https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38026 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:00:45 GMT 2026-04-16T08:00:45Z https://www.um.edu.mt:443/library/oar/retrieve/42b5cc53-22e1-4b84-aae8-0267694a1953/ https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38026 https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38511 Title: Les cultes de la fecondite/fertilite dans la Grece des cites Authors: Leveque, Pierre Abstract: L'ambition de notre colloque est grande, qui est de suivre sur des millenaires l'evolution des cultes de la fertilite. Elle est dans le droit fil des interrogations incontournables qui sont actuellement celles des historiens des religions de la Prehistoire et de l'Antiquite: ils veulent suivre les continuites et permanences en me me temps que constater les mutations, evolutions ou simples bricolages des ideologies religieuses, en partant, dans le cas present, d'un theme qui est une des generatrices principales de ces systemes de pensee: la fertilite. Comme le dit Mircea Eliade , "la vegetation est la manifestation de la realite vivante, de la vie qui se regenere periodiquement. La vegetation incarne (ou signifie, ou participe a) la realite qui se fait vie, qui cree sans se tarir, qui se regenere en se manifestant en formes sans nombres, sans s'epuiser jamais." Si les questionnements des hommes sur les realites menacantes de la nature qui les entoure et les cerne contribuent tout particulierement it l'eIaboration de l'imaginaire, il n'est aucune realite naturelle qui ait pour eux l'importance de la vegetation, dont ils tirent une grande partie de leur nourriture a partir de la revolution neolithique, d 'ou l'importance primordiale des puissances de fertilite qui sont censees en etre les promotrices. Wed, 01 Jan 1986 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38511 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38510 Title: Le tombeau d'Amphion et de Zethos et les fruits de Dionysos Authors: Rocchi, Maria Abstract: Pausanias reports that every year when the Sun was passing through the constellation Taurus, Tithoreans planned to steal earth from the tomb of Amphion and Zethos in Thebes of Boeotia. Bringing this earth in their city and pouring it over Antiope's tomb they would have fllvoured the fertility of their fields. In order to preserve the fruits of their country and following the oracle of Bakis, Thebans kept watch over the tomb of Amphion and Zethos. An analysis of Pausanias' text suggests that a quarrel divided the two cities, every part claiming the right to have in its land the tomb of Antiope's sons. The involvement of the mythical figures and the peculiar phase in the vineyards' life during that period of the year (April-May) both suggest that Thebans tried to protect the growth of the fruits of Dionysos. Wed, 01 Jan 1986 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38510 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38509 Title: The Israelite religious centre of Kuntillet Ajrud, Sinai Authors: Meshel, Zev Abstract: Kuntillet 'Ajrud, on the Negev-Sinai border, is a religious centre or a way-side shrine from about 800 B.C. The site contains a main rectangular building with a white plastered Bench-room, in which most of the finds were made. The most important of these are inscriptions and drawings on pottery vessels, on wall plaster and stones. The motifs of the drawings are closely connected with the inscriptions and other finds which clearly have a religious character. They too have, in our view, a cultic meaning. Wed, 01 Jan 1986 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38509 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38508 Title: Fertility as blessing and infertility as curse in the ancient Near East and the Old Testament Authors: Rooy, Herrie F. van Abstract: Fertility and infertility are amongst the most important subjects in curses and blessings in the Ancient Near East and in the· Old Testament. Fertility was especially linked to three spheres: bumper crops, thriving livestock and a growing family. This paper treats the subject in treaty and covenant texts, in curses and blessings in inscriptions and documents and in historical, mythological and legendary texts to demonstrate to what extent the subject lived in the heart and minds of the people of the Ancient Near East. This lies at the background of much of the myth and ritual of the Ancient Near East and of petition and sacrifice in Israel. Wed, 01 Jan 1986 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38508 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z