Scholars from different fields will give insights into their actual research on the destructivity and productivity of disasters in antiquity, including the possibility that disasters were used as topoi in ideological, mythological and theological discourses. Their contributions in this volume represent a first step to a cultural history of disasters in antiquity.

The volume collects the papers of the International Conference on Disaster and Relief Management in Ancient Israel/Palestine, Egypt and the Ancient Near East held from the 4th of October to the 6th of October 2010 in Leipzig. Scholars from different fields are having a close look at the concepts of disasters in antiquity, their impact on society, possible dynamics and cultural dimensions. They give insights into their actual research on the destructivity and productivity of disasters, including the possibility that disasters were used as topoi in ideological, mythological and theological discourses. Their contributions in this volume represent a first step to a cultural history of disasters in antiquity.

Autorentext
is Professor for "History and Religion of Israel and its Environment" at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Leipzig, an Extraordinary Professor for Ancient Studies at the University of Stellenbosch/South Africa, a Visiting Full Professor for Biblical Archaeology at Bar Ilan University/Israel, and a Full Member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences.

Inhalt
Introduction - Einleitung:
Angelika Berlejung : Disaster and Relief Management in Ancient Israel/Palestine, Egypt and the Ancient Near East. Katastrophen und Katastrophenbewältigung im Alten Israel/Palästina, in Ägypten und im Alten Orient

I. Theories of Disaster - Einblicke in theoretische Katastrophenforschung
Elke M. Geenen : Gesellschaftliche Verfügung über Kapitalien und Vulnerabilität in konzeptioneller Perspektive - Elisabeth List : Einbruch ins Selbstverständliche. Katastrophen als Kontingenzerfahrung - Jan Dietrich : Katastrophen im Altertum aus kulturanthropologischer und kulturphilosophischer Perspektive

II. Disaster and Relief Management in Israel/Palestine - Katastrophen und Katastrophenbewältigung im Alten Israel/Palästina
II.1. Biblical Studies/Biblische Aspekte
Bernd Janowski : Eine Welt ohne Licht. Zur Chaostopik von Jer 4:23-28 und verwandten Texten - Sebastian Grätz : Gericht und Gnade. Die Fluterzählung im Rahmen der biblischen Urgeschichte - Thomas Römer : The Hebrew Bible as Crisis Literature - Jacob L. Wright : Die Zerstörung des Ökosystems als Element der Kriegsführung im Alten Israel - Diana Edelman : Earthquakes in the Southern Levant. A Literary Topos and a Problem Requiring Architectural Solutions
II.2. Archaeological Studies/Archäologische Aspekte
Aren M. Maeir : Philistia and the Judean Shephelah after Hazael and the "Uzziah Earthquake". The Power Play between the Philistines, Judahites and Assyrians in the 8th Century BCE in Light of the Excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath - Aaron A. Burke : Coping with the Effects of War. Refugees in the Levant during the Bronze and Iron Ages - Gunnar Lehmann : Survival and Reconstruction of Judah in the Time of Manasseh - Ariel M. Bagg : Floods in the Desert. How Nabataeans Managed Catastrophes

III. Disaster and Relief Management in Egypt and the Ancient Near East - Katastrophen und Katastrophenbewältigung in Ägypten und im Alten Orient
Joachim F. Quack : Danaergeschenk des Nil? Zu viel oder zu wenig Wasser im Alten Ägypten - Ludwig D. Morenz : Hungersnöte im Bild. Zur Inszenierung von Topoi im Alten Ägypten - Paul A. Kruger : Disaster and the topos of the World Upside Down. Selected Cases from the Ancient Near Eastern World - Hanspeter Schaudig : Erklärungsmuster von Katastrophen im Alten Orient - Marco Stockhusen : Die Deutung kosmischer Erscheinungen am Beispiel von Sonnen- und Mondeklipsen. Ein Vergleich zwischen den Kulturräumen Mesopotamien und Ägypten im 1. Jt. v.Chr. - Jörg Klinger : Krankheit und Krieg im Spannungsfeld zwischen mythischer und realer Katastrophe