Ma thèse s’articule autour de nombreux cas cliniques d’analysantes femmes et vise à montrer certaines formes de déni de la sexualité féminine au Moyen-Orient. Nous nous sommes proposée d’explorer dans un premier temps et d’exposer les idées et les théories psychanalytiques régnantes en matière de sexualité féminine, tant en Orient qu’en Occident. Dans un deuxième temps, nous exposons les cas cliniques puis, à la lumière de ce que nous avons relevé dans les récits littéraires, les études sociologiques, et la littérature psychanalytique consultée à cet effet, nous tâchons de répondre à la question suivante : Pourquoi ces femmes qui présentent toutes le même profil familial, socioculturel et économique, que nous pouvons considérer comme des femmes (apparemment) modernes, présentent-elles toutes certaines défaillances dès lors qu’il s’agit pour elles d’assumer leur vie (sexuelle) de femme tout court. D’où le titre de notre recherche : Les formes de déni de la sexualité chez la femme au Moyen-Orient. / My thesis is based on numerous clinical reports of women under analysis, and purports to show certain forms of denial for a female sexual life in the Middle East. First, we explore and present current psychoanalytic concepts and theories on the sexual life of women, either in the East or in the West. Second, we study these clinical reports in light of what we have found in literary tales, in sociological research, and in the literature on psychoanalysis, and we try to answer the following question: Why do women, who have the same family, socio-cultural and economic profiles, and who we can can call (apparently) modern, show similar failures in what regards their simple sexual lives? Hence the title of our research is: The categories of denial of sexuality for women in the Middle East.

The study aimed at giving a thick description of African families' experiences, views, cultural beliefs and interpretations of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and making recommendations for rehabilitation. It was conducted from the qualitative research paradigm, adopting a phenomenological research method. Twenty-two pairs of participants (patients and their caregivers )were interviewed about their perception of TBI. The semi-structured interviews were conducted at the participants' homes in Sesotho, and where necessary in their home languages. The consequences of TBI were found to follow universal trends (Oddy, 1984). However, participants' perceptions, as shaped by their experiences, views and cultural beliefs, were found to be unique. On analysing the gathered data, using inductive data analysis, it was found that African families' interpretations of TBI were based on beliefs about witchcraft, thwasa, Satanism, ancestral anger and God's wish. Based on these findings, rehabilitation services in the form of education, advocacy, networking and family therapy are recommended. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-05-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:33:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carnelossi_eag_me_jabo.pdf: 5963862 bytes, checksum: c9072ade5521cd6b029cd77e62872e7a (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O veado-mateiro (Mazama americana) possui uma ampla distribuição geográfica na região neotropical. Estudos citogenéticos com a espécie revelam variações cromossômicas (citótipos) que apontam sua divisão em outras espécies. Neste trabalho, foram examinadas as relações filogenéticas desta espécie, analisando parte dos genes mitocondriais (citocromo-b e região controladora D-loop), dos genes nucleares (Beta e Kapa caseínas e do exon I do gene IRBP) e um fragmento do gene, presente no cromossomo Y, chamado SRY, para amostras de 19 indivíduos provenientes de diferentes regiões do Brasil. Os genes nucleares da kapa e beta caseína e do SRY, mostraram-se monomórficos, não sendo possível a obtenção de sequências para o gene IRBP. As inferências filogenéticas pelos genes mitocondriais revelam duas linhagens evolutivas, a dos indivíduos das populações da Bacia do Rio Paraná e a dos indivíduos do oeste da Bacia do Rio Amazonas. Também houve uma correlação entre os diferentes cariótipos e as distintas linhagens moleculares encontradas. Além disso, pode-se sugerir a ocorrência de convergência evolutiva entre estes grupos, bem como um possível caso de simpatria ou de retenção de polimorfismo ancestral nos indivíduos do leste da Amazônia. / The red brocket deer (Mazama americana) has a wide distribution in Neotropics. In this regard, cytogenetic studies in this species revealed chromosomic variations (cytotypes) which strongly suggest that red brockets can be divided into other species. In the present study, we examined phylogenetic relationships of 19 samples of individuals from different areas of Brazil through mitochondrial (cytochrome b and control region D-loop), nuclear (b-casein, k-casein, and first exon of the IRBP) and SRY gene analysis. The sequence analysis showed that b- and k-caseins as well as SRY nuclear genes were monomorphic, whereas IBRP gene sequencing was not possible. Phylogenetic inferences concerning mitochondrial gene analysis demonstrated two evolutionary lineages, one from Parana River Basin (southeast Brazil) and other from west of Amazon River Basin (northwest Brazil). Moreover, we found correlation between different karyotypes and distinct molecular lineages.

