are non-arab Levantine and Mesopotamian "historically" practiced polygamy ?

[dark-mysterio]

hello

are non-arab (before Christianization ?) Levantine such as the phoenician,canaanite... and Mesopotamian such as the babylonian,assyrian... "historically" practiced polygamy ?

 

[Arilou]

Yes, at least for royalty/nobility (it's much less clear how ordinary people lived)

 

[dark-mysterio]

ok thank you

 

[Yakman]

hello

are non-arab (before Christianization ?) Levantine such as the phoenician,canaanite... and Mesopotamian such as the babylonian,assyrian... "historically" practiced polygamy ?

yup, it's right there in the bible. a man dies, his wife marries his brother.

 

[yerm]

yup, it's right there in the bible. a man dies, his wife marries his brother.

It's a bit more complicated (and sexist). Outside very rare exceptions like Egypt at times, women had very few rights compared to men and widows were therefore in an awful position. The brother can inherit the property women are barred from, give her some kids to care for her, and/or replace his brother as her husband outright.

This is why in the one story God smote the shit out of a dude for pulling out, this after ordering rapists to marry their victims. Using a woman for sex without being responsible for providing her with (and supporting) children? Horrific!

 

[gagenater]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levirate_marriage

A decent overview of Levirate marriage.