Chapter «Eshmun è (mia) madre». Osservazioni su una curiosa parentela

Overview & Synopsis

The anthroponym «Eshmun is (my) mother» attested in Carthage raises questions about the gender representation of deities. The question arises as to how a male deity could fulfil the role of a mother for an individual bearing such a name. By undertaking a comparative analysis of Semitic anthroponymy across diverse contexts, complemented by an examination of literary texts that ascribe a maternal characteristic to specific deities, notably Yahweh, this study seeks to shed light on this intriguing anthroponym within the broader context of the construction of divine otherness, which transcends the gender confines inherent in the human realm.