VEGETATION IN MESOPOTAMIAN TEMPLE PRECINCTS：GARDENS，“SACRED GROVES” OR POTTED PLANTS？

摘要

It is usually believed that “sacred groves” found their origins in the Near East.According to Israel's prophets, cultic ceremonies were organized in suchplaces，during the Hellenistic period, famous “sacred groves” were located in the Near East, more precisely in Asia Minor，it is well-known Adonis himself camefrom Levant - and might be identified with the former Dumuzi -, as well as some cultic practices related to him originated from this region. Moreover, Frazer's research, at the end of the XIXth century, tackled the importance of “sacred groves” in archaic religions.