Ancient near East : Historical Sources in Translation

by Chavalas, Mark W.

• ISBN13: 9780631235811
• ISBN10: 0631235817
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-21
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This book provides the reader with the primary sources for the history of the ancient Near East. Covering the period from the earliest historical and literary texts (ca. 2700 BC) to the advent of Alexander the Great (331 BC), it presents new translations of Mesopotamian and ancient Near Eastern historiographic texts, and other related materials. An opening chapter sets out the themes of the book and discusses the difficulties of translating cuneiform texts into English, as well as the difficulty of reconstructing ancient Near Eastern history from textual sources. Texts featured in the main body of the book range from the code of Hammurabi to the Assyrian royal inscriptions. For each text, a detailed commentary is provided, placing it in its historical and cultural context. A map helps to orient the reader.

Author Biography

Mark W. Chavalas is Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He has edited or authored six books, including most recently Life and Culture in the Ancient Near East (2002), Mesopotamia and the Bible (2002) and Bible Background Commentary of the Old Testament (2000). He is currently on the Board of Trustees of the American Schools of Oriental Research.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xv
Abbreviations	xvi
Notes on Contributors	xviii
Illustrations	xxi
Introduction	1	(279)
Mark W. Chavalas
1 Sumerian Early Dynastic Royal Inscriptions	4	(13)
Glenn Magid
Pre-Sargonic Royal Inscriptions	9	(8)
A. Ur	9	(1)
1. Pu'abi	9	(1)
2. Mesanepada	10	(1)
B. Uruk	10	(1)
3. Lugalkiginedudu	10	(1)
4. Enshakushana	10	(1)
C. Nippur	10	(1)
5. Nammah	10	(1)
D. Umma	10	(1)
6. Urluma	10	(1)
E. Kish	10	(1)
7. Mebaragesi	10	(1)
8. Mesalim	11	(1)
F. Lagash	11	(1)
9. Urnanshe	11	(1)
10. Eanatum	11	(1)
11. Enanatum I	13	(1)
12. Enmetena	14	(1)
G. Umma	15	(1)
13. Lugalzagesi	15	(2)
2 Old Akkadian Period Texts	17	(28)
Benjamin Studevent-Hickman and Christopher Morgan
I. Texts from the Old Akkadian Period (Studevent-Hickman)	17	(5)
A. Sargon	18	(1)
14. The creation of the Akkadian Empire	18	(1)
B. Manishtusu	18	(1)
15. The standard inscription of Manishtusu	18	(1)
C. Rimush	19	(1)
16. Rimush's campaign to Elam	19	(1)
D. Naram-Sin	20	(1)
17. The inscription from the Basetki Statue	20	(1)
E. Shar-kali-sharri	21	(1)
18. A letter concerning the Gutians	21	(1)
II. Late Traditions Concerning Sargon and Naram-Sin (Morgan)	22	(23)
A. Sargon of Akkad	22	(1)
19. The Sargon Birth Legend	22	(1)
20. Sargon, King of Battle	25	(4)
B. Naram-Sin of Akkad	29	(1)
21. The Great Revolt	30	(1)
22. The Cutha Legend	32	(13)
3 Late Third Millennium BCE Sumerian Texts	45	(43)
Richard Averbeck, Benjamin Studevent-Hickman, and Piotr Michalowski
I. Gudea Historical Texts (Averbeck)	45	(1)
23. Gudea Statue I	46	(1)
24. Gudea Statue B	47	(4)
II. Texts from the Ur III Period	51	(37)
