#ironage — Public Fediverse posts

Roots Burrow Deep; Shoots Grow: A Newsletter

:

I’m in the thick of writing. A couple chapters away from finishing section one (ten chapters). Each month, I produce a newsletter. It helps me get all the crazy and sometimes perfectly fantastical connections, research, symbols (really, all the things writers geek out about) down. It also allows Storytimers to see a bit of the “behind the scenes” as I’m writing.

What I’ve really worked hard at during this entire book is I want a conversation beneath the conversation. To do that, I’ve gone way out of my way and spent way too many hours doing way too intense deep dives into etymology. It’s like mining for gold, really. Many times, I start researching the context and linguistic changes of a word and don’t get very far because it means, boringly, very much like its modern meaning. In those cases, I’ve literally stopped writing for a few days to decide: does this word hold enough weight in the story for me to keep digging for a gold-lined synonym or should I just use it and move on?

Clan was a word that stopped me. I knew I needed a word that was true to very old Irish that meant family or unit or something similar; clan was the first that popped into my head. But I also had “kin” on the list and “tribe.” This newsletter is really about why I settled on “clan.” Its history touches on broad themes that Móin & Marrow share.

You can view the newsletter below or, if you’d like to see it in large print, you can download it.

The page, Móin & Marrow , will give you lots more information on what this book is about, more samples, a video…

If you’d like to be a part of Chapter Chats – it’s a Friday email that delves into backstories, histories, characters, themes and a lot more. To be a part of that, simply fill out the below!

Roots Burrow Deep; Shoots Grow: A Newsletter

:

I’m in the thick of writing. A couple chapters away from finishing section one (ten chapters). Each month, I produce a newsletter. It helps me get all the crazy and sometimes perfectly fantastical connections, research, symbols (really, all the things writers geek out about) down. It also allows Storytimers to see a bit of the “behind the scenes” as I’m writing.

What I’ve really worked hard at during this entire book is I want a conversation beneath the conversation. To do that, I’ve gone way out of my way and spent way too many hours doing way too intense deep dives into etymology. It’s like mining for gold, really. Many times, I start researching the context and linguistic changes of a word and don’t get very far because it means, boringly, very much like its modern meaning. In those cases, I’ve literally stopped writing for a few days to decide: does this word hold enough weight in the story for me to keep digging for a gold-lined synonym or should I just use it and move on?

Clan was a word that stopped me. I knew I needed a word that was true to very old Irish that meant family or unit or something similar; clan was the first that popped into my head. But I also had “kin” on the list and “tribe.” This newsletter is really about why I settled on “clan.” Its history touches on broad themes that Móin & Marrow share.

You can view the newsletter below or, if you’d like to see it in large print, you can download it.

The page, Móin & Marrow , will give you lots more information on what this book is about, more samples, a video…

If you’d like to be a part of Chapter Chats – it’s a Friday email that delves into backstories, histories, characters, themes and a lot more. To be a part of that, simply fill out the below!

Roots Burrow Deep; Shoots Grow: A Newsletter

:

I’m in the thick of writing. A couple chapters away from finishing section one (ten chapters). Each month, I produce a newsletter. It helps me get all the crazy and sometimes perfectly fantastical connections, research, symbols (really, all the things writers geek out about) down. It also allows Storytimers to see a bit of the “behind the scenes” as I’m writing.

What I’ve really worked hard at during this entire book is I want a conversation beneath the conversation. To do that, I’ve gone way out of my way and spent way too many hours doing way too intense deep dives into etymology. It’s like mining for gold, really. Many times, I start researching the context and linguistic changes of a word and don’t get very far because it means, boringly, very much like its modern meaning. In those cases, I’ve literally stopped writing for a few days to decide: does this word hold enough weight in the story for me to keep digging for a gold-lined synonym or should I just use it and move on?

