Pejoratively referred to as "idols" in the Hebrew Bible and in western tradition, the cult image occupied a central place in the cultures of the ancient Near East. In Mesopotamia, a ritual (mis pi) was used to "give birth" to the god represented by the cult image. In this volume, three separate essays examine the topic within different ancient Near Eastern cultures, and a fourth provides a modern analogy as counterpoint.

The Laozi (Daodejing) and the Zhuangzi have long been familiar to Western readers and have served as basic sources of knowledge about early Chinese Daoism. Modern translations and studies of these works have encouraged a perception of Daoism as a mystical philosophy heavy with political implications that advises kings to become one with the Dao. Breaking with this standard approach, The Pristine Dao argues that the Laozi and the Zhuangzi participated in a much wider tradition of metaphysical discourse that included a larger corpus of early Chinese writings. This book demonstrates that early Daoist discourse possessed a distinct, textually constituted coherence and a religious sensibility that starkly differed from the intellectual background of all other traditions of early China, including Confucianism. The author argues that this discourse is best analyzed through its emergence from the mythological imagination of early China, and that it was unified by a set of notions about the Dao that was shared by all of its participants. The author introduces certain categories from the Western religious and philosophical traditions in order to bring out the distinctive qualities constituting this discourse and to encourage its comparison with other religious and philosophical traditions.

Based on the ethical thinking of the pre-Qin Dynasty, this book discusses the formation and development of traditional Chinese ethics, the refinement of the Confucian ethical normative system and the establishment of its orthodoxy, as well as the deepening and maturation of feudal ethics. The book is simple in style and clear in context. It contains not only the essence of traditional Chinese morality but also the achievements of modern civilization. It analyzes the implications of traditional Chinese ethics on the governance and moral construction of modern society and can be used as a reference for governance and revitalization of the country and moral development.

This volume completes the only modern translation of the whole of Epiphanius' description and refutation of heresies. It deals with the Trinity, the Person of Christ, monasticism and other vital fourth century concerns, and is a participant's account of the period.

How did the actors for whom Shakespeare wrote his plays make his characters come to life, how did they convey his words? Can modern directors, actors, and even library readers of Shakespeare learn from them? Creating character and making the Elizabethan playwright’s poetry compelling for the audience is a problem which has seldom been resolved in modern times. This book demonstrates the hard course a modern actor must follow to make real and truthful the words he speaks, and the action and emotion underlying them. With examples and simple exercises, this book helps with the preparation for the great task – providing the actor with a combination that unlocks the Bard's English. Starting with how theatrical speech was understood in Renaissance England, it looks at figures of speech, the powers of persuasion, and the passion and rhythm inherent in the language.

In this well-researched and elegantly written book, Sathish Chandra discusses exciting topics from the epic text depicting ancient Indian culture and philosophy. Did you ever wonder when the mantras of the Rigveda were composed? Did you ever wonder what the composition discussed apart from praising various Gods? If the answer is yes, this book is for you to read. Similarly, you will be amazed to know that Rigveda was an all-inclusive text composed by the Vedic people from all walks of life. Kings of the era, enslaved people, gamblers, aggrieved wives and many commoners have contributed to the mantras in the text. You will be surprised to read stories related to cradle-to-grave. Rigveda was the ultimate Knowledge Transfer Guide for all the students who came to Gurukul to learn. More importantly, the ideas of multiple gods and creation stories from the text led to all-encompassing Hinduism, where the Western concept of blasphemy had no room. This book discusses all these issues and more with a breath of fresh air. Most importantly, Rigveda has inspired many religious thoughts in the West. Read on for more on this. Also, read this book for the original Rigvedic stories with exciting storylines, which peep into the Vedic people's mindset and thinking.