Animals and their Relation to Gods, Humans and Things in the Ancient World

Dr. Raija Mattila is Docent of Assyriology, University of Helsinki, Finland, and Director of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East, Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Sanae Ito is a historian and Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Dr. Sebastian Fink is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence "Changes in Sacred Texts and Traditions".

Human-Animal-Studies - Bridging the Lacuna between Academia and Society.- Reflections on the Pivotal Role of Animals in Early Mesopotamia.- Holy Cow! On Cattle Metaphores in Sumerian Literary Texts.- On Men, Animals, and Supernatural Beings in Ancient Maya Iconography. - Animal Friezes in "Orientalizing" Greek Art.