Article

Saying and doing: Performative utterance in ancient Near Eastern magical rituals

---

Abstract

This article explores dimensions of orality in magical rituals from Hatti and Mesopotamia, contextualized through theoretical frameworks set forth by John Austin and Stanley Tambiah concerning the concept of ‘performative utterance’. The underlying premise of this concept suggests that in magical rituals, orality can sometimes possess a force similar to that of physical actions. It can influence ritualistic reality and modify it, either in conjunction with accompanying actions or independently. The article presents several illustrative examples that exemplify this phenomenon.

Keywords: magical rituals, orality, Hatti, Mesopotamia, performative utterance

How to Cite:

Peled, I., (2025) “Saying and doing: Performative utterance in ancient Near Eastern magical rituals”, Akkadica 146(1), 67-88. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/akkadica.100528