"Losing one's head" in the ancient Near East: interpretation and meaning of decapitation (1st)

This volume explores representations of decapitation in both texts and images in a trans-chronological perspective that aims to highlight a number of conditions, relations and meanings of this specific act in times of war, recognising the severed head as a 'coveted object' for the many individuals who interact with it and determine its fate.

With examples drawn from Anatolia, Syria and Mesopotamia between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC, from prehistory to the Neo-Assyrian period, this fascinating study is of interest not only to art historians, but also anyone interested in the dynamics of war in the ancient world.