The Red Tent Allusions and Cultural References

When authors give shout outs to other great works, people, and events, it's usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.

A quick note, Shmoopers: all of the characters in The Red Tent are also characters in the Bible, so technically the whole book is a shout out. But let's focus on the less explicit shout outs.

Historical Figures:

  • El (1.1.36)
  • Ninhursag (1.1.37)
  • Enlil (1.1.37)
  • Lamashtu (1.3.99)
  • Uttu (2.1.18)
  • Innana (2.6.27)
  • Taweret (2.6.32)
  • Gula (2.6.45)
  • Re (3.1.17)
  • Horus (3.2.9)
  • Anubis (3.2.32)
  • Set (3.2.49)
  • Osiris (3.3.28)

Historical and Modern Locations:

  • Carchemish (2.1.46)
  • Canaan (2.2.2)
  • Egypt (2.3.40)
  • Damascus (2.3.40)
  • Shechem (2.3.40)
  • Edom (2.3.48)
  • Haran (2.3.48)
  • Jabbok (2.3.101)
  • Succoth (2.4.67)
  • Tyre (2.5.14)
  • Arba (2.5.15)
  • Joppa (3.1.6)
  • Minoa (3.1.6)
  • Memphis (3.1.17)
  • Thebes (3.1.21)
  • Nubia (3.2.16)