Symbolika krwi w świecie Bliskiego Wschodu i Biblii

Abstract

The comparative analysis of use and symbolic of blood in ancient civilizations of Near East and in the Bible leads to the following conclusions. In practice of everyday life in all civilizations of Near East and in Israel the human attitudes towards blood always oscillated between fascination and aversion. The blood was perceived either as the symbol of life or the symbol of death, it included cultic purity and at the same time was the source of contamination. Moreover, this duality is the key to presentation of characteristic religion and cultural customs of mentioned civilizations. It becomes the basis of two practical social attitudes towards the blood: positive and negative. In the symbolic of blood it is also possible to indicate specific two-plainness. The activity itself, for example a sacrifice has its original element – an essential element and an element diversifying this activity – ritual, relation with gods or the comprehension of the sacrifice. Though those elements seem to be very similar they differ a lot. M an’s sexuality shows the highest point of convergence. For all cultures it was both intimate and incomprehensible. Concerning the symbolic of blood in civilizations of Near East and in the Bible we can indicate original analogies and secondary divergences.