RT Article
T1 Re-membering the Dismembered
: Piecing Together Meaning from Stories of Women and Body Parts in Ancient Near Eastern Literature
JF Biblical interpretation
VO 23
IS 2
SP 174
OP 190
A1 Parker, Julie Faith
LA English
PB Brill
YR 2015
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1561887749
AB This article examines the function of dismemberment in four stories of female figures from ancient Near Eastern literature. Using the tools of feminist literary analysis, I explore the tales of Levite’s concubine (Judges 19), Jezebel (2 Kgs 9:30-37), Anat (KTU 1.3 ii; iii 1-2; 1.6 ii 28-37), and Isis (myth of Isis and Osiris). Comparison between the demise of the Levite’s concubine and Jezebel points to the shared significance of their dismemberment, despite the women’s vastly different societal positions. The discussion then focuses on two goddesses: Anat in Ugaritic narrative poetry and Isis in Egyptian mythology, showing their strength in scenes of dismemberment. Despite differences in divinity and power, all four women can be joined by their connection to dismemberment, whether as a victim, perpetrator, or restorer. This article reveals how dismemberment in these stories serves to strengthen androcentric hegemony while nonetheless challenging assumed gender stereotypes.

K1 Dismemberment
 : Levite’s Concubine
 : Jezebel
 : Anat
 : Isis

DO 10.1163/15685152-00232A02