Ancient civilizations’ territorial borders analyzed through their cosmogonies

Guido Cimadomo; Iradj Esmailpour Ghoochani; Pilar Martínez Ponce

doi:10.21670/ref.2416152

Authors

Guido Cimadomo Universidad de Málaga https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2926-3678
Iradj Esmailpour Ghoochani Institute for Ethno-psychoanalytical Art and Theater https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0517-833X
Pilar Martínez Ponce Independent researcher https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7916-0933

Keywords:

cosmogony, history of civilizations, history of religions, cartography, borders, fear

Abstract

This paper compares the ancient Mediterranean and Mesopotamian civilizations’ concept of borders and their relation with the spaces they transformed through a comparative approach of selected ancient civilizations, putting these cosmogonies into a chronological evolutionary line. The distinct motifs, symbols, and theological frameworks are examined through secondary sources. While each of these civilizations counts with individual studies, few serious attempts have been made to address these four civilizations together. The discussion aims to set the premises of the importance of borders in contemporary urban and territorial studies when religion often has a secondary role. While they were critical elements in the definition of territorial limits in the past, their inheritance is still present in our contemporary concept of borders as producers of fears.

Resumen

Este artículo compara el concepto que las antiguas civilizaciones mediterráneas y mesopotámicas tenían de las fronteras y su relación con los espacios que transformaban mediante un enfoque comparativo sobre algunas civilizaciones seleccionadas, situando estas cosmogonías en una línea evolutiva cronológica. El examen de los distintos motivos, símbolos y marcos teológicos se realiza a través de fuentes secundarias. Aunque cada una de estas civilizaciones cuenta con estudios individuales, se han hecho pocos intentos rigurosos de abordar estas cuatro civilizaciones de forma conjunta. La discusión pretende sentar las premisas de la importancia de las fronteras en los estudios urbanos y territoriales contemporáneos, cuando la religión tiene a menudo un papel secundario. Si en el pasado fueron elementos críticos en la definición de los límites territoriales, su herencia sigue presente en nuestra concepción contemporánea de las fronteras como productoras de miedos.

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