Clan was a word that stopped me. I knew I needed a word that was true to very old Irish that meant family or unit or something similar; clan was the first that popped into my head. But I also had “kin” on the list and “tribe.” This newsletter is really about why I settled on “clan.” Its history touches on broad themes that Móin & Marrow share.

You can view the newsletter below or, if you’d like to see it in large print, you can download it.

The page, Móin & Marrow , will give you lots more information on what this book is about, more samples, a video…

If you’d like to be a part of Chapter Chats – it’s a Friday email that delves into backstories, histories, characters, themes and a lot more. To be a part of that, simply fill out the below!

Roots Burrow Deep; Shoots Grow: A Newsletter

:

I’m in the thick of writing. A couple chapters away from finishing section one (ten chapters). Each month, I produce a newsletter. It helps me get all the crazy and sometimes perfectly fantastical connections, research, symbols (really, all the things writers geek out about) down. It also allows Storytimers to see a bit of the “behind the scenes” as I’m writing.

What I’ve really worked hard at during this entire book is I want a conversation beneath the conversation. To do that, I’ve gone way out of my way and spent way too many hours doing way too intense deep dives into etymology. It’s like mining for gold, really. Many times, I start researching the context and linguistic changes of a word and don’t get very far because it means, boringly, very much like its modern meaning. In those cases, I’ve literally stopped writing for a few days to decide: does this word hold enough weight in the story for me to keep digging for a gold-lined synonym or should I just use it and move on?

Clan was a word that stopped me. I knew I needed a word that was true to very old Irish that meant family or unit or something similar; clan was the first that popped into my head. But I also had “kin” on the list and “tribe.” This newsletter is really about why I settled on “clan.” Its history touches on broad themes that Móin & Marrow share.

You can view the newsletter below or, if you’d like to see it in large print, you can download it.

The page, Móin & Marrow , will give you lots more information on what this book is about, more samples, a video…

If you’d like to be a part of Chapter Chats – it’s a Friday email that delves into backstories, histories, characters, themes and a lot more. To be a part of that, simply fill out the below!

Roots Burrow Deep; Shoots Grow: A Newsletter

:

I’m in the thick of writing. A couple chapters away from finishing section one (ten chapters). Each month, I produce a newsletter. It helps me get all the crazy and sometimes perfectly fantastical connections, research, symbols (really, all the things writers geek out about) down. It also allows Storytimers to see a bit of the “behind the scenes” as I’m writing.

What I’ve really worked hard at during this entire book is I want a conversation beneath the conversation. To do that, I’ve gone way out of my way and spent way too many hours doing way too intense deep dives into etymology. It’s like mining for gold, really. Many times, I start researching the context and linguistic changes of a word and don’t get very far because it means, boringly, very much like its modern meaning. In those cases, I’ve literally stopped writing for a few days to decide: does this word hold enough weight in the story for me to keep digging for a gold-lined synonym or should I just use it and move on?

Clan was a word that stopped me. I knew I needed a word that was true to very old Irish that meant family or unit or something similar; clan was the first that popped into my head. But I also had “kin” on the list and “tribe.” This newsletter is really about why I settled on “clan.” Its history touches on broad themes that Móin & Marrow share.

You can view the newsletter below or, if you’d like to see it in large print, you can download it.

The page, Móin & Marrow , will give you lots more information on what this book is about, more samples, a video…

If you’d like to be a part of Chapter Chats – it’s a Friday email that delves into backstories, histories, characters, themes and a lot more. To be a part of that, simply fill out the below!

Cliodhna

Also known as Clidna, Clionadh, Cliona, & transliterated to English as Cleena.

In Irish mythology, she’s a queen of the Banshees of the Tuatha De Danann. Cliodhna of Carrigcleena is the potent banshee that rules as queen over the sioga (fairies) of South Munster, or Desmond.

