Negotiating the memory of the dead in the community of Yehud.

Research in the material culture and texts of the Persian period Levant has provided greater understanding of the early second temple communities and identity formation. However, studies regarding mortuary practices and the role of the dead among these communities are limited. Through the lens of social memory theory, I examine the relationship between postexilic communities and their ancestral tombs. An analysis of the landscape for these communities, including the relationship between settlement and necroscape, provides a better understanding of the context within which burials are referenced in the biblical text. Furthermore, by viewing postexilic burial references as sites of memory, we can gain a greater appreciation for the developing memory and identity of the respective communities behind the texts. These references are found in the Books of Kings, Ezekiel, Chronicles, and Nehemiah. The burial references indicate the importance of monarchic Jerusalem and its royal mortuary cult. Each book, however, demonstrates different approaches to the memory of the royal dead and distinct ways in which that memory influences (and is influenced by) the identity of that community. Ultimately, I argue that burial references in the postexilic biblical texts are sites of memory and reference the royal mortuary cult. The manner in which these sites of memory are incorporated in the text indicate deliberate literary choices influenced by the socialized, and idealized, memory of the monarchic era landscape as well as by the existing landscape of the authors, particularly the persistence and accessibility of nearby tombs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Olson, Christina M., 1990-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fulton, Deirdre N.

• Hebrew Bible.
• Social memory.
• Persian period.
• Jerusalem.
• Mortuary archaeology.
• Necroscapes.
• Landscape theory.
• Royal burial.
• Bench tombs.
• Yehud.
• Judah.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13791