1. Cuneiform writing, writing materials, and written languages
Readings
- Bottéro, Mesopotamia, 1992: Chapter 5, 'From mnemonic device to script' (pp. 67-86) and Chapter 6, 'Writing and dialectics, or the progress of knowledge' (pp. 87-102)
- Walker, Cuneiform, 1987: Chapter 1, 'Origin and development', Chapter 2, 'Tablets and monuments', and Chapter 4, 'The geographical spread' (pp. 7-32, 40-47)
- Pearce, 'Scribes and scholars', 1995
- Radner, 'Format and content', 1999
- Fales, 'Aramaic tablets', 2000
Discussion topics
- What do we know about the origins of the cuneiform script? How did it develop?
- How does the cuneiform script work?
- Which languages were recorded in the cuneiform script? Which ones were not? Why?
- What is the relationship between writing material and writing system?
- Do writing systems reflect a certain worldview ("Weltanschauung")?
2. The Assyrian royal court
Readings
Discussion topics
- What was the Assyrian king's relationship to his subjects and to the gods?
- What roles did the members of the royal family play? Who else had power and influence in the Assyrian court?
- How did the Assyrian king make political and military decisions?
- Who supported and advised the Assyrian king in political and military decision-making?
- How was the royal entourage supported financially?
3. Who wrote and read in the Assyrian empire?
Readings
- Oppenheim, Ancient Mesopotamia, 1977: Chapter 7 (pp. 228-287)
- Curtis and Reade, Art and empire, 1995: Chapter 10 (pp. 198-209)
- Parpola, 'The man without a scribe', 1997
- Parpola, Correspondence of Sargon II, 1987: 'Introduction' (pp. XI-XX)
Discussion topics
- What was a 'scribe'? What ideas does the term invoke?
- Who was trained to read and write in ancient Assyria?
- Who read and wrote in ancient Assyria?
- Does orthography matter? Is there a right way of writing?
- Can the modern concept of 'general education' be applied to ancient Assyria?
4. The mythical sages of Mesopotamia: fish creatures as the teachers of mankind
Readings
- Dalley, Myths, 2000: 'Adapa' (pp. 182-188)
- Verbrugghe and Wickersham, Berossos and Manetho, 1996: 'Berossos' (pp. 13-91)
- Colless, 'Divine education', 1970
- Michalowski, 'Adapa and the ritual process', 1980
- Rochberg, 'Continuity and change', 1999
Discussion topics
- Who, according to Mesopotamian tradition, brought 'knowledge' (including kingship!) to mankind? And in other traditions?
- Who was Adapa/Oannes? Who were the 'seven sages'?
- Why were fish/fish-men considered to be wise?
- How does this relate to the 'Flood' in Mesopotamian tradition? And elsewhere?
- What are the implications of the supposed divine origin of 'knowledge' (e.g., omen literature, kingship)?
5. Hard(ly) science? The core subjects of Assyrian scholarship
Readings
- Bottéro, Mesopotamia, 1992: Chapter 8, 'Divination and the scientific spirit' (pp. 125-137)
- Jeyes, 'Divination as a science', 1991-92
- Reiner, Astral magic, 1995
- Scurlock, 'Physician, exorcist, conjuror, magician', 1999
- Steinkeller, 'Of stars and men', 2005
Discussion topics
- What is divination?
- How do the gods communicate? To whom? What kind of world view does this imply?
- Which disciplines of divination dealt with unprovoked messages? Which was the most prominent? Why?
- Which discipline of divination dealt with provoked messages? How was it done?
- The healing professions 'exorcist' and 'physician': what were their areas of expertise?
6. Scholars and priests: the quest of knowledge in the service of the gods
Readings
- Maul, 'Calamities announced by omens', 1999
- Rochberg, 'Scribes and scholars', 2000
- Veldhuis, 'Divination: theory and use', 2006
- Lambert, 'Qualifications', 1998
Discussion topics
- 'Priests' in ancient Assyria: what ideas does the term invoke? Are they accurate?
- 'Priests' as temple officials: what were the connections between the practice of astronomy/astrology and Assyrian temples?
- 'Priests' as temple officials: what were the connections between the practice of divination/extispicy and Assyrian temples?
- 'Priests' as ritual experts: what did exorcists do? Where?
- How were Assyrian scholars 'serving the gods'?
7. Mighty men: the king's scholars
Readings
- Fales and Lanfranchi, 'Impact of oracular material', 1997
- Leichty, 'Divination, magic, and astrology', 1997
- Parpola, Letters from ... scholars, 1993: Introduction (pp. XIII-XXXV)
- Starr, Queries to the Sungod, 1990: Introduction (pp. XIII-LXXV)
Discussion topics
- What sort of scholars were in the king's employ? Why?
- Did the king depend on the scholars? In what ways?
- How did the king control the scholars? Why was there a need for a control mechanism?
- How did the scholars benefit from the king's patronage?
- Was the king himself a scholar?
8. Libraries and the canonisation of knowledge
Readings
- Finkel, 'Adad-apla-iddina', 1988
- Frame and George, 'Royal libraries of Nineveh', 2005
- Lieberman, 'Canonical and official', 1990
- Veldhuis, 'Mesopotamian canons', 2003
- Foster, 'On authorship', 1991
Discussion topics
- Where were Assyrian libraries located, and who used them?
- What sort of texts were kept in the libraries of Assyria?
- Authors and editors: how can we trace their roles in Assyria?
- What is 'canonisation'? Can this concept be applied to Assyria?
- Was there any room for innovation and creativity in Assyrian scholarship?
Content last modified: 07 Jul 2012.