In some Irish myths, Cliodhna is a goddess of love & beauty, & the patron of County Cork. She’s said to have 3 brightly colored birds who eat apples from an otherworldly tree & whose sweet song heals sickness. She had her palace in the heart of a pile of rocks, 5 miles (8 km) from Mallow, which is still commonly known by the name of Carrig-Cleena. Numerous legends about her are told among the Munster peasantry, who considered her their benefactor.

In general, it’s been observed that Cliodhna is especially associated with old Irish families of Munster. Cliodhna has long been associated with the lands that had been the territory of the Ui-FIdgheinte (O’Donovans & O’Collins) during their period of influence (circa 373-977). Or were later associated with what had been the Ui-FIdgheinte territory (MacCarthy’s & FitzGeralds).

Cliodhna is also associated with the MacCarthy dynasty of Desmond, who adopted her as their fairy woman, & the O’Keeffes & FitzGerald dynasty, with whom she had amorous affairs.

Surviving traditions of Cliodhna in narrative & poetry associate her with the O’Keeffes & O’Donovans. The latter, originally from Ui Fidgenti in North Munster with its own traditions, where their original goddess was Mongfind, later moved south to Carbery on Cuan Dor Harbor. Cliodhna’s traditional abode was on the South Munster coast, & she then features in poetry associated with them. The O’Keeffe narrative tradition is more extensive & Cliodhna has other Desmond associations too.

This legend is recorded in Acallam no Senorach (“Colloquy of the Ancients”), the longest-surviving work of medieval Irish literature. During the time of the Fianna, Ciabham of the Curling Hair, son of the King of Ulster. Fianna were small warrior-hunter bands in Gaelic Ireland during the Iron Age & early Middle Ages.

Ciabham decided to leave Ireland by currach (boat). But encounter great white waves as big as mountains. He was saved from the sea by a rider on a dark grey horse with a golden bridle. They then reached Tir Tairgire (“the land of promise”), an otherworldly land ruled by Manannan, their king.

Ciabham is entertained at a feast within Manannan’s city. The chief druid, Gebann, had a daughter named Cleena of the Fair Hair. When she fell in love with him & agreed to leave with him the next day. Together they sailed to Teite’s Strand in Ireland. Ciabhan went on shore to hunt & left Cleena in the boat. The people of Manannan pursued them in ships.

1 of them treacherously played music, which caused Cleena to fall asleep. Then a great wave came & swept her away. The place was then Tonn Chliodha (“Cliodna’s Wave”), which is near Glandore Harbor. Whether or not she drowned depends on the version being told.

The Book of Lismore tells that Tiegue was the son & heir of Cain, the king of West Munster. During a raid by an enemy from a faraway land, many people were abducted & enslaved. Tiegue & his warriors set out to rescue them. After rowing for 9 weeks (that’s 2 months & 1 week), they arrived in a strange land called Inis Derglocha (Red Ioch Island).

There, Tiegue meets several luminaries from Ireland’s mythical past. The final person they encounter introduces herself as “Cleena Fairhead, daughter of Genann Mac Treon of the Tuatha de Denann, sweetheart of Eochaid Redweapon’s son Ciabhan the curling locks; for now some time I am in this island, & from me ‘Cleena’s Wave’ in the borders of Munster is denominated.”

She gives them 3 birds to guide them & provide music, as well as an emerald cup that transforms water into wine. She warns that if Tiegue is parted from the cup, he’ll die soon after. Tiegue & his warriors depart the island,& after rescuing their kinsmen, they return home victorious.

In the early 8th century, in Feur-magh-Feine (now Fermoy), there lived Draoi Fuadh, the last of the Druids. He assisted the King of Munster by summoning a great storm to drive back their enemies. As a reward for his service, the king granted the Druid the title of Prince of Fermoy.

The Druid had 2 accomplished & beautiful daughters: Cleena (the oldest), who could transform creatures into any form she pleased & was titled “the queen of the fairies.” The younger daughter was called Aoivil (Aibel) & was her inseparable companion.

