Saying and Doing: performative utterance in ancient Near Eastern magical rituals

Key Points

• Performative utterances play a central role in ancient Near Eastern magical rituals, linking speech to action.
• These rituals demonstrate how language functions in specific cultural contexts, influencing beliefs and practices.
• The analysis focuses on various historical texts and artifacts to uncover the significance of these utterances in rituals.
• Findings support the notion that speech acts in these cultures had profound implications for their worldviews and spiritual practices.

Abstract