By: April Carson
Recent research has unveiled how ancient Mesopotamians experienced and expressed emotions through their bodies, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between language, culture, and emotional embodiment. By analyzing Neo-Assyrian texts from 934–612 BCE, scholars have mapped the bodily associations of various emotions, revealing both parallels and distinctions with contemporary understandings.
Embodied Emotions in Ancient Texts
A multidisciplinary team examined approximately one million words from ancient Akkadian texts, aiming to discern consistent relationships between linguistic expressions of emotions and references to body parts. This analysis produced bodily sensation maps for 18 distinct emotions, highlighting how emotions were conceptualized in relation to the body in ancient Mesopotamia.
Happiness and the Liver
One of the most intriguing findings is the association of happiness with the liver. Expressions related to feeling 'open,' 'shining,' or 'full' were linked to the liver, suggesting that Mesopotamians located the sensation of happiness in this organ. This contrasts with modern mappings, where happiness is typically associated with the chest and head regions.
Anger in the Feet
The study also found that anger was associated with the feet in Mesopotamian texts. Terms indicating being 'heated,' 'enraged,' or 'angry' were linked to the feet, differing from contemporary associations of anger with the upper body and hands.
Love and the Body
Love was linked to the liver, heart, and knees, showing some parallels with modern emotion mapping. This suggests that certain emotional experiences may have consistent bodily associations across cultures and time periods.
Implications for Understanding Emotions
These findings offer valuable insights into how emotions were embodied in ancient cultures and underscore the importance of considering cultural and historical contexts when studying emotional expression. The research provides a foundation for exploring cultural differences in emotional experiences across time.
The study of ancient Mesopotamian texts reveals a complex understanding of the relationship between emotions and the body, highlighting both universal patterns and culturally specific expressions. This research enriches our comprehension of the historical embodiment of emotions and opens avenues for further cross-cultural studies.
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References:
Aalto University. (2024, December 4). Angry Feet: How the Emotional Body Map Changed Over Time.
University of Helsinki. (n.d.). Embodied Emotions: Ancient Mesopotamia and Today.
Bennett, E., & Sahala, A. (2023, September 8). Using Word Embeddings for Identifying Emotions Relating to the Body in a Neo-Assyrian Corpus. In Proceedings of the Ancient Language Processing Workshop associated with The 14th International Conference on Recent Advances in Natural Language Processing, RANLP 2023. Shumen: INCOMA.
Sonik, K., & Steinert, U. (Eds.). (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Emotions in the Ancient Near East. New York: Routledge.
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About the Blogger:
Hi! I'm April Carson, and if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I'm all about determination, dedication, and passion—whether in the classroom, on the court, or in my community. Growing up as Billy Carson's daughter, I learned early on the importance of pursuing my dreams with everything I’ve got.
My journey took off at Jacksonville University, where I dove into my love for Sociology. I wanted to understand people and society on a deeper level, and I was known for being that curious, enthusiastic student, always eager to make a difference in the field.
But life wasn’t all books and lectures. I had another love—basketball. Playing for the Women’s Basketball team at Jacksonville was an experience that taught me so much about teamwork, leadership, and relentless drive. Those traits have shaped who I am, both on and off the court.
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