Caiov (O’Keefe) was a prince accomplished in mind & body, who inherited a neighboring territory. He was in the Druid’s palace & liked to join in, in which he was often victorious. This attracted the admiration of the Druid & his daughters.

Both sisters fell in love with O’Keeffe. Cleena expressed her love openly & discussions began with her dad about their marriage. Aoivil secretly fell in love & worked to gain his affection with her innocent arts. Caiov fell deeply in love with Aoivil. But Cleena quickly discovered this.

Because of her jealousy, Cleena called on the oldest of her nurses to curse her innocent sister. Aoivil was stricken with sickness & loss of her beauty. Cleena pretended to help her with a powerful sleep mixture, which caused Aoivil’s apparent death. Aoivil was laid in a coffin & displayed before the Druid & his wife, who were filled with profound sorrow.

She was then laid to rest in a tomb under the palace. Cleena & the nurse entered the tomb by a secret entrance & moved the still unconscious Aoivil to the cave at Castlecor (5 miles/8 km northeast of Kanturk). When revived, Aoivil was told she would be imprisoned there until she forgot about Caiov. Cleena, seeing it may be impossible to make Aoivil forget, & in a fit of jealousy, she transformed Aoivil into a beautiful white cat.

Cleena magically changed the cave into a palace. So her sister may bear her suffering more easily. The cave at Castlecor was said to be filled with treasures of gold & silver, watched over by a white cat that sat on a throne. Cleena told Aoivi that fallen in battle with the Danes. But Aoivil remained in love with him. For the space of 1 week a year at midsummer, Aoivil transformed back to her true form.

Visitors to the cave sometimes saw the cast residing in the Palace surrounded by treasure. But were forced out by a mighty wind or invisible force. When Caiov heard of her supposed death, he was filled with sorrow. The Druid & his wife were overcome with grief & brought to an untimely grave.

After due time, Caiov & Cleena were married with much rejoicing. Together, they had 3 kids & lived in happiness. However, the old nurse fell dangerously ill & her conscience forced her to confess everything to Caiov. The prince went to Cleena, but she refused to release her sister.

Cleena admitted she was unable to return her sister to her true form as she had lost her precious wand. (Total Harry Potter vibes!) This caused an irreconcilable division between Caiov & Cleena & after some time she retired to her fairy palace at Carrigcleena.

Caiov would often come to ask forgiveness & for the release of Aoivil. Cleena remained unable to lift the enchantment. But it’s said that if 1 were to come who truly loved Aoivil more than her treasures, the enchantment would be lifted. Cleena still visits Aoivil & while Aoivil briefly resumes her human form, the sisters are happy together.

In the legend of Ellen O’Brien & Fitz-Gerald, Fitz-Gerald was a youthful chieftain who lived by the banks of the Shannon, County Limerick. He was widely known to be brave, hospitable, & generous. As well as an accomplished harp player.

Ellen O’Brien was the only daughter of a chief whose power had crumbled under the Saxon invasion. Fitz-Gerald loved her & stole her heart with his harp playing. Cleena also desired Fitz-Gerald & resolved to bring him to her unseen hall. On a festival day, a dark cloud came down, enveloped Fitz-Gerald & carried him away.

For months, no trace of him could be found & it was generally believed he was taken by enchantment. None felt greater sorrow than Ellen O’Brien, who sought the help of a wizard who lived in Kerry, who communed with beings from the other world.

The wizard told her that Fitz-Gerald had been taken to Cleena’s favorite residence at Carrigcleena. Ellen travelled to that place & pleaded to die at the foot of the rock if she was denied. Cleena was moved & afterward had many happy kids.

In 1736, the wedding of John Fitzjames (Fitzgerald) & Isabel Butler was held. As the wedding was nearing the end, John dropped dead at Isabel’s feet. All in attendance were shocked. It was believed he’d been transported in spirit to Fairyland.

