Attalia

Attali´a, a maritime city of Pamphylia, in Asia Minor, near the mouth of the river Catarrhactes. It derived its name from its founder, Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamos. It was visited by Paul and Barnabas, A.D. 45 (Acts 14:25). It still exists under the name of Adalia, and extensive and important ruins attest the former consequence of the city.

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Attitudes

The allusions in Scripture to attitudes and postures expressive of adoration, supplication, and respect, are very numerous. From these we learn enough to perceive that the usages of the Hebrews in. this respect were very nearly, if not altogether, the same as those which are still practiced in the East, and which the paintings and sculptures of Egypt show to have been of old employed in that country. These sources supply ample materials for illustration, which it may be well to arrange under those heads into which such acts naturally divide themselves.

Adoration and Homage

The Muslims in their prayers throw themselves successively, and according to an established routine, into the various postures (nine in number) which they deem the most appropriate to the several parts of the service. For the sake of reference and comparison, we have introduced them all at the head of this article; as we have no doubt that the Hebrews employed on one occasion or another nearly all the various postures which the Muslims exhibit on one occasion. This is the chief difference. In public and common worship the Hebrews prayed standing; but in their separate and private acts of worship they assumed the position which, according to their modes of doing homage or showing respect, seemed to them the most suitable to their present feelings or objects. It would appear, however, that some form of kneeling was most usual in private devotions (I Kings 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Daniel 6:10; II Chronicles 6:13).

Standing

Standing in public prayer is still the practice of the Jews. This posture was adopted from the synagogue by the primitive Christians; and is still maintained by the Oriental Churches. This appears, from their monuments, to have been the custom also among the ancient Persians and Egyptians, although the latter certainly sometimes kneeled before their gods. In the Muslim worship, four of the nine positions (fig. 67, No. 1, 2, 4, 8) are standing ones; and that posture which is repeated in three out of these four (fig. 67, No. 2, 4, 8), may be pointed out as the proper Oriental posture of reverential standing, with folded hands. It is the posture in which people stand before kings and great men.

While in this attitude of worship, the hands were sometimes stretched forth towards heaven in supplication or invocation (I Kings 8:22; II Chronicles 6:12, 29; Isaiah 1:15). This was perhaps not so much the conventional posture (fig. 67, No. 1 in the Muslim series), as the more natural posture of standing adoration with outspread hands, which we observe on the Egyptian monuments. The uplifting of one hand (the right) only in taking an oath was so common, that to say, ‘I have lifted up my hand,’ was equivalent to ‘I have sworn’ (Genesis 14:22; comp. 41:44; Deuteronomy 32:40). This posture was also common among other ancient nations; and we find examples of it in the sculptures of Persia (fig. 69, No. 1) and Rome (fig. 69, No. 2).

Kneeling

Kneeling is very often described as a posture of worship (I Kings 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Daniel 6:10; II Chronicles 6:13; comp. I Kings 19:18; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60). This is still an Oriental custom, and three forms of it occur (fig. 67, No. 5, 6, 9) in the Muslim devotions. It was also in use, although not very frequent, among the ancient Egyptians; who likewise, as well as the Hebrews (Exodus 34:8; II Chronicles 29:29; Isaiah 1:15), sometimes prostrated themselves upon the ground. The usual mode of prostration among the Hebrews by which they expressed the most intense humiliation, was by bringing not only the body but the head to the ground.

The ordinary mode of prostration at the present time, and probably anciently, is that shown in one of the postures of Muslim worship (fig. 67, No. 5), in which the body is not thrown flat upon the ground, but rests upon the knees, arms, and head. In order to express devotion, sorrow, compunction, or humiliation, the Israelites threw dust upon their heads (Joshua 7:6; Job 2:12; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 24:7; Revelation 18:19), as was done also by the ancient Egyptians, and is still done by the modern Orientals. Under similar circumstances it was usual to smite the breast (Luke 18:13). This was also a practice among the Egyptians, and the monuments at Thebes exhibit persons engaged in this act while they kneel upon one knee.

In I Chronicles 17:16 we are told that ‘David the king came and sat before the Lord,’ and in that posture gave utterance to eloquent prayer, Page 117 or rather thanksgiving, which the sequel of the chapter contains. Those unacquainted with Eastern manners are surprised at this. But there is a mode of sitting in the East which is highly respectful and even reverential. It is that which occurs in the Muslim forms of worship (fig. 67, No. 9). The person first kneels, and then sits back upon his heels. Attention is also paid to the position of the hands, which they cross, fold, or hide in the opposite sleeves. The variety of this formal sitting, which the following figure represents, is highly respectful.

The prophet Elijah must have been in this or some other similar posture when he inclined himself so much forward in prayer that his head almost touched his knees (I Kings 18:42).

Supplication

Supplication, when addressed externally to man, cannot possibly be exhibited in any other forms than those which are used in supplication to God. Uplifted hands, kneeling, prostration, are common to both. On the Egyptian monuments, suppliant captives, of different nations, are represented as kneeling or standing with outspread hands. Prostration, or falling at the feet of a person, is often mentioned in Scripture as an act of supplication or of reverence, or of both (I Samuel 25:24; II Kings 4:37; Esther 8:3; Matthew 18:29; 28:9; Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41; John 11:32; Acts 10:25). Sometimes in this posture, or with the knees bent as before indicated, the Orientals bring their forehead to the ground, and before resuming an erect position either kiss the earth, or the feet, or border of the garment of the king or prince before whom they are allowed to appear. There is no doubt that a similar practice existed among the Jews (Matthew 9:20; Luke 7:38, 45). Kissing the hand of another as a mark of affectionate respect, we do not remember as distinctly mentioned in Scripture. But as the Jews had the other forms of Oriental salutation, we may conclude that they had this also, although it does not happen to have been specially noticed. Kissing one’s own hand is mentioned as early as the time of Job (Job 31:27), as an act of homage to the heavenly bodies. It was properly a salutation, and as such an act of adoration to them. The Romans in like manner kissed their hands as they passed the temples or statues of their gods [Adoration].

It appears from I Samuel 10:1; I Kings 19:18; Psalm 2:12; that there was a peculiar kiss of homage, the character of which is not indicated. It was probably that kiss upon the forehead expressive of high respect which was formerly, if not now, in use among the Bedouins.

Bowing

In the Scriptures there are different words descriptive of various postures of respectful bowing; as to incline or bow down the head, to bend down the body very low, to bend the knee, also to bless. These terms indicate a conformity with the existing usages of the East, in which the modes of bowing are equally diversified, and, in all likelihood, the same. These are—1. touching the lips and the forehead with the right hand, with or without an inclination of the head or of the body, and with or without previously touching the ground; 2 . placing the right hand upon the breast, with or without an inclination of the head or of the body; 3. bending the body very low, with folded arms; 4. bending the body and resting the hands on the knees: this is one of the postures of prayer, and is indicative of the highest respect in the presence of kings and princes.

It appears to have been usual for a person to receive a blessing in a kneeling posture. We know also that the person who gave the blessing laid his hands upon the head of the person blessed (Genesis 48:14). This is exactly the case at the present day in the East, and a picture of the existing custom would furnish a perfect illustration of the patriarchal form of blessing. This may be perceived from the annexed engraving.

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