Prostrations

As we approach Great Lent, we can all expect to be doing quite a few prostrations. Last year, my first Great Lent, I had not yet discovered the proper technique of doing a prostration, which is of course, to get up from the floor with both legs at one time. Instead, I would get up one leg at a time. This made for a very difficult service of Forgiveness Vespers. After I had gotten around to the 50 or so people there and doing a prostration in front of them, my right leg was throbbing. The next day, I could hardly walk. I quickly learned after that the proper way to prostrate.

In Ugaritic class today, we read, for the umpteenth time, a letter with the typical greeting formulae. Usually, when an inferior is writing to a superior, the greeting section includes a statement such as the following from two slaves to their master:

Vocalized text:
lê pa`nê ba`lināyā ṯinêida šab`ida marḥaqtama qālānāyā

Translation:
At the feet of our master, twice seven times from afar we fall down

This sort of formula may be seen with various numbers indicating the number of prostrations the inferior is hypothetically performing such as "seven times seven" or the formula n+1, "seven times and eight." These prostrations are understood from Egyptian relief paintings and Akkadian letters to be prostrations not only on the belly but also the back. The Egyptian painting shows a Canaanite on his back with his beard sticking up and then on his belly. Either he would prostrate first on his belly, get up, and then lie on his back, or roll over onto his back from lying prostrate on his belly. Either way, it is a very humiliating action to be doing in front of a superior.

I do not have any particular spiritual application of this analogy other than to state it's rather humorous existence. It is a form of obeisance that was observed over 3,500 years ago and still used today by Christians all over the world.

So, as we do our prostrations during Forgiveness Vespers or the Great Canon of St. Andrew, we can be glad we do not have to prostrate on our back as well.