Friends & associates of the couple attempted to make contact with fairies to try to bring him back. Caitileen Dubh Keating & her daughter Caitileen Oge went to Carrigcleena to contact Cleena. They covered their clothes in tar & rolled themselves in feathers of different colors.

They saw Cleena face-to-face & they demanded the return of John. But Cleena firmly refused, saying she would keep him for herself. While there are several versions of the story, Robert D. Joyce’s poem has a happy ending with Cleena releasing the groom named Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond. In 1 version, Caitileen Oge was the bride.

The most traditional story of the Blarney Stone involves Cliodhna. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Cliodhna for her assistance. She told him to kiss the 1st stone he found in the morning on his way to court, & he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence & won.

Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart “the ability to deceive without offending.” He then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle. To be fair, Cliodhna doesn’t get credit for all the blarney of the MacCarthys. Queen Elizabeth I noted in frustration that she couldn’t effect a negotiation with Cormac MacCarthy, whose seat was Blarney Castle, as everything he said was ‘Blarney, as he says he doesn’t mean.”

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Archaeoethnologica: Complutum Nº 37/1 - 2026

+INFO in: https://archaeoethnologica.blogspot.com/2026/07/complutum-n-371-2026.html

#Archaeology #Protohistory #BronzeAge #IronAge #ClassicalArchaeology #iberians #materialculture #historyofreligions #skull #agriculture #war #combat #iconography #funerary #Iberia #materialculture #journals

New Open-Access ebook

Atlas of Scottish History to 1707
published by the ‪Society of Antiquaries of Scotland‬

Almost 15 years in the making, the atlas contains maps, diagrams, plans, charts and tables covering the history of Scotland from the earliest times up to 1707, along with explanatory texts

https://books.socantscot.org/digital-books/catalog/book/25

#Scottish #history #IronAge #Roman #Picts #Scots #DálRiata #Vikings #Norse #AngloSaxon #earlymedieval #medieval #latemedieval #renaissance #earlymodern

Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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#Archaeology #BronzeAge #IronAge #NearEast #Egypt #chronology #Mediterranean #books #openaccess

Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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Archaeoethnologica: Assyria & the West - Book / Assiria e o Ocidente - Livro

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#Archaeology #BronzeAge #IronAge #NearEast #Egypt #chronology #Mediterranean #books #openaccess

New evidence of “severed heads” among Iberian peoples expands the geographic range of an Iron Age ritual beyond the Llobregat River. Skull analysis reveals violence, defleshing, and treatment with pine resin. #IronAge #Bioarchaeology #IberianPeninsula https://www.anthropology.net/p/severed-heads-at-the-southern-border

Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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#Archaeology #Protohistory #ClassicalArchaeology #Tartessos #urbanism #palaeogeography #landscape #geography #IronAge #BronzeAge #Orientalism #phoenicians #Iberia #Gades #HastaRegia #talks #audiovisuals

Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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#Archaeology #Protohistory #ClassicalArchaeology #Tartessos #urbanism #palaeogeography #landscape #geography #IronAge #BronzeAge #Orientalism #phoenicians #Iberia #Gades #HastaRegia #talks #audiovisuals

Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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#Archaeology #Protohistory #ClassicalArchaeology #Tartessos #urbanism #palaeogeography #landscape #geography #IronAge #BronzeAge #Orientalism #phoenicians #Iberia #Gades #HastaRegia #talks #audiovisuals

Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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Archaeoethnologica: Tartessos Year 0 - Videos / Tartessos Ano 0 - Videos

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Samaritanism

Samaritanism is an Abrahamic monotheistic, ethnic religion. It comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, & legal traditions of the Samaritan people.

Often preferring to be called Israelite Samaritans, who originated from the Hebrews & Israelites. They began to emerge as a relatively distinct group after the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the Iron Age. The Neo-Assyrian Empire was the 4th, & penultimate, stage of ancient Assyrian history.

