Acknowledgments v Table of Contents vii 1. Reading Akkadian Literature Today 1 1.1. Scope of this Work and Previous Studies 1 1.2. Language 4 1.3. Texts and Manuscripts 4 1.4. Authors and Editors 5 1.5. Libraries, Collections, Readership 6 1.6. Decipherment and Publication 7 1.7. Lexicography, Grammar, Poetics 8 1.8. Translation 9 1.9. Criticism 10 1.10. Plan of this Work 11 1.11. Definition ofthe Late Period 12 2. Human Experience in Akkadian Literature 13 2.1. The Remote Past 13 Genuine Historical Materials 13 Pseudonymous Compositions in the Name of Past Kings 14 The Sargonic Period 14 2.1.1. Birth Legend of Sargon of Akkad 14 2.1.2. King of Battle 15 2.1.3 Cuthaean Legend ofnaram-sin 15 TheThirdDynastyofUr 17 The First Dynasty of Babylon 17 The Early Kassites 17 2.1.4. Agum-kakrime 18 2.1.5. Kurigalzu 18 2.1.5.1. The Donation of Kurigalzu 18 2.1.5.2. The Dreamof Kurigalzu 18 Chronological Collections of Historical Notices 18 2.2. The Dramatic Present and the Beginnings of Modern Times 19 Royal Epics 19 Assyrian Royal Epics 19 2.2.1 Adad-nerari Epic 19 2.2.2. Tukulti-Ninurta Epic 19 2.2.3. Shalmaneser in Ararat 20 2.2.4. Assyrian Epic Fragments 21 Babylonian Royal Epics and the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar 1 21 2.2.5. The Elamite Attack on Babylonia 21 2.2.6. Kudur-nahhunte Letters 21 2.2.6.1. Kudur-nahhunte to the Babylonians 21 2.2.6.2. The Babylonians to Kudur-nahhunte 22 2.2.7. Kudur-nahhunte's Invasion 22 Foster, Benjamin Read Akkadian literature of the Late Period 2007 digitalisiert durch: IDS Basel Bern
2.2.8. The Seedof Kingship 22 2.2.9. Nebuchadnezzar Epics 23 2.2.9.1. The War with Elam 23 2.2.9.2. The Nebuchadnezzar Epic 23 2.2.10. Nebuchadnezzar to the Babylonians 23 2.2.11. Sitti-Marduk Land Grant Narrative 23 2.2.12. The Return ofmarduk 24 2.2.13. Nabopolassar Epic 25 2.2.14. Nebuchadnezzar and Amil-Marduk 25 Royal Letters 26 2.2.15. Letter ofa King oflsin 26 2.2.16. Letter of Samsuiluna 26 2.2.17. Letter of Kurigalzu 27 2.2.18. Letters of Babylonian and Assyrian Shadow Kings 27 2.2.19. Letters of Assurbanipal 27 2.2.20. Letters from the Last Years of Assyria 27 2.3. The Envisioned Future: Literary Prophecies 27 2.3.1. Shulgi Prophecy 28 2.3.2. Marduk Prophecy 29 2.3.3. Uruk Prophecy 29 2.3.4. Dynastie Prophecy 30 2.3.5. Text A 30 2.4. Ancient Wisdom 30 2.4.1. Uruk List of Kings and Sages 30 2.4.2. Counselsof Wisdom 31 2.4.3. Sumerian Proverbs 31 2.4.4. Akkadian Proverbs 32 2.5. The Human Plight 32 2.5.1. Poem ofthe Righteous Sufferer 32 2.5.2. Babylonian Theodicy 34 2.5.3. Babylonian Mirror for Princes 35 2.5.4. Dialogue of Pessimism 35 2.6.Fables 36 2.6.1. The Tale ofthe Fox 36 2.6.2. Fable Fragments 36 2.6.3. Animal Caricatures 36 2.7. Debates 37 2.7.1. The Date Palm and the Tamarisk 37 2.7.2. Debate Fragments 37 2.8. Humorous Stories 37 2.8.1. ThePoorManofNippur 37 38 2.8.2. The Physician from Isin 2.9. Parody and Satire 38 38 2.9.1 TheBirds' Purchase 2.9.2. The Gilgamesh Letter 39 2.9.3. The Aluzinnu 39 2.10. Jokes and Riddles 40
ix 2.11. Love Lyrics 40 2.11.1. Love Lyrics of Nabu and Tashmetu 41 2.11.2. Love Lyrics of Ishtar of Babylon 41 2.11.3. Ishtar Will Not Tire 42 2.11.4. Ishtar Louvre 42 2.12. Laments 42 2.12.1. Lament of Tukulti-Ninurta 42 2.12.2. Lament of Assurnasirpal 43 2.12.3. Lament of Assurbanipal 43 2.12.4. The Lament of Nabü-shuma-ukin 43 2.12.5. Elegy for a Woman Dead in Childbirth 44 2.13. Praise of Kings, Cities, and Temples 44 2.13.1. In HonorofTiglath-Pileserl 44 2.13.1.1. Hymn to Tiglath-Pileser 1 44 2.13.1.2. The Hunter 45 2.13.2. Assur-bel-kala Hymn 45 2.13.3. Coronation Hymn of Assurbanipal 45 2.13.4. Praises for a King 45 2.13.5. Praises of Marduk and