The Literature of Ancient SumerJeremy Black This anthology of Sumerian literature constitutes the most comprehensive collection ever published, and includes examples of most of the different types of composition written in the language, from narrative myths and lyrical hymns to proverbs and love poetry. The translations have benefited both from the work of many scholars and from our ever-increasing understanding of Sumerian. In addition to reflecting the advances made by modern scholarship, the translations are written inclear, accessible English. An extensive introduction discusses the literary qualities of the works, the people who created and copied them in ancient Iraq, and how the study of Sumerian literature has evolved over the last 150 years. |
Contents
List of illustrations | x |
How to use this book | xiii |
Chronological table | xvii |
INTRODUCTION | xix |
A HEROES AND KINGS | 1 |
B INANA AND DUMUZID | 63 |
C ENLIL AND NINLIL | 100 |
D THE MOONGOD NANNASUEN | 126 |
F LOVE AND SEX | 188 |
G THE NATURAL ORDER | 210 |
H THE HYMNIC GENRES | 245 |
I SCRIBES AND LEARNING | 275 |
J THE DECAD A SCRIBAL CURRICULUM | 299 |
Other thematic groupings | 353 |
| 358 | |
Glossary of Sumerian names | 360 |
Other editions - View all
The Literature of Ancient Sumer Jeremy Black,Graham Cunningham,Eleanor Robson,Gábor Zólyomi Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Abzu adab Agade Akkadian Anuna Anuna gods Anzud bird Aratta Asag Ašimbabbar balbale barge beer black-headed boat cattle-pen composition cows deity demons destiny destroyed divine powers Dumuzid E-kur Enki Enki’s Enkidu Enlil Enlil and Ninlil Enmerkar Eridug ETCSL fate Father Enlil fish Gilgames Girsu gisgigal goddess Inana grain Group hand heart heaven and earth hero holy Inana house of Enlil Huwawa hymn Isme-Dagan king kingship kirugu Kulaba lady Land lapis lazuli line unclear lines fragmentary lines missing Lipit-Estar Lugalbanda mistress mother mountains Nanna Nanna-Suen Naram-Suen Nergal Nibru Ningal Ningirsu Ningiszida Ninhursaga Ninisina Ninkasi Ninlil Nintud Ninurta Nisaba Nudimmud offerings palace poem praise priests prince reed Sargon scribes sheep sheepfold shepherd shrine song stone storm Su-kale-tuda Suen Sulgi Sumer Sumerian literary Sumerian literature Suruppag sweet tablets temple tigi Translation Underworld Unug Ur-Namma Ur-Zababa Urim warrior wild bull woman words young