God's Indwellings (Gods and Dwellings cited earlier as well)

Michael B. Hundley's book examines how temples functioned as dwellings for deities in the ancient Near East, analyzing cult statues, ritual practices, and the architecture that mediated divine presence.

Hundley synthesizes archaeological, textual, and iconographic evidence to argue that temples embodied cosmic order by housing visible manifestations of gods.

He discusses the materials and visual features of cult images—such as gold plating and inlaid eyes—that signaled divine radiance and authority.

The book explores rituals that 'indwelt' statues, like mouth-opening ceremonies, showing how they transformed crafted images into functioning deities within temple rites.

Hundley's work is important for understanding royal and religious ideologies surrounding divine embodiment and temple sovereignty.