Divine Names on the Spot : Towards a Dynamic Approach of Divine Denominations in Greek and Semitic Contexts

Ancient Greek and Semitic languages resorted to alarge range of words to name the divine. Gods and goddesses were called by avariety of names and combinations of onomastic attributes. This broad lexicon ofnames is characterised by plurality and a tendency to build on differentsequences of names; therefore, the Mapping AncientPolytheisms project focuses on the process of naming thedivine in order to better understand the ancient divine in terms of a pluralityin the making. A fundamental rule for reading ancient divine names is to graspthem in their context - time and place, a ritual, the form of the discourse, acultural milieu... a deity is usually named according to a specific situation.From Artemis Eulochia to al-Lat, al-'Uzza and Manat, from Melqart to "myrock" in the biblical book of Psalms, this volume journeys between the sanctuaryon Mount Gerizim and late antique magical practices, revisiting rituals, hymnicpoetry, oaths of orators and philosophical prayers. While targeting differentnames in different contexts, the contributors draft theoretical propositionstowards a dynamic approach of naming the divine in antiquity.