Babylon 46 2.13.6. In Praise of Babylon 46 2.13.7. In Praise of Arbela 46 2.13.8. In Praise ofezida 46 2.13.9. In Praise of Assur 46 2.14. Autobiographical Reflection 47 2.14.1. The Accession ofesarhaddon 47 2.14.2. The Education of Assurbanipal 47 2.14.3. The Mother of Nabonidus 48 3. Confronting the Divine in Akkadian Literature 49 3.1. Mythology: Stories about the Gods 49 3.1.1. Anzu 49 3.1.2. Monster Serpents 50 3.1.3. Creation Epic 51 3.1.4. Minor Creation Stories 53 3.1.4.1. Theogony of Dunnu 53 3.1.4.2. Creation ofthe World by Marduk 53 3.1.4.3. Creation of Humankind 54 3.1.4.4. Creation ofkingship 54 3.1.4.5. Creation by Anu, Enlil, and Ea 54 3.1.4.6. Creation ofmoon and Sun 54 3.1.5. Nergal and Ereshkigal 55 3.1.6. Adapa 56 3.1.7. The Descentof Ishtar to the Netherworld 57 3.2. Mythology: Stories about Gods and Human Beings 59 3.2.1. Atrahasis 59 3.2.2. Etana 63 3.2.3. Erra Epic 65 3.2.4. Gilgamesh Epic 67
3.3. Devotion: Speaking to the Gods 73 Incantation Prayersand Penitential Psalms 74 3.3.1. Incantation Prayers 74 3.3.2. Penitential Psalms 77 Great Hymns and Prayers 78 3.3.3. ShamashHymn 79 3.3.4. Great Hymn to Marduk 79 3.3.5. Great Hymn to Nabu 80 3.3.6. GulaHymn of Bullutsa-rabi 80 3.3.7. Ishtar, Queen of Nippur 81 3.3.8. Great Prayerto Ishtar 81 3.3.9. Great Prayer to Marduk 81 Hymns and Prayers for Kings 82 3.3.10. Hymns and Prayers for Assyrian Kings 82 3.3.10.1. Shalmaneser III toninlil 82 3.3.10.2. Sargon II at Dur-Sharrukin 82 3.3.10.3. Sargon II to Nanay 83 3.3.10.4. Assurbanipal to Anshar 83 3.3.10.5. Assurbanipal to Ishtar of Nineveh and Arbela 84 3.3.10.6. Assurbanipal to Marduk 84 3.3.10.7. Assurbanipal to Shamash 84 3.3.11. Prayers for Babylonian Kings 84 3.3.11.1. Nabopolassar 85 3.3.11.2. Nebuchadnezzar II 85 3.3.11.3. Nebuchadnezzar II to Nabu 85 3.3.11.4. Neriglissar 86 3.3.11.5. Nabonidus to Marduk 86 3.3.11.6. Nabonidus to Shamash 86 3.3.11.7. Nabonidus to Sin 86 3.3.11.8. Antiochus Soter to Nabu 87 Miscellaneous Hymns and Prayers 87 3.3.12. Ritual and Diviners' Prayers 87 3.3.12.1 Prayers to Gods ofthe Night 88 3.3.12.2. Prayers to Gods of Divination 88 3.3.12.3 Miscellaneous Ritual Prayers 88 3.3.13. Acrostics 89 3.3.14. Syncretic Hymns 89 3.3.14.1. Marduk Theology 89 3.3.14.2. Syncretic Hymn to Marduk 90 3.3.14.3. Syncretic Hymn to Ninurta 90 3.3.14.4. Syncretic Hymn to Ishtar 90 3.3.15. Procession Hymns 90 3.3.15.1. Procession Hymn to Marduk and Nabu 90 3.3.15.2. Procession Hymn to Tashmetu 90 3.3.15.3. Marduk and the Demons 91 3.3.16. Letters to Gods 91 3.3.15.1. Esarhaddon to Assur 91
xi 3.3.15.2. Sargon II to Assur 91 3.4. Divine Speech: the Magic Arts 91 3.4.1. Legitimation Spells 93 3.4.2. Prophylactic Spells 93 3.4.3. Marduk-Ea Spells 94 3.4.4. Consecration Spells 95 3.5. Divine Speech in Oracles 96 3.6. Visions ofthe Netherworld 96 3.6.1 Gilgamesh Epic Tablet XII 96 3.6.2. The Netherworld Vision of an Assyrian Crown Prince 97 3.7. Laments over Gods 98 3.7.1. Laments fortammuz 98 3.7.2. The Weeping Goddesses 98 4. Aspects of Akkadian Literature ofthe Late Period 99 4.1. Evolution and Change in Received Texts 99 4.2. Evolution and Change in Newly Composed Texts 102 4.2.1. The Assyro-Babylonian Phase ofthe Late Period: Content... 102 4.2.2. The Assyro-Babylonian Phase ofthe Late Period: Style 104 4.2.3. The Century of Babylon 109 4.2.4. The Final Phase 111 4.3. Applications and Allusions 111 4.3.1. The Purpose of Akkadian Literature 111 4.3.2. Allusions and Quotations of Akkadian Literature 113 4.4. Vernacular Literature 114 4.4.1. The Man Who Would Be King 114 4.4.2. Vernacular Dialogue 114 4.4.3. Aramaic 115 4.4.4. Greek 116 4.5. Death and Transformation 116 5. Bibliography 118 6. Index 140