CIBARIUM
Beneath the Chamber of Great Bliss—Binah—is the Hall of the Holy Fire (Geburah).Walter Burkert records that wine jars are "the only characteristic group of finds" from the Cabeirium of Lemnos and that the Cabeirium was the location for initiation into an ancient mystery cult.[16]
Thanks to the four technologies introduced by the Kinyras, Cyprus was able to make an alloy of copper and zinc especially Arsenic, which resulted in a much harder alloy, bronze.
“Amarna letters” dating to the mid-14th century BC.
The appearance of oxhide ingots in the archaeological record corresponds with the beginning of the bulk copper trade in the Mediterranean—approximately 1600 BC.[4] The earliest oxhide ingots found come from Crete and date to the Late Minoan IB, approximately 1500 BC to 1450 BC.[5] The latest oxhide ingots date to approximately 1000 BC, and were found on Sardinia.[6] The copper trade was largely maritime: the principal sites where oxhide ingots are found are at sea, on the coast, and on islands
In the Late Bronze Age, Cyprus produced numerous bronze stands that depicted a man carrying an oxhide ingot. The stands were designed to hold vases, and they were cast through the lost-wax process.[47] The ingots show the familiar shape of four protruding handles, and the men carry them over their shoulders. These Cypriot stands were exported to Crete and Sardinia, and both islands created similar stands in local bronze workshops
EBLA: UGARIT : CYPRUS:
KINYRAS Kothar-wa-Khasis (Ugaritic: 𐎋𐎘𐎗𐎆𐎃𐎒𐎒 Kothar-wa-Khasis Hebrew: כושר וחסיס[2]) is a Canaanite god whose name means "Skillful-and-Wise" or "Adroit-and-Perceptive" or "Deft-and-Clever".[citation needed] Another of his names[which?]means "Deft-with-both-hands". Kothar is smith, craftsman, engineer, architect, and inventor.[citation needed] He is also soothsayer and magician, creating sacred words and spells, in part because there is an association in many cultures of metalworking deities with magic. The god-name Ka-sha-lu (citation needed) in texts from Ebla suggests that he was known in Syria as early as the late third millennium BC.
Three Syrian terracotta idols circa 2nd Millenium B.C. © christies.com One with long cylindrical body, hands held up to chest, the bird-like face with applied disc eyes; one with flat body, arms outstretched, with dotted lines around waist and on necklace, and incised lines on high headdress; and one with flat outstretched arms, headdress and pierced ears 5½ in. (14 cm.) high max. (3)
Thanks to the four technologies introduced by the Kinyras, Cyprus was able to make an alloy of copper and zinc especially Arsenic, which resulted in a much harder alloy, bronze.
“Amarna letters” dating to the mid-14th century BC.
The appearance of oxhide ingots in the archaeological record corresponds with the beginning of the bulk copper trade in the Mediterranean—approximately 1600 BC.[4] The earliest oxhide ingots found come from Crete and date to the Late Minoan IB, approximately 1500 BC to 1450 BC.[5] The latest oxhide ingots date to approximately 1000 BC, and were found on Sardinia.[6] The copper trade was largely maritime: the principal sites where oxhide ingots are found are at sea, on the coast, and on islands
In the Late Bronze Age, Cyprus produced numerous bronze stands that depicted a man carrying an oxhide ingot. The stands were designed to hold vases, and they were cast through the lost-wax process.[47] The ingots show the familiar shape of four protruding handles, and the men carry them over their shoulders. These Cypriot stands were exported to Crete and Sardinia, and both islands created similar stands in local bronze workshops
Kothar's abode is Egypt, written in Ugaritic as HKPT (read perhaps as "hikaptah") derived from the Egyptian for "the house of the ka of Ptah" used for Memphis and paralleled in a poem with KPTR, representing Caphtor. Memphis is the site of the temple of Ptah, the Egyptian god responsible for crafts, whose name means "the Opener".
In his book on the Myth of Baal, Mark S. Smith notes that there is a possible pun involved in Kothar's epithet "The Opener". According to the Phoenician mythology related by Mochos of Sidon, as cited in Damascius's De principiis(Attridge and Oden 1981:102-03), Chusor, Kothar's name in Phoenician Greek, was the first "opener." Assuming the West Semitic root *pth, "to open," Albright argues that this title represents word-play on the name of the Egyptian god Ptah.
Smith further explains Kothar's double abodes as reflexes of metal or craft trade both from Egypt and from the Mediterranean Sea to Ugarit, as Kothar is imputed to be the divine patron of these skills.
Kothar had a minor role in ancient Egyptian religion, as the mythological builder of chapels for Egypt's more important deities.
