Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature

1068 Pages·2019·42.183 MB·English

by  Benjamin R. Foster

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BEFORE THE MUSES
AN ANTHOLOGY OF AKKADIAN LITERATURE

BEFORTEH EM USES
AN ANTHOLOGY
OFA KKADIALNI TERATURE
BenjaRm.Fi ons ter
Third Edition
CDL Press
Bethesda, Maryland
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Before the muses : an anthology of Akkadian literature / Benjamin R. Foster.
-3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-883053-76-5
1. Assyro-Babylonian literature--Translations into English. I. Foster,
Benjamin R. (Benjamin Read)
PJ3951.B44 2005
892'.1-dc22
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NinevaefthAe,Hr.. L ayaDirscodveri,es Among the Ruins ef Nineveh and Babylon (1853),
389; MusReosm,a sna rcopahftaReg.rMu esn,aLa r mdyt,hol ogie dans /'art ancien et moderne
(1878), fi.2,24 , 225.
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(1936), plL..
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ISB1N88:30 53-765
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fromt hpeu bliCsDhLPe rreP,s. sOB,.o x34,45 4, BetheMsdd.20a,82, 7.
TABLEO FC ONTENTS
Preface xvii
Acknowled ents to the Third Edition xix
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GENERAL INTRODUCTION
IN SEARCH OF AKKAD IAN LITERATURE
A. The Akkadian Language
1. Semitic Languages, 1 - 2. Akkadian Vernacular Lan­
guages, 2 -3. Akkadian Literary Languages, 3 -4. Akkadian
Writing and Literacy, 4
B. Rediscovery of Akkadian Literature 6
1. Loss and Rediscovery, 6-2. Major Sources, 8 -3. Pub­
_
lication and Translation, IO
C. Poetry and Prose 13
1. Linguistic Differentiation, 13 -2. Verse Structure, 1 3 -
3. Parallelism, 14 - 4. Repetition, 15 - 5.M eter, 16 -
6. Wordplay, 16 - 7. Prose Style, 16 - 8. Formulae and
Word Pairs, 17 - 9. Simile and Metaphor, 18
D. Authors and Redactors 19
1. Authorship, 19- 2. Creativity, 21- 3. lntertextuality, 22
E. Reading Akkadian Literature 26
1. Time, 26 - 2. Place, 28 - 3. Speech, Action, Clamor,
Silence, 30 -4. Visual Aspects, 31 - 5.Kn owledge, 32 -
6. Divine Images, 33- 7. Demonic Beings, 34-8. Personal
Deity and Good Fortune, 35 - 9. Divination, 36
F. Formation of Akkadian Literature 37
1. Categories, 37 -2. Sumerian and Akkadian, 44, 3. Oral
Tradition, 45 -4. What is Akkadian Literature? 45
V
vi Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
THE ARCHAIC PERIOD
(2300-185 0 B.C.)
A. Archaic Literature
49
1. The Valorous Sun, 50
2. Star Incantation, 52
B. Old Akkadian Literature 54
3. Sargonic Kings and Their Times,
57
(a) Sargon the King, - (b) Sargon the Victorious, 58 -
57
(c) Naram-Sin and the Great Revolt, 59 - (d) Naram-Sin
and the Gods, 63
4. Incantations, 64
(a) Against a Demon, 64 - (b) Against the Evil Eye, 65 -
( c) Love Charm, 66
5. Old Akkadian Letters, 69
(a) Do Not Sit on a Chair! 69 - (b) The Predatory Gutians,
70
C. Old Assyrian Literature 71
6. Sargon, Lord of the Lies, 71
7. Incantations, 76
(a) She Is Sin lar, 76 - (b) She Is Furious, 77 - (c) Against
gu
Dogs, 78
CHAPTER II
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
(1850-1500 B.C.)
Introduction
79
A. In Praise of Deities 85
1. To Ishtar, 85
2. To Nanay, 89
3. To Papulegarra, 93
4. Self-praise oflshtar, 95
5. The A shaya Poem, 96
gu
B. Legends of Akkadian Kings rn7
6. Legends of Sargon, I07
(a) Sargon, King of Battle, I07 - (b) The Sargon Letter, 113
Table of Contents vii
7. Legends ofNaram-Sin, 115
(a) The Siege of Apishal, 115 - (b) The Great Revolt, 118
C. Kings of Babylonia and Their Times 122
8. Sin-kashid, King ofUruk, 122
9. Naram-Sin, King ofEshnunna, 124
IO. Hammurabi, King of Babylon, 126
(a) Hammurabi, King of Justice, 126 -(b) Hammurabi, for
Whom Do You Wait? 136-(c) Will H;immurabi Be Vic-
torious?, 138
I I. Samsuiluna, King of Babylon, 140
12. Royal Oracles and Prophecies, 143
(a) To Zimri-lim, King of Mari, 143 - (b) To lbalpiel II,
King ofEshnunna, 147
D. The Human Condition 148
13. Dialogue Between a Man and His God, 148
14. At the Cleaners, 151
I 5. Lament for a City, 153
16. The Faithful Lover, 155
E. Love Lyrics 160
17. Nanay and Muati, 160
I 8. Nanay and Rim-Sin, 162
19. Love Songs, 16 5
(a) Where Has My Lover Gone? 165 - (b) A Lover's Rid-
dle, 166-(c) Come In, Shepherd! 167-(d) Your Heartbeat
Is My Reveille, 169
F. Incantations 170
20. Birth and Childhood, 170
(a) She Has Never Given Birth, 170 -(b) The Child's Arms
Are Bound, 171 -(c) To Calm a Baby, 172
21. Against Lamashtu, 173
(a) Anu Begot Her, 173 -(b) She Is Fierce, 174
22. Against Demons, 175
(a) A Demon, 175 -(b) Against the Evil Eye, 176
23. Against Disease, Discomfort, Unwanted Feelings, 177
(a) Various Diseases, 177-(b) All Diseases, 179-(c) Against
an Infant Illness, 180 - (d) A inst a Mote in the Eye, 181 -
ga
(e) A inst Joint Pain(?), 182 - (t) Against a Disease of
ga
Sheep and Goats, 183 - (g) Against Gas Pains, 1 84 -