Chapter 1 The Tree of Life in Ancient Near Eastern Literature
In: The Tree of Life
Author:
Charles L. Echols
Charles L. Echols
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Abstract
The phrase “tree of life” rarely occurs in extrabiblical literature, but terms such as “plant of life,” “sacred tree,” and “cosmic/world tree” appear more frequently and attest to the regional concept of a tree with life-giving properties. However, do the extrabiblical terms compare with each other and with the biblical tree of life? This essay examines the terms as they appear in the literature of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant. Applying the criteria of taxonomy and function to the various terms distinguishes a number of plants that were used for medicinal, ritual, and political purposes as well as for obtaining eternal life.