The material manifestation of the Hittite libation ritual, the vessels made from different materials, are known to us through the contemporary written evidence, the representations in the visual arts, and the archaeologically attested examples. All three types of evidence reveal a variety of vessel forms used for the acts of libation. In this study, I focus on the objects themselves and provide an overview of their specific forms: the beak spouted vessels, the ovoid shaped relief vessels, the arm shaped vessels and BIBRU shaped in divine attributes. These vessels have been previously published in site reports, survey books, and museum catalogues, as individual examples or part of an assemblage, but not as a corpus nor as agents in the ritual. The hitherto unpublished examples are introduced to expand and revise the typological classifications. I propose to highlight the materials and the forms of these vessels as important for the Hittites not only to serve a decorative function but as encompassing a presence and agency to achieve the completion of the ritual: serving and pleasing the deities. Therefore, I describe, contextualize, and analyze the vessels in order to outline the relation between form and function, as well as categorizing them according their formal qualities into sub-types. As the containers, they embody the gift, the sacrificial liquid, offered to the deities, preceding the offering and even the act itself. I define their role as “the fourth element of sacrifice,” following the offerer, the receiver and the liquid offered. The vessels are reevaluated in this study as agents dictating the respective acts of libation, and defining the ritual.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this investigation an anthropological and comparative approach was employed in the study of magic in the ancient Near East. Firstly, a survey was presented with regard to anthropological theories throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This forms the background against which evidence on magic with respect to the cultures of the ancient Near East is investigated. Secondly, examples of magic in the Ancient Near East was discussed, with reference to Egypt, Mesopotamia and Hittite Anatolia. Reference was made to categories such as magic spells, objects, rituals and magical experts (magicians) and various examples were discussed. Thirdly, an analysis was made about the phenomenon of magic in ancient Israel. In this context magic plays a somewhat different role in comparison to its other ancient Near Eastern neighbours. It was shown that so-called miraculous actions, miracle workers (prophets) and other religious actions (curses and blessings) in the Hebrew Bible could definitely be associated with magic. The frequent prohibitions against magical practises furthermore suggest that magic was indeed been practiced in ancient Israel. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie ondersoek met betrekking tot magie in die ou Nabye Ooste word gebruik gemaak van 'n antropologiese en vergelykende benadering. Eerstens word 'n oorsig aangebied van antropologiese teorieë met betrekking tot magie in die negentiende en twintigste eeue. Dit vorm die agtergrond waarteen die verskynsel van magie in die ou Nabye Ooste ondersoek word. Tweedens word voorbeelde van magie in die ou Nabye Ooste ondersoek, met verwysing na Egipte, Mesopotamië en die Hetiete. Spesiale aandag word gegee aan kategorieë soos magiese spreuke, magiese objekte, rituele en magiese spesialiste. Dit word toegelig met verskillende toepaslike voorbeelde. Derdens word 'n ondersoek gedoen na die aard van magie in Oud-Israel. In hierdie konteks het magie ietwat van 'n ander rol vervul in vergelyking met die ander ou Nabye Oosterse bure. Daar word aangedui dat sekere wonderdade, wonderwerkers (profete), en ander religieuse aksies (vervloekinge en seënuitsprake) in die Hebreeuse Bybel met magie geassosieer kan word. Die vele verbiedinge teen die beoefening van magie is 'n duidelike aanduiding dat magie inderdaad in Israel gepraktiseer is.