ANOINTING (Lat. inunctio, from in, in + unguerc, to smear, anoint). The custom of pour ing oil on the head, or of applying unguents to one's body. Anointing was widespread in the ancient Orient for secular as well as for religious purposes. In the Old Testament, where the custom is frequently referred to, the unguent used was olive oil, to which frequently aro matic spices were added. As a part of the regular toilet, anointing was associated with washing (e.g. Ezekiel xvi : 9), but in days of mourning, anointing, which was regard ed as a symbol of joy and gladness (e.g. Psalms xxiii : 5), was omitted. Head, face, and feet were the-parts of the body to which the un guents were applied. The Hebrews in thus using aromatic 110 doubt simply followed gen eral customs, and similarly the religious and ceremonial use of unguents was common to the ancient Orient. it was general to anoint kings as a symbol of initiation, and likewise priests and sacred objects were anointed. An interesting de velopment growing out of the custom among the Hebrews was the use of the word meshiach, which means anointed, or "the one set aside as devoted" and sacred: and in the extension of this idea, Meshiach or Messias collies to be applied to the Hebrews as flue people set aside by Jehovah, to God himself as the 'Messiah of his people, and to Jesus Christ as set aside by God for the redemp tion of mankind.
As to the original significance of anointing as a religious rite, scholars hold different views. Some regard the oil as a substitute for blood, others look upon it as itself symbolizing life, fat being, according to ancient ideas, one of the seats of life. In either ease, the idea expressed by the
religious and ceremonial anointing is that of establishing a covenant between the individual and the Deity, perhaps as the source• of life of which the oil serves in some way or the other as representative. It was the actual rubbing of the unguent over the head, face or feet whereby direct communion between the individual and the unguent was brought about that constituted the essential part of the ceremony, and not the mere act of pouring it over the head of a person. In the course of time, however, as the custom be came more and more merely a mark of honor, the pouring over the head became the customary form of anointing. In the New Testament, an ointing is merely referred to in the ease of the sick; but the rite was adopted by the Roman Catholic and the various Oriental churches. and survives in the anointing of kings in England, Spain, and Russia. See also CHRISM CORONA vox, and EXTREME T_INcriox; and for annoint ing of the dead, see EMBALMING.
ANOKA, :1-no'ka. A city, the county seat of Anoka Co., Minn., on the Rum River, at its confluence with the -Mississippi, 15 miles north no•thwest of Minneapolis (Nap: 'Minnesota, E 5). Anoka has a public library, fine schools, and manufactures of lumber in various forms, flour, machinery, etc. Under a charter of 1889, the mayor is elected yearly, and the city council consists of six members. Pop., 1891), 4252; 1900, 3769.