Observations placeholder
Mesopotamian - Means of achieving spiritual experience 01 Ritual humiliation of those in power
Identifier
022208
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
This may also be the source of the phrase used by Jesus – ‘turn the other cheek’
A description of the experience
Larsa The Worshipper of Larsa a votive statuette
dedicated to the god Amurru
dedicated to the god Amurru
Dr Joan Oates – Babylon
The king, whose presence was essential to a festival, made his appearance on the fifth day [of the New year festival]. He was permitted to enter the inner sanctuary only after the priest had removed all his insignia.
He was then ritually humiliated by having his cheek slapped and his ears pulled and he had to crouch down and assure the god that during the year he had not committed any sins.
After a speech by the priest, the king’s insignia was restored and he was again slapped on the cheek. The more painful the treatment the better, since tears in the king’s eyes were deemed to signify that the god was well pleased