The core research question of this thesis is to what extent is the professional, purity-based hierarchy of the Neo-Babylonian priesthood reflected in the priests’ social interaction outside of the institutional context of the temple. Using archives of priestly families from Borsippa this study aims at establishing the identity of the priests’ associates in four areas of social interaction: 1) marriage and family formation, 2) circles of trust and intimacy, 3) patterns of landownership, 4) credit operations. Social Network Analysis will underpin the study with a quantitative basis. [table “6” not found /]
Categories: PhD Research