Satire And Religion In Ancient Arabia

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Surprisingly, satire and religion have been interconnected not only conceptually, but also within the practices of certain cultures throughout history. In Ancient Arabia, works of satire were revered for having powerful magical qualities because the satirists obtained “alliance with the spirits”, according to Robert C. Elliot, author of The Power of Satire: Magic, Ritual, Art. However, Elliot emphasizes that the most important function of the satirist was to “compose satire against the tribal enemy.” (Elliot) Ancient Arabic tribes would hold satire battles designed to attack the enemy’s honor as a preliminary to war. (Elliot) These satires, consisting mostly of intense ridicule, humor, and obscenity, served mainly as a military tactic. (Elliot)

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