Dream Analysis: Book of Ur

Slicing and dicing the afternoon’s dream: “Book of Ur“. Warning, meandering thoughts ahead.

I read too much into the Israelite’s description. He could easily be any of numerous tribes and peoples that were conquered by expanding Israel, or had emigrated to Israel. These people would be allowed to live, work, and pay taxes to the ruling Jews, but not be forced to become Jews themselves. Not enough detail of the man or his clothing was given to make any kind of guess where or when he was from.

The “Book of Ur”, on the other hand. Here, hold my hand, the footing is tricky here.

There is no place on Israel’s Mediterranean shore where that man could stand, face North North East, and face the original city of Ur. I took a map and tried my damnest. Ain’t gonna happen. However, the Israelite would be facing the western cities of ancient Sumer. Keep that written down, we’re going to go east for a bit.

Ur, once upon a time, was a coastal city off the river Euphrates. Not anymore. But when it was, among its highlights and tourist traps was the central temple. This central temple was dedicated to the Sumer god of the moon, “Nanna”. Keep that written down, I’m going to digress for a bit.

Ever notice how well known grimoires and spell books have very little, if anything at all, to do with their namesake? The Lesser Key of Solomon, for example. Attributed to the Biblical King Solomon (1011BC – 931BC), it was quickly identified as a more modern work. (Yea, yea, details and all, work with me here.)

The scroll the Israelite was reading may have been entitled “The Book of Ur”, but I’ll bet that was just the namesake title. The “book” may have originally been written in Ur, and references Ur, and for that reason kept the name. But why name it so blandly? Because for an Israelite to have a book/scroll named after a foreign god would not have looked well on his character assessment.

Paris is the city of romance. Los Angeles is the city of false hope. (Yea, I said it.) Ur is the city of Nanna. The “Book of Ur”, is really, the “Book of Nanna”. And Nanna, had two cities to hang out in. The moon god could enjoy the pleasure of Ur in the east, or the pleasure of Harran, in the western part of Mesopotamia. (Yes, there were others, but I’m focusing on cities as large/important as Ur.)

Harran, is not true NNE of Israel’s shore, but it is more north than true North East. Certainly, there is enough allowable fudge factor, to face the general direction of Harran, and call on the old spells and callings as handed down from previous generations. Much like adherents of a certain well known faith will pray facing the general direction of their holy city.

Well, it makes sense to me, and I dreamt it. ~grin~ But I’m open to correction. ~spreads hands~

So, to recap the story thus far, the Israelite (2nd generation?) immigrant stood OFFSHORE of his new country, and recited the prayers of his family’s god. Why did he stand offshore? So he would not violate his promise not to worship “foreign gods” in Israel. Which makes him a pretty cool guy in my book. He keeps his family’s pledges to the old ways and the new ways. I’m glad I didn’t disturb him.

Of course, the most important question still remains.

Why the hell did I dream that in the first place?