EBLA: UGARIT : CYPRUS:KINYRAS Kothar-wa-Khasis (Ugaritic: 𐎋𐎘𐎗𐎆𐎃𐎒𐎒 Kothar-wa-Khasis Hebrew: כושר וחסיס[2]) is a Canaanite god whose name means "Skillful-and-Wise" or "Adroit-and-Perceptive" or "Deft-and-Clever".[citation needed] Another of his names[which?]means "Deft-with-both-hands". Kothar is smith, craftsman, engineer, architect, and inventor.[citation needed] He is also soothsayer and magician, creating sacred words and spells, in part because there is an association in many cultures of metalworking deities with magic. The god-name Ka-sha-lu (citation needed) in texts from Ebla suggests that he was known in Syria as early as the late third millennium BC.
Trading cities mentioned include Byblos, Ashdod, Jaffa, Akko, Sidon, Megiddo, Lachish, and Damascus. To the west, Ebla traded with Cyprus, and to the north, with many cities in Turkey. However, it was to the east that Ebla's commercial activity flourished most. It controlled the Euphrates region of northern Mesopotamia* but its influence reached farther, to northern Iran and to central and southern Mesopotamia.
Their textile industry produced wool and flax fabrics in the state spinning mills, which materials were then shipped to points as far away as modem Iran. They were well known for their damask (linen or woolen fabrics intertwined with gold threads), a Syrian tradition that continues to this day in the city of Damascus. The metal industry dealt with copper, tin, lead, and bronze, but especially precious metals.
Their textile industry produced wool and flax fabrics in the state spinning mills, which materials were then shipped to points as far away as modem Iran. They were well known for their damask (linen or woolen fabrics intertwined with gold threads), a Syrian tradition that continues to this day in the city of Damascus. The metal industry dealt with copper, tin, lead, and bronze, but especially precious metals.
Starting as a small settlement in the early Bronze Age (c. 3500 BC), Ebla developed into a trading empire and later into an expansionist power that imposed its hegemony over much of northern and eastern Syria. Ebla was destroyed during the 23rd century BC; it was then rebuilt and was mentioned in the records of the Third Dynasty of Ur. The second Ebla was a continuation of the first, but ruled by a new royal dynasty. It was destroyed again at the end of the third millennium BC, which paved the way for the Amorite tribes to settle in the city, forming the third Ebla. The third kingdom also flourished as a trade center; it became a subject and an ally of Yamhad (modern-day Aleppo) until its final destruction by the Hittite king Mursili I in c. 1600 BC.
Ebla maintained its prosperity through a vast trading network. Artifacts from Sumer, Cyprus, Egypt and as far as Afghanistan were recovered from the city's palaces. The kingdom had its own language, Eblaite and the political organization of Ebla had features different from the Sumerian model. Women enjoyed a special status and the queen had major influence in the state and religious affairs. The pantheon of gods was mainly north Semitic and included deities exclusive to Ebla. The city was excavated starting in 1964, and became famous for the Ebla tablets, an archive of about 20,000 cuneiform tablets found there, dated to around 2350 BC. Written in both Sumerian and Eblaite and using the cuneiform, the archive has allowed a better understanding of the Sumerian language and provided important information over the political organization and social customs of the mid third millennium BC's
A possible meaning of the word "Ebla" is BL, (Ba and El) or "white rock", referring to the limestone outcrop on which the city was built. Ebla was first settled around 3500 BC; its growth was supported by many satellite agricultural settlements. The city benefited from its role as an entrepôt of growing international trade, which probably extended through Ugarit, to Cyprus. Archaeologists designate this early habitation period "Mardikh I"; which ended around 3000 BC.
Mardikh I was followed by the first and second kingdoms era between about 3000 and 2000 BC, designated "Mardikh II".
Mardikh I was followed by the first and second kingdoms era between about 3000 and 2000 BC, designated "Mardikh II".
First kingdom
Ebla was the most prominent kingdom among the Syrian states, especially after its first distruction during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC, which is known as "the age of the archives" after the Ebla tablets.
During the first kingdom period, the palace controlled the economy,[141] but wealthy families managed their financial affairs without government intervention.[177] The economic system was redistributive; the palace distributed food to its permanent and seasonal workers. It is estimated that around 40,000 persons contributed to this system, but in general, and unlike in Mesopotamia, land stayed in the hands of villages, which paid an annual share to the palace.[178] Agriculture was mainly pastoral; large herds of cattle were managed by the palace.[178] The city's inhabitants owned around 140,000 head of sheep and goats, and 9,000 cattle.[178]
Ebla derived its prosperity from trade;[178] its wealth was equal to that of the most important Sumerian cities,[179] and its main commercial rival was Mari.[56] Ebla's main articles of trade were probably timber from the nearby mountains, and textiles.[180] Handicrafts also appear to have been a major export, evidenced by the quantity of artifacts recovered from the palaces of the city.[181] Ebla possessed a wide commercial network reaching as far as modern-day Afghanistan.[182] It shipped textiles to Cyprus, possibly through the port of Ugarit,[183] but most of its trade seems to have been directed by river-boat towards Mesopotamia—chiefly Kish.[184] The main palace G was found to contain artifacts dating from Ancient Egypt bearing the names of Pharaohs Khafra and Pepi I.[185]
Ebla continued to be a center of trade during the second kingdom, evidenced by the surrounding cities that appeared during its period and were destroyed along with the city.[note 20][64] Trade continued to be Ebla's main economic activity during the third kingdom; archaeological finds show there was an extensive exchange with Egypt and coastal Syrian cities such as Byblos.[112]
The third kingdom's iconography and royal ideology were under the influence of Yamhad's culture; kingship was received from the Yamhadite deities instead of Ishtar of Ebla, which is evident by the Eblaite seals of Indilimma's period.
