AVAR: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Life and Society in ANE

Do you have an article looking for a good home? We'd love to be that space. Use the QR code to find our submission guidelines.

You've just read Avar 4.2, but Avar 5 begins our Rolling Issues! This means we will have your work online first, so you don't have to wait until all articles are compiled to share. We'd love your submissions: avarjournal.com/avar/submiss...

Go read it to find out! avarjournal.com/avar/article... (3/3)

a blue globe is sitting on a table next to a vase of flowers . ALT: a blue globe is sitting on a table next to a vase of flowers .

Ong analyzes a vast number of ethnic terms in the Neo-Babylonian corpus, specifically the attributes ascribed to them, yielding interesting results. (2/3)

a man with a mustache says his name is inigo montonya Alt: a man with a mustache says his name is inigo montonya

Last but not least in Avar 4.2 is Matthew Ong's article, "Broad-scale Patterns in the Distribution of Ethnic Names in the Neo-Babylonian Oracc Corpus." 🧵(1/3)

Enjoy your Monday read: avarjournal.com/avar/article... (3/3)

a flock of seagulls are flying in front of a building with a sign that says ' sgw ' on it ALT: a flock of seagulls are flying in front of a building with a sign that says ' sgw ' on it

Boyd looks at every mention of a bird in these books of wisdom, revealing diverse uses of the bird that demonstrate a wide range of human and non-human animal relations. (2/3)

a man wearing glasses and a white shirt is reaching out towards another person Alt: a man wearing glasses and a white shirt is using his hands to make a butterfly motion

Samuel Boyd's article, the fourth in our recent issue, is called "Birds of a Feather: Animal Criticism, Domestication, and The Use of Bird Imagery and Metaphor in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes." 🧵 (1/3)

GO READ IT: avarjournal.com/avar/article... (3/3)

a deer is running on a grassy field in a blurry photo ALT: a deer is running on a grassy field in a blurry photo

Mulder discusses moving beyond an "ecological imperalist model of the wild needing taming" in analyzing seals that include animal imagery, expanding our imagery beyond the domestic for a larger and more robust imagined social community. (2/3)

a group of chickens and ducks are flying around a barn Alt: a group of chickens and ducks are flying around a barn

Our third article in the latest issue is by David Mulder, entitled "Temple/Herd: Mesopotamian Visions of Animal Community in the Early Third Millennium BCE." 🧵 (1/3)

Intrigued? Go read! (3/3)
avarjournal.com/avar/article...

a close up of an owl 's face with big yellow eyes . ALT: a close up of an owl 's face with big yellow eyes .

Porter takes great care to (re)consider the many details on the Mari plaque, considering archeological and cultural contexts but allowing for multiplicity in cosmological meaning. (2/3)

elton john is singing into a microphone while playing the piano . ALT: elton john is singing into a microphone while playing the piano .

The second article in our latest issue is called "Tiny Dancers:
An Archaeological View of Hidden Figures on the Mari Plaque," by Anne Porter. 🧵(1/3)

In other words, you should go read this now (3/3): avarjournal.com/avar/article...

a barbie doll says ohh myyyy with her hands in the air Alt: a barbie doll says ohh myyyy with her hands in the air

Taggar Cohen's work, which compares Hittite Ritual Texts on warfare/herem, recognizes that the *real* sin of Saul is his failure to inquire before he undertakes the act against Nob in 1 Samuel 21. (2/3)

kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain . Alt: kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain .

It's Monday, and we're featuring the first article in our recently released issue by Ada Taggar Cohen, "Divine Approval and Support of the King Going into War: The Case of King Saul, Biblical and Hittite Descriptions." 🧵(1/3)

We're following up on your weekend homework.

journal banner

Avar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Life and Society in the Ancient Near East Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025) avarjournal.com/avar/issue/v...
@avartnp.bsky.social @alexianafry.bsky.social #openaccess

patrick star from spongebob squarepants is looking out of a hole in his head . ALT: patrick star from spongebob squarepants is looking out of a hole in his head .

ENJOY 206 PAGES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE!

Closing out Avar 4.2 is "Broad-scale Patterns in the Distribution of Ethnic Names in the Neo-Babylonian Oracc Corpus," authored by Matthew Ong.
avarjournal.com/avar/article...

The final article of the special section (not the issue!) is by Samuel Boyd, "Birds of a Feather: Animal Criticism, Domestication, and the Use of Bird Imagery and Metaphor in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes."
avarjournal.com/avar/article...

Second in the special section on animals is "Temple/Herd: Mesopotamian Visions of Animal Community in the Early Third Millennium BCE," written by David Mulder.
avarjournal.com/avar/article...

But the first article that begins the special section on animals is by Anne Porter, "Tiny Dancers: An Archaeological View of Hidden Figures on the Mari Plaque."
avarjournal.com/avar/article...

The first article of this issue is by Ada Taggar Cohen, entitled "Divine Approval and Support of the King Going into War: The Case of King Saul, Biblical and Hittite Descriptions." avarjournal.com/avar/article...

Need some weekend reading? Avar 4.2 is LIVE!
avarjournal.com/avar/issue/v...

a woman in a plaid shirt says oops ! ALT: a woman in a plaid shirt says oops !

we're a little late

a man with curly hair and a mustache is leaning against a brick wall at night . ALT: a man with curly hair and a mustache is leaning against a brick wall at night .

We're sending proofs out and getting excited for you all to enjoy Avar 4.2 before ringing in the New Year!

We are thrilled that, 2026 onwards, we are moving to the online-first model!