Tracking the evolution of function in enzyme superfamilies is key in understanding how important biological functions and mechanisms have evolved. New genes are being sequenced at a rate that far surpasses the ability of characterization by wet-lab techniques. Moreover, bioinformatics allows for the use of methods not amenable to wet lab experimentation. We now face a situation in which we are aware of the existence of many gene families but are ignorant of what they do and how they function. Even for families with many structurally and functionally characterized members, the prediction of function of ancestral sequences can be used to elucidate past patterns of evolution and highlight likely future trajectories. In this thesis, we apply in silico structure and function methods to predict the functions of protein sequences from two diverse superfamily case studies. In the first, the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily, many members have been structurally and functionally characterised. In this work, we asked how many times the same function has independently evolved in the same superfamily using ancestral sequence reconstruction, homology modelling and alignment to catalytic templates. We found that in only 5% of evolutionary scenarios assessed, was there evidence of a lactam hydrolysing ancestor. This could be taken as strong evidence that metallo-β-lactamase function has evolved independently on multiple occasions. This finding has important implications for predicting the evolution of antibiotic resistance in this protein fold. However, as discussed, the interpretation of this statistic is not clear-cut. In the second case study, we analysed protein sequences of the DUF-62 superfamily. In contrast to the metallo-β-lactmase superfamily, very few members of this superfamily have been structurally and functionally characterised. We used the analysis of alignment, gene context, species tree reconciliation and comparison of the rates of evolution to ask if other functions or cellular roles might exist in this family other than the ones already established. We find that multiple lines of evidence present a compelling case for the evolution of different functions within the Archaea, and propose possible cellular interactions and roles for members of this enzyme family.

Resumo: O veado-mateiro (Mazama americana) possui uma ampla distribuição geográfica na região neotropical. Estudos citogenéticos com a espécie revelam variações cromossômicas (citótipos) que apontam sua divisão em outras espécies. Neste trabalho, foram examinadas as relações filogenéticas desta espécie, analisando parte dos genes mitocondriais (citocromo-b e região controladora D-loop), dos genes nucleares (Beta e Kapa caseínas e do exon I do gene IRBP) e um fragmento do gene, presente no cromossomo Y, chamado SRY, para amostras de 19 indivíduos provenientes de diferentes regiões do Brasil. Os genes nucleares da kapa e beta caseína e do SRY, mostraram-se monomórficos, não sendo possível a obtenção de sequências para o gene IRBP. As inferências filogenéticas pelos genes mitocondriais revelam duas linhagens evolutivas, a dos indivíduos das populações da Bacia do Rio Paraná e a dos indivíduos do oeste da Bacia do Rio Amazonas. Também houve uma correlação entre os diferentes cariótipos e as distintas linhagens moleculares encontradas. Além disso, pode-se sugerir a ocorrência de convergência evolutiva entre estes grupos, bem como um possível caso de simpatria ou de retenção de polimorfismo ancestral nos indivíduos do leste da Amazônia. / Abstract: The red brocket deer (Mazama americana) has a wide distribution in Neotropics. In this regard, cytogenetic studies in this species revealed chromosomic variations (cytotypes) which strongly suggest that red brockets can be divided into other species. In the present study, we examined phylogenetic relationships of 19 samples of individuals from different areas of Brazil through mitochondrial (cytochrome b and control region D-loop), nuclear (b-casein, k-casein, and first exon of the IRBP) and SRY gene analysis. The sequence analysis showed that b- and k-caseins as well as SRY nuclear genes were monomorphic, whereas IBRP gene sequencing was not possible. Phylogenetic inferences concerning mitochondrial gene analysis demonstrated two evolutionary lineages, one from Parana River Basin (southeast Brazil) and other from west of Amazon River Basin (northwest Brazil). Moreover, we found correlation between different karyotypes and distinct molecular lineages. / Orientador: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte / Coorientadora: Susana González / Banca: Reinaldo Otávio Alvarenga Alves de Brito / Banca: Cláudia Márcia Aparecida Carareto / Mestre

