Exploration of Seriology and Ancient Near East Studies

The chapter delves into the term 'seriology' and its connection to New Testament early Christianity and the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing Assyria's role and influence, the evolution of the field from confirming biblical accounts to exploring ancient Near East cultures, and the importance of understanding material from the ancient East for Old Testament scholars. Discussions range from comparative mythology and learning languages like Akkadian and Hebrew to the availability of ancient stories in English translations and the importance of analyzing Hebrew Bible texts alongside Assyrian propaganda. The chapter also touches on the interconnectedness of ancient Mediterranean religions, complexities of studying ancient royal inscriptions, construction methods in ancient Mesopotamia using mud bricks, and the dating of non-organic archaeological objects.