Ritual Intonation Practices in Marsanes (NHC X)

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dc.contributor.advisorDeConick, April Den_US
dc.creatorWillingham, Rochelle Herbsten_US
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-23T20:59:52Zen_US
dc.date.available2023-05-01T05:01:15Zen_US
dc.date.created2022-05en_US
dc.date.issued2022-04-19en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2022en_US
dc.date.updated2022-09-23T20:59:52Zen_US
dc.description.abstractLanguage plays a central role in creation myths across many cultures, an importance which is reflected in ritual practice. Intonation practices were widespread among ancient Mediterranean cultures and can be found in many texts, including Gnostic, Hekhalot, and Greco-Egyptian. While the forms of practices were different—including the use of names, hymns, prayers, and intoning of vowels—the centrality of language is shared cross-culturally. In this thesis, I will investigate the intonation practices within Marsanes, a Gnostic text in the Nag Hammadi corpus, seeking to place it within the larger cultural milieu, as well as apply concepts from cognitive linguistics to understand the processes which lead to the development of these practices. The biocultural approach, along with cognitive ratcheting, provide a framework for modeling how these practices originated and subsequently developed into different forms, shaped by different cultures. This thesis argues that ritual intonation practices originated from the vocalizations of primates, as seen today in chimpanzees, and supported functions such as encouraging group cohesion and establishing and maintaining social relations of individuals within the community. These vocalizations—a form of ritualizing behavior—is instinctual. As humans evolved and developed culture, these innate practices took on new meaning which reflected the mythology, language, and beliefs of the culture.en_US
dc.embargo.terms2023-05-01en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationWillingham, Rochelle Herbst. "Ritual Intonation Practices in Marsanes (NHC X)." (2022) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/113313">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/113313</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/113313en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectGnosticismen_US
dc.subjectritualen_US
dc.subjectNag Hammadien_US
dc.subjectcognitive ratchetingen_US
dc.subjectMarsanesen_US
dc.titleRitual Intonation Practices in Marsanes (NHC X)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentReligious Studiesen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US
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