Angels, Demons, Ghosts, and Monsters

A Digital Exploration of the Babylonian Talmud
2026
ISBN: 978-3-506-70551-8
Verlag: Brill I Schoeningh

Buch, Englisch, Band 38, 326 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 680 g

Reihe: Journal of Ancient Judaism. Supplements

This volume introduces Elyonim veTachtonim, a novel system for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of supernatural entities. Combining close reading, cognitive theory of religion, and digital humanities, it uncovers underlying patterns in their depiction in the Babylonian Talmud. The study shows that sages portrayed themselves as angels guided by the ghosts of past generations; demons embodied social and moral disruptors; and monsters remained at the narrative margins as remnants of biblical lore. Although focused on the Talmud, the book offers a flexible analytical framework applicable to other texts and media.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kosior, Wojciech

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien Rabbinische Literatur

Über Autor(innen)

Wojciech Kosior is a scholar of Jewish Studies, Religious Studies and Psychology at Jagiellonian University. His research focuses on supernatural entities in biblical and rabbinic traditions, cognitive approaches to religion, and digital humanities.