O objetivo desta dissertação é verificar como se deu o registro da história de uma prática ancestral como a capoeira que, a despeito de ter-se originado nas senzalas no período colonial, ainda não teve o devido reconhecimento social. Dadas as lacunas desse registro, foram entrevistados alguns mestres de capoeira com extensa experiência na transmissão dessa cultura com o objetivo de reconstruir, por meio de suas narrativas de vida, as contribuições dessa prática ancestral para a formação de gerações de jovens afrodescendentes. Embora as Leis Federais 10.639/03 e 11.645/08 reconheçam sua importância histórica, cultural e política e a considere fundamental para a formação das novas gerações, prevendo, além disso, sua introdução nas escolas, sua prática ainda encontra obstáculos nesse âmbito. Daí serem propostas, como parte da pesquisa, experiências de docência compartilhada de capoeira na Escola de Aplicação FEUSP, visando contribuir para a formação de professores para o ensino da história e cultura afro-brasileira e africana. O conceito de reconhecimento nos planos subjetivo, jurídico e cultural defendido por Axel Honneth, bem como a reconstrução da história da capoeira nos estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Bahia, como parte das lutas de resistência dos escravizados no Brasil, foram essenciais para interpretar o conteúdo crítico das letras das músicas e o significado simbólico do jogo da capoeira e de seus rituais, além de contribuir para o reconhecimento de uma cultura afro-brasileira amplamente difundida em praticamente todos os continentes. / The objective of this project was to research on how the history of an ancient practice, such as capoeira, was registered. In spite of having originated at the slave quarters in the colonial period, the capoeira has not yet seen its social recognition. . Due to the gaps within such registration, we have interviewed some capoeira masters with extensive experience in the transmission of its culture aiming at rebuilding, the capoeira contributions to the upbringing of generations of African descendant youngsters. Although the Federal Laws 10.639/03 and 11.645/08 which recognizes the historical, cultural and political importance of capoeira, and considers it crucial for the formation of new generations, foreseeing its implementation in schools, its practice still faces obstacles in this scope. Therefore, we propose as part of the research, experiences of shared teaching of capoeira at FEUSP\'S Application School, seeking to contribute to the teachers\' formation for the teaching of history and Afro-Brazilian and African culture. The concept of recognition - in the subjective, legal and cultural perspectives, defended by Axel Honneth, as well as the reconstruction of the history of capoeira in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. It as part of the enslaved resistance in Brazil, were essential to interpret the critical content of the lyrics and the symbolic meaning of the game of capoeira and its rituals. They also contributed to the recognition of a widespread Afro-Brazilian culture on practically all the continents.

Un ensemble de disciplines tente de comprendre les causes de la distribution de la biodiversité à la surface de la terre. Cette thèse, à l'interface entre macro-écologie et phylogéographie, démêle le rôle relatif des différents facteurs environnementaux et des processus contrôlant la diversité des crustacés aquatiques souterrains en Europe. L'utilisation d'un modèle biologique souterrain permet d'écarter l'effet de la saisonnalité thermique, omniprésente dans les milieux de surface. L'action de multiples facteurs – plus particulièrement la disponibilité des ressources trophiques et l'hétérogénéité environnementale – et les variations régionales de leur importance relative fournissent l'explication la plus parcimonieuse des patrons de richesse. Ce résultat s'oppose au paradigme du rôle prépondérant du processus d'extinction causé par les fortes oscillations climatiques du Pléistocène en Europe du nord. Toutefois, ces oscillations ont très probablement sélectionné des organismes mobiles qui participent à l'augmentation de la taille moyenne des aires de répartition des espèces avec la latitude. La reconstruction de la dynamique des aires de distribution montre que la dispersion est un processus très hétérogène entre et au sein des espèces. Elle interviendrait lors de courtes fenêtres temporelles entre lesquelles l'adaptation locale tendrait au contraire, à contrecarrer les capacités de dispersion. Enfin, ce travail propose des pistes de réflexion afin d'expliquer plus précisément, à partir de données moléculaires supplémentaires et d'outils génomiques, les variations géographiques des taux de diversification et de substitution à l'échelle continentale / A set of disciplines attempt to understand causes of biodiversity patterns on the earth. This thesis, at the frontier between macroecology and phylogeography, disentangles the relative influence of environmental factors and processes shaping groundwater crustacean diversity in Europe. Groundwater habitats offer useful case studies for avoiding the effect of thermal seasonality, which is pervasive in surface ecosystems. The influence of multiple factors – especially productive energy and spatial heterogeneity – and regional variation in their relative importance provide the most parsimonious explanation of species richness patterns. This result undermines the prominent role attributed to the disproportionate extinction of species in northern European regions with high historical climate oscillations. However, these oscillations have probably selected vagile species which contribute to the increase in median range size of species with latitude. Reconstructing range dynamics shows that dispersal is a heterogeneous process within and among species. It may occur during short time windows between which local adaptation favors specialization. Finally, I suggest several research avenues using molecular data and genomic tools for understanding geographical variation in diversification and substitution rates at continental scale

