On the Origin of Watchers: A Comparative Study of the Antediluvian Wisdom in Mesopotamian and Jewish Traditions

Research notes: 
Reader Checked - AK - 12/03/2012
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Annus, Amar
year: 
2010
Full title: 

On the Origin of Watchers: A Comparative Study of the Antediluvian Wisdom in Mesopotamian and Jewish Traditions

Translated title: 
Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume: 
19
Issue / Series Volume: 
4
Number of volumes: 
0
Series Title: 
Abbreviated Series Name: 
Collaborating Author: 
Place of Publication: 
Publisher: 
Pages: 
277-320
Chapter: 
Work type: 
Abstract: 

In the article, it is argued that the origin of Watchers derives from the Mesopotamian mythology of the antediluvian sages (apkallus). More precisely, it is proposed that the mythology of Watchers and their sons the giants derived from inverted versions of various Mesopotamian myths and beliefs about apkallus. On some layers of Mesopotamian mythology and ritual practices, the sages were already regarded as dangerous and potentially malicious creatures, upon which the Jewish authors could build their parody. Among other associations, the apkallus had strong ties to Mesopotamian demonology, and they were occasionally counted as evil beings, capable of witchcraft. This shows that the wickedness of antediluvian teachers of humankind in Jewish sources was not wholly an inversion of the Mesopotamian traditions by Jewish scholars, but was partly taken from already existing trends in Mesopotamian demonology.

Notes: 
Language: 
Alternative title: 
Date: 
01/07/2010
Primary Texts: Judean Desert Documents: 
Scroll / Document: 
4Q530
Section type: 
Fragment
Passage: 
2
Edition: 
Original Publication: 
Reprint edition: 
URL: 
http://jsp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/277
DOI: 
10.1177/0951820710373978
ISBN: 
Accession number: 
Call num: 
Label: 
16/01/2012
Record number: 
187