Ebla was a polytheistic state.[186] During the first kingdom, Eblaites worshiped their dead kings.[187] The pantheon of the first Ebla included pairs of deities and they can be separated into three genres; in the first and most common one, there were the couples, such as the deity and his female consort.[187] The second type of pairs was the divine twosomes, such as the deities that cooperate to create the cosmos, like in the Egyptian and Mesopotamian pantheons.[187] The third type included divine pairs who were actually a single deity that had two names.[187] Eblaites worshiped few Mesopotamian deities, preferring North-Western Semitic gods, some of which were unique to Ebla.[156] The first genre of pairs included Nidakul, who was exclusive to Ebla, and his consort, Belatu ("his wife");[188] Rasap and his consort Adamma;[188] the patron gods of the city Kura, who was unique to Ebla, and his consort Barama.[189][190] The third genre included the artisan god Kamish/Tit, Kothar-wa-Khasis and the planet Venus represented by twin mountain Gods; Shahar as the morning star and Shalim as the evening star.[187]
The first Eblaites worshiped many other deities, such as the Syrian goddess Ishara,[note 21] who was the goddess of the royal family.[194] Ishtar was also worshiped but was mentioned only five times in one of the monthly offering lists, while Ishara was far more important, appearing 40 times.[195] Other deities included Damu;[note 22][196]the Mesopotamian god Utu;[8] Ashtapi;[197] Dagan;[198] Hadad (Hadda) and his consort Habadu;[8][199] and Shipish, the goddess of the sun who had a temple dedicated to her cult.[200] The four city gates were named after the gods Dagan, Hadda, Rasap and Utu, but it is unknown which gate had which name.[201] Overall, the offering list mentioned about 40 deities receiving sacrifices.[8]
During the third kingdom, Amorites worshiped common northern Semitic gods; the unique Eblaite deities disappeared.[202] Hadad was the most important god, while Ishtar took Ishara's place and became the city's most important deity apart from Hadad.
Silver was considered to be the metal belonging to the moon. Moon represents the unconscious mind of mankind, located in the belly area. Gold represents divine consciousness of the Bull of Heaven, located within the integrated brain hemispheres.
I believe that by balancing and harmonizing the two divine energies of say Yin and Yang within self as the intention (choice), the will to embody and manifest as Love during this earthly existence.
It is an inner movement upward (Yang/Yin) and an outer movement downward and horizontal (Yin/Yang), the crucifix; manifesting Divine Will on Earth. Mankind has brought up in himself a vertical axis within, the dark unconscious energy that made up his horizontal line forming a crucifix.
The individual has thus restored the authentic Self by reinstalling balance between Yin and Yang in Self. The human being, as balanced Yin/Yang energy, with a balanced and integrated brain in a physical form, is now ready to enter into
The 5th level/dimension.
Silver was considered to be the metal belonging to the moon. Moon represents the unconscious mind of mankind, located in the belly area. Gold represents divine consciousness of the Bull of Heaven, located within the integrated brain hemispheres.
I believe that by balancing and harmonizing the two divine energies of say Yin and Yang within self as the intention (choice), the will to embody and manifest as Love during this earthly existence.
It is an inner movement upward (Yang/Yin) and an outer movement downward and horizontal (Yin/Yang), the crucifix; manifesting Divine Will on Earth. Mankind has brought up in himself a vertical axis within, the dark unconscious energy that made up his horizontal line forming a crucifix.
The individual has thus restored the authentic Self by reinstalling balance between Yin and Yang in Self. The human being, as balanced Yin/Yang energy, with a balanced and integrated brain in a physical form, is now ready to enter into
The 5th level/dimension.
Four Astarte figurines. Clay. According to the source, they are from the Israel Museum.
Three Syrian terracotta idols circa 2nd Millenium B.C. © christies.com One with long cylindrical body, hands held up to chest, the bird-like face with applied disc eyes; one with flat body, arms outstretched, with dotted lines around waist and on necklace, and incised lines on high headdress; and one with flat outstretched arms, headdress and pierced ears 5½ in. (14 cm.) high max. (3)
Several types of plank or slab figures were made during the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The representation of the human figure ranges from those with one neck and abstract linear designs to figures with bodies that are rectangular with anatomical features carved in low relief. The meaning of these idols is speculative but may refer to ritual magic connected with the owner’s desire for multiple births and fertility or it may be a little more sophisticated and represent the MONAD.
Goddess | Pakistan (Quetta area) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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