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-06-29T18:08:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-Dissertação-AnaCarolinaSilva.pdf: 6644945 bytes, checksum: 770aa392360d533cc08e873bc7e5ab6d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-29T18:08:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-Dissertação-AnaCarolinaSilva.pdf: 6644945 bytes, checksum: 770aa392360d533cc08e873bc7e5ab6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / A evolução do dimorfismo sexual de forma e tamanho do crânio e mandíbula foi estudada em 31 táxons de marsupiais didelfídeos, a fim de compreender melhor o desenvolvimento desse caráter na família. Para elucidar fatores que poderiam estar condicionando esse dimorfismo nos Didelphidae, foi analisada também a evolução de outros dois elementos: alometrias entre tamanho e forma do crânio e da mandíbula; e bionomia das mesmas 31 espécies. Foi realizado um mapeamento de todos estes caracteres, qualitativos e quantitativos, sobre uma filogenia da família, reconstruindo seus estados ancestrais utilizando métodos de parcimônia. Foram feitas também correlações utilizando contrastes independentes dos dados de dimorfismo sexual para auxiliar a esclarecer os padrões evolutivos do dimorfismo sexual. Tais correlações foram significativas, indicando coevolução entre os tipos de dimorfismo em ambas as estruturas estudadas. Não houve tendência unidirecional de surgimento/desaparecimento e aumento/decréscimo do dimorfismo nos Didelphidae. As reconstruções também indicaram coevolução entre os dimorfismos. Poucas espécies são altamente dimórficas e a maioria apresenta dimorfismo sexual de forma. Os resultados de alometrias entre os sexos foram iguais para crânio e mandíbula, mas elas também não apresentam padrão geral em direção à igualdade ou diferenciação das mesmas entre os sexos. Ambos os estados estão uniformemente distribuídos na filogenia. O comportamento das alometrias no crânio e na mandíbula coevoluiu, mas o padrão de alometrias entre os sexos não é conservado dentro de Didelphidae e não coevoluiu com o dimorfismo sexual, indicando que não explica a evolução deste caráter. Outros fatores, não-alométricos, devem condicionar este caráter nessa família. No entanto, apesar de padrões aparecem dentro de alguns clados, não há também evidência de coevolução entre bionomia e dimorfismo sexual nos Didelphidae. Espécies asazonais são poucas e não dimórficas de tamanho, talvez pelo fato de se reproduzirem continuamente e sofrerem menores pressões seletivas. A semelparidade é rara dentro de Didelphidae, surgindo apenas em Monodelphini e seguindo daí caminhos evolutivos distintos. Espécies semélparas exibem maiores tamanhos de ninhada nos Didelphidae por se reproduzirem uma única vez. Acredita-se que a seleção sexual direcione o padrão de dimorfismo sexual onde os machos são maiores que as fêmeas em espécies semélparas de Didelphidae. Portanto, nem alometrias nem bionomia, a princípio, explicam nem condicionam a evolução do dimorfismo sexual nos didelfídeos. A inclusão de uma maior quantidade de dados reprodutivos de marsupiais didelfídeos seria ideal para testar a veracidade da ausência de coevolução entre estratégias bionômicas e dimorfismo sexual. Associar dados ecológicos ou de padrões de distribuição poderiam ajudar a compreender melhor a evolução das estratégias bionômicas e a sua importância sobre a evolução do dimorfismo sexual nos Didelphidae. / The evolution of size and shape sexual dimorphism of the skull and mandible was studied in 31 taxa of didelphid marsupials, in order to better understand the development of this character in the family. And to elucidate factors that could be conditioning this dimorphism in Didelphidae the evolution of two other elements was also analyzed: allometries between size and shape of the skull and mandible and bionomy of the same 31 species. A mapping of all these qualitative and quantitative characters was carried through on a phylogeny of the family, reconstructing its ancestral states using parsimony methods. Correlations using independent contrasts of the sexual dimorphism data had been made also to assist clarifying the evolutionary standards of the sexual dimorphism. Such correlations were significant indicating coevolution among types of dimorphism in both studied structures. There is no unidirectional trend of sprouting/disappearance and increase/decrease of the dimorphism in Didelphidae. The reconstructions had also indicated coevolution among dimorphisms. Few species are highly dimorphics and the majority of them present shape sexual