The Ancient Near East, a vast and culturally rich region encompassing Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, and Persia, was the crucible of some of the world's earliest religious traditions. It was within this setting that polytheism flourished, temples dominated cityscapes, and divine kingship was often tied to sacred authority. Yet, amid this religious diversity, monotheism?specifically the worship of a single, sovereign deity?gradually emerged. The study of monotheism in Israel and the Ancient Near East requires an analysis of history, archaeology, and primary texts to understand how the idea of one God crystallized over time.