Central to their continuity as an Indigenous Heritage in the Holy Land is keeping the Patriarchal & Mosaic covenant as specified in the Samaritan Torah. Samaritans believe this is the original & unchanged version of the Pentateuch (which is the first 5 books of the Hebrew & Christian bible) since Moses & the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

The Abisha Scroll is traditionally held by the community to be the oldest existing scroll written by Abisha, son of Aaron the priest, around 3,000 years ago based on living tradition. However, Jewish & Christian theologians have made attempts to dispute this claim which proved unsatisfactory.

Judaism claims Samaritanism developed right alongside their own religion. Samaritanism asserts itself as the true preserved form of the monotheistic faith that the Israelites kept under Moses. Samaritan belief also holds that the Israelites’ original holy site was Mount Gerizim, near Nablus, the State of Palestine (West Bank).

They also believe that Jerusalem only attained importance under Israelite dissenters who had followed Eli (In the Book of Samuel, Eli was a priest & judge of the Israelites in the city of Shiloh) to the city of Shiloh.

The Israelites who remained at Mount Gerizim would become the Samaritans in the Kingdom of Judah. Mount Gerizim is revered by Samaritans as the location where the Binding of Isaac occurred. In comparison to the Jewish belief that it occurred at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

Today there are only about 900 registered communal members. This puts Samaritanism as 1 of the smallest ethnoreligious groups globally in the Abrahamic faiths. Samaritans believe that this is a prophecy fulfilled from the scriptures: “You’ll be left few in number.”

Though they hope for a future time when a prophet like Moses known as the “Taheb” (Restorer) will perform 3 signs, namely the jar of manna, the staff of Moses, & Cherubim, or the Golden Candlestick.

This time period they believe is when an era of Divine Favor would return, & the hidden tabernacle of Moses would miraculously be revealed for the Israelite people & Mount Gerizim is restored to its former glory.

Samaritans trace their history, as a separate entity, to a period soon after the Israelites’ arrival into the “Promised Land.” Samaritan historiography traces the schism to High Priest Eli leaving Mount Gerizim, where stood the 1st Israelite altar in Canaan, & building a competing altar in nearby Shiloh.

The dissenting group of Israelites who followed Eli to Shiloh would be the ones who, in later years, would head south to settle in Jerusalem (the Jews). Whereas the Israelites who stayed on Mount Gerizim, in Samaria, would become known as the Samaritans.

Genetic studies in 2004 suggest that Samaritans’ lineages trace back to a common ancestor with Jews in the paternally-inherited Jewish high priesthood (Cohanim) temporally near to the period of the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel. They’re probably descendants of the historical Israelite population. The Cohanim refers to the Jewish priestly class, male descendants of Aaron the priest.

The Hasmonean king, John Hyrcanus, destroyed the Mount Gerizim Temple & brought Samaria under his control around 120 BCE. This led to a long-lasting sense of mutual hostility between the Jews & Samaritans.

From this point, the Samaritans likely sought to consciously distance themselves from their Judean brethren. Both peoples came to see the Samaritan faith as a religion distinct from Judaism. By the time of Jesus, Samaritans & Jews deeply disparaged one another, as shown by Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The main beliefs of Samaritanism are:

• There’s 1 God, Yahweh, the same God recognized by the Jewish prophets.
• The Torah is the only true holy book & was given by God to Moses. The Torah was created before the creation of the world & whoever believes in it is assured a part in the world to come. The Torah’s status in Samaritanism as the only holy book causes them to reject the Oral Torah, the Talmud, & all the prophets & scriptures, except for a version of the Book of Joshua (which they don’t hold as Scripture), whose book in the Samaritan community is significantly different from the Book of Joshua in the Jewish “Bible.” Moses is considered to be the last of the line of prophets.
• Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem, is the 1 true sanctuary chosen by God. The Samaritans don’t recognize the sanctity of Jerusalem & don’t recognize the Temple Mount, claiming instead that Mount Gerizim was the place where the Binding of Isaac took place.
• The Apocalypse, called “the day of vengeance,” will be the end of days. When an entity called the Taheb (basically the Jewish Messiah equal) that comes from the tribe of Joseph will come, be a prophet like Moses for 40 years & bring about the return of all the Israelites, following which the dead will be resurrected. The Tahib will then discover the tent of Moses’ Tabernacle on Mount Gerizim, & will be buried next to Joseph when he dies.