dimorphism. The results of allometries between the sexes had been the same for skull and mandible, but they also did not present a general pattern directing to the equality or differentiation between the sexes. Both states are uniformly distributed in the phylogeny. The results of the allometries in the skull and mandible coevoluted but the results of allometries between the sexes was not manteined in Didelphidae and they did not coevolute with sexual dimorphism indicating that they do not explain the evolution of this character and that other non-allometric factors must condition this character in this family. Although patterns appear inside of some clades there was no evidence of coevolution between bionomy and sexual dimorphism in Didelphidae. There are few aseasonal species and they are non-sized dimorphics perhaps by reproducing continuously and suffering less selective pressures. The semelparity is rare in Didelphidae arising only in Monodelphini and following from there distinct evolutionary ways. Semelparous species display the largest offspring size by reproducing only once. It is known that sexual selection directs the patterns of sexual dimorphism in those species in which males are larger than females in semelparous taxa of Didelphidae. Therefore neither allometries nor bionomy at first explain the evolution of sexual dimorphism in didelphids. The inclusion of a larger amount of reproductive data for didelphid marsupials would be ideal to test the veracity of the absence of coevolution among bionomic strategies and sexual dimorphism. The association of ecological data or distributional patterns could help in better understanding the evolution of the bionomic strategies and its importance on the evolution of the sexual dimorphism in Didelphidae.

Les Angiospermes sont le clade le plus diversifié des plantes actuelles et sont exceptionnellement riches en espèces dans les régions tropicales. Dans cette thèse, j’ai étudié l’évolution des systèmes sexuels et l’histoire biogéographique de la famille des Moraceae, clade modèle utilisé pour comprendre l’origine et l’évolution de la diversité chez les Angiospermes. Dans le Chapitre I, j’ai reconstruit et calibré un nouvel arbre phylogénétique daté pour les Moraceae. J’ai ensuite utilisé cet arbre pour reconstruire les états ancestraux des systèmes sexuels chez les Moraceae et Ficus. Les âges des groupes-couronne des Moraceae et du genre Ficus sont estimés au Crétacé et à l’Eocène, respectivement. La dioécie est inférée comme l’état ancestral des systèmes sexuels chez les Moraceae, avec plusieurs transitions ultérieures vers la monoécie, y compris chez Ficus. Ce résultat suggère que la dioécie ne représente pas nécessairement un cul-de-sac évolutif. Dans le Chapitre II, j’ai reconstruit un arbre phylogénétique daté pour la tribu des Dorstenieae, distribuée principalement dans les régions tropicales, à partir d’un nouveau jeu de données génomiques nucléaires produit avec une approche Hyb-Seq. L’histoire biogéographique du groupe a ensuite été reconstruite en utilisant les modèles de dispersion-extinction-cladogenèse. Les âges des groupes-couronne des Dorstenieae et du genre Dorstenia sont estimés au Crétacé et dans la période du Crétacé au Paléocène, respectivement. Deux évènements de dispersion à longue distance depuis l’Afrique continentale vers l’Amérique du Sud ont eu lieu au Cénozoïque (Dorstenia et Brosimum s.l.). Dans le Chapitre III, j’ai testé les différences de niche climatique (température et précipitation) entre les deux systèmes sexuels (monoécie et gynodioécie) chez Ficus avec un nouveau jeu de données fiables d’occurrences spatiales et de systèmes sexuels chez 183 espèces. À cette fin, j’ai utilisé deux approches comparatives : équations d’estimation généralisées (GEE) et modèles linéaires généralisés (GLM). Une relation positive entre précipitation et gynodioécie est soutenue par les analyses GLM, et aucune méthode ne soutient une relation entre température et système sexuel. Une meilleure capacité à se disperser et le potentiel d’autopollinisation sont deux explications possibles pour la colonisation et la survie des espèces monoïques dans des environnements plus secs. Cette thèse démontre le potentiel des méthodes phylogénétiques comparatives et des données phylogénomiques pour répondre aux questions d’évolution des systèmes sexuels et de biogéographie chez les Moraceae et ouvre plusieurs nouvelles perspectives importantes méritant d’être approfondies chez d’autres clades de plantes, telles que la relation entre système sexuel et niche climatique. / Angiosperms are the most diversified clade of extant plants and are exceptionally species-rich in tropical regions. In this thesis, I investigated breeding system evolution and biogeographic history in the family Moraceae, which I used as a model clade to understand the origin and evolution of diversity of angiosperms. In Chapter I, I reconstructed and calibrated a new dated phylogenetic tree for Moraceae as a whole. I then used this tree to reconstruct ancestral states of breeding systems in Moraceae and Ficus. The crown group ages of Moraceae and Ficus were estimated