Glossary

boustrophedon (boo-STRA-fed-on): “as the ox ploughs”; an ancient method of writing in which the direction of written lines alternates between left-to-right and right-to-left or, more rarely, between up and down.

eschatology (ES-ke-TOL-e-jee): the doctrine of the end of days, including the consummation of history.

hierophant (HIGH-re-fant): an interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.

onomasticon (on-e-MAS-tik-on): an inventory of personal names and their use in a particular time and place.

pictograph (PICK-te-graf): a picture symbolizing a sound, syllable or a word.

syllabary (SILL-e-ber-ee): a catalogue of syllabic signs.

syllogistic (sill-o-JIS-tik) reasoning: a logical argument that uses syllogisms, for example, “all A is B; all B is C; therefore all A is C.”

Tetrateuch (TE-tra-touk): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.

theomachy (thee-OM-e-kee): conflict among the gods.

theophoric (thee-o-FOR-ik) names: names with a divine element.

tradent (TRAY-dent): the receiver, shaper and transmitter of tradition.