification room, and some small rooms around the courtyard, possibly storerooms.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Fourthly, the shrines at Horvat Qitmit and ‘En Haseva together with their cult objects reveal various kinds of Edomite religious customs, including making sacrifice, presenting offerings, having sacred meals, burning incense, prayer, and presenting votive offerings.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, the discovery of several anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines from Busayra, Tawilan, and Horvat Qitmit indicate that a fertility cult was part of the Edomite popular religion.