The Samaritans have retained the institution of a high priesthood & the practice of slaughtering & eating lambs on Passover Eve. They celebrated Pesach, Shavuot, & Sukkot. But they use a different method from that used in mainstream Judaism in order to determine the dates annually.

For example, Yom Teru’ah (the biblical name for Rosh Hashanah), at the beginning of Tishrei (This is the 1st month of the civil year & the 7th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar.), isn’t considered a New Year as it is in Rabbinic Judaism.

Their Sabbath is observed weekly by the Samaritan community every week from Friday to Saturday, beginning & ending at sundown. For 24 hours, the families gather together to celebrate the rest day: all electricity with the exception of minimal lighting (kept on the entire day) in the house is disconnected, no work is done, & neither cooking nor driving is allowed.

The time is devoted to worship which consists of 7 prayer services, reading the weekly Torah portion, spending quality time with family, taking meals, rest & sleep, & visiting other members of the community.

Passover is particularly important in the Samaritan community, climaxing with the sacrifice of up to 40 sheep.

The Counting of the Omar remains relatively unchanged. The Counting of the Omar is a ritual in Judaism that consists of a verbal counting of each of the 49 days between the holidays of Passover & Shavuot. However, the week before Shavuot is a unique festival celebrating the continued commitment Samaritanism has maintained since the time of Moses.

During Sukkot, the Sukkah (the temporary hut built for use during Sukkot) is built INSIDE of houses, instead of OUTSIDE like mainstream Judaism. This Samaritan tradition is traced back to the persecution of the Samaritans during the Byzantine Empire.

The roof of the Samaritan Sukkah is decorated with citrus fruits & branches of palm, myrtle, & willow trees. This is in accordance with the Samaritan interpretation of the 4 species designated in the Torah for the holiday. The 4 species are 4 plants (the etrog, lulav, hadass, & aravah) mentioned in the Torah as being relevant to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

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Archaeoethnologica: Current Swedish Archaeology Nº 32/1

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#Archaeology #Protohistory #Prehistory #MedievalArchaeology #IronAge #iconography #materialculture #huntergatherers #Ethnoarchaeology #ritual #paleolithic #cremation #funerary #journal #openaccess

Archaeoethnologica: Current Swedish Archaeology Nº 32/1

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#Archaeology #Protohistory #Prehistory #MedievalArchaeology #IronAge #iconography #materialculture #huntergatherers #Ethnoarchaeology #ritual #paleolithic #cremation #funerary #journal #openaccess

Archaeoethnologica: Current Swedish Archaeology Nº 32/1

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Old gods and goddesses who have lived so long
Through time and never found eternity,
Fettered by wasting wood and hollowing hill,
You should have fled our ever-dying song…

—Edwin Muir, “To the Old Gods”
📷 Ballachulish Figure, c728–524 BCE

https://www.nms.ac.uk/discover-catalogue/a-mysterious-iron-age-figure-from-ballachulish

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #archaeology #IronAge #EdwinMuir

Archaeoethnologica: Human Sacrifice in Prehistoric Scandinavia / Sacrifício Humano na Pré-história Escandinava

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Archaeoethnologica: Human Sacrifice in Prehistoric Scandinavia / Sacrifício Humano na Pré-história Escandinava

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Archaeoethnologica: Human Sacrifice in Prehistoric Scandinavia / Sacrifício Humano na Pré-história Escandinava

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Archaeoethnologica: Human Sacrifice in Prehistoric Scandinavia / Sacrifício Humano na Pré-história Escandinava

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