in the Cretaceous and in the Eocene, respectively. Dioecy was inferred as the ancestral breeding systems of Moraceae, with several subsequent transitions to monoecy, including in Ficus. This result suggests that dioecy is not necessarily an evolutionary dead end. In Chapter II, I reconstructed a dated phylogenetic tree for tribe Dorstenieae, mainly distributed in tropical regions, with a new data set of nuclear genomic data generated with a Hyb-Seq approach. Biogeographic history was then reconstructed using dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis models. The crown group ages of Dorstenieae and Dorstenia were estimated in the Cretaceous and in the Cretaceous/Paleocene period, respectively. Two long-distance dispersal events from continental Africa to South America occurred in the Cenozoic (Dorstenia and Brosimum s.l.). In Chapter III, I tested the climatic niche difference (temperature and precipitation) between the two breeding systems (monoecy and gynodioecy) in Ficus using a new dataset of cleaned spatial occurrence records and breeding systems for 183 species. I used two comparative approaches: generalized estimating equations (GEE) and generalized linear models (GLM). A positive relationship between precipitation and gynodioecy was supported by GLM, but not GEE analyses, and no relationship between temperature and breeding systems was supported by either method. Higher dispersal ability and the potential for self-fertilization may explain why monoecious species of Ficus have been able to colonize and survive in drier environments. This thesis highlights the potential of phylogenetic comparative methods and phylogenomic data to address questions of breeding system evolution and biogeography in Moraceae, and opens up several important new perspectives worth investigating in other plant clades, such as a relationship between breeding system and climatic niche.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the African and the Ancient Near Eastern tradition with regard to the ancestral consultation. 1 Samuel 28:3-25 was used as a point of departure. This text was used because it is the only text in the Hebrew Bible that shows the act of consulting the dead except those texts explicitly condemning the act. The study was divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 focused on the introduction and the research problem. Chapter 2 focused on the study of 1 Samuel 28:3-25 and this was done via and intratextual and intertextual analysis. The intratextual analysis of 1 Samuel 28:3-25 focused on the interrelatedness of the text on its literally level. This was done by means of a morphological, syntactical and structural analysis. The intertextual analysis focused on 1 Samuel 28:3-25 in relation with other texts in the Hebrew Bible, especially with reference to the practice of ancestral consultation. In Chapter 3 the main focus was on the Ancient Near Eastern tradition with regard to ancestral consultation and thus focused upon extratextual material. In this chapter, Mesopotamian and Israelite cultural practices were mainly considered. Customs relating to the act of consulting the dead were studied. It included funerary customs, death and mourning rites, the place and role of the dead in society. The study concluded that the act of ancestral consultation in the Ancient Near East was part of their religion. In Ancient Israel, however, it was prohibited by Yahwistic religion. Chapter 4 focused on ancestral consultation in African tradition. In this chapter, personal knowledge and experience were also important. Ancestral consultation in Africa is still a living tradition. The role of the ancestors was studied and also the role that the living have in relation to their ancestors. In this chapter the role of Christianity in Africa played pivotal role because Christianity shaped African religion of today. It is clear from the study that African Christianity still pays tribute to their dead relatives as they are believed to be closer to God. Both Christians and those who practice traditional religion agree on the role of the ancestors. In Chapter 5 the researcher brought together the information in Chapters 1 to 4. In that sense it can be regarded as the climax of the investigation into ancestral consultation as an ancient and modern cultural and religious practice. This chapter contains a comparison between African and Ancient Near Eastern tradition regarding ancestral consultation. The chapter indicates that there is a lot to compare between the two traditions, but one needs to consider the differences in time, religious perceptions, geography, economic and political background of the two traditions. This should especially be considered in evaluating the Ancient Near Eastern tradition because it is in the “archive”; we can only read and learn about it with reference to available sources, while African tradition is an existing one. In Chapter 6 the researcher summarised the main findings of the study with special reference to the research problem as discussed in the first chapter. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Ancient Languages / unrestricted