A. Ur-Namma (Studevent-Hickman)	52	(1)
25. The restoration of the temple wall named Etemennigur	52	(2)
B. Shulgi (Studevent-Hickman)	54	(1)
26. The construction of the Eninnu for Ningirsu	54	(1)
C. Amar-Suen (Studevent-Hickman)	55	(1)
27. The construction of the gipar and the installation of the en-priestess	55	(1)
D. Shu-Suen (Studevent-Hickman)	56	(1)
28. The construction of the Eshagepada	56	(1)
E. Ibbi-Suen (Studevent-Hickman)	57	(1)
29. The construction of the "great wall" around Nippur and Ur	57	(1)
F. Royal hymns of the Ur III kings (Studevent-Hickman)	57	(1)
30. Shulgi's journey to Nippur	58	(1)
31. The death of Ur-Namma	61	(1)
32. The death of Shulgi	65	(1)
33. Lamentations	66	(9)
G. Royal letters of the Ur III Kings (Michalowski)	75	(1)
34. Aradmu to Shulgi	77	(1)
35. Reply of King Shulgi to Aradmu	77	(1)
36. General Puzur-Shulgi to King Shulgi	78	(1)
37. Sharrum-bani to King Shu-Sin	79	(1)
38. King Shu-Sin to Sharrum-bani	79	(1)
39. Puzur-Numushda, governor of Kazallu, to King Ibbi-Sin	80	(1)
H. Sumerian King List (Michalowski)	81	(1)
40. Text	82	(3)
I. Bringing Ninlil to Tumal (Michalowski)	85	(1)
41. Tumal inscription	86	(2)
4 Old Babylonian Period Inscriptions	88	(19)
Frans van Koppen
I. Isin-Larsa Period	88	(7)
A. Isin	89	(1)
42. Inscription of Ishme-Dagan	89	(1)
43. Inscription of Lipit-Ishtar	90	(1)
44. Inscription of Ur-dukuga	90	(1)
B. Larsa	91	(1)
45. Inscription of En-ana-tuma	91	(1)
46. Inscription of Kudur-mabuk	92	(1)
47. Inscription of Shep-Sin	93	(1)
C. Eshnunna	93	(1)
48. Inscription of Ipiq-Adad II	93	(1)
D. Uruk	94	(1)
49. Inscription of Sin-kashid	94	(1)
II. Old Babylonian Period	95	(12)
A. Mari royal inscriptions	96	(1)
50. Inscription of Yandun-Lim	96	(2)
B. Dadusha Stele	98	(1)
51. Inscription of Dadusha	98	(4)
C. Ekallatum royal inscriptions	102	(1)
52. Inscription of Shamshi-Adad	102	(2)
D. Babylon	104	(1)
53. Inscription of Hammurabi	104	(1)
54. Inscription of Samsuiluna	104	(1)
55. Inscription of Ammiditana	105	(2)
5 Miscellaneous Old Babylonian Period Documents	107	(27)
Frans van Koppen
I. Old Babylonian Year Names	107	(2)
56. The year names of Hammurabi (date list K)	109	(2)
II. Old Babylonian Letters	111	(24)
A. Letters from Mari	111	(1)
57. Letter of Yasmah-Addu to the god Nergal	113	(1)
58-62. Five letters of Shamshi-Adad to Yasmah-Addu	114	(1)
63. Letter of Ishme-Dagan to Yasmah-Addu	118	(1)
64. Letter of Shamshi-Adad to Yasmah-Addu	119	(1)
65. Letter of Ishme-Dagan to Yasmah-Addu	120	(1)
66. Letter of Zimri-Lim to Tish-Ulme	120	(1)
67. Letter of Zimri-Lim to Hatnu-Rabi	121	(1)
68. Letter of General Yassi-Dagan to Zimri-Lim	122	(1)
69. Letter of Qarni-Lim to Zimri-Lim	124	(1)
70. Letter of General Ibal-pi-El to Zimri-Lim	124	(1)
71. Letter of Inibkna to Zimri-Lim	125	(1)
72. Letter of Hammi-igtamar to Zimri-Lim	126	(1)
73. Letter of Nur-Sin to Zimri-Lim	126	(1)
B. Letters from Southern Mesopotamia	127	(1)
74. Letter of Anam to Sin-muballit	127	(1)
75. Letter of Samsuiluna to Etel-pi-Marduk	130	(1)
76. Letter of Marduk-muS'allim to his superior	131	(3)
6 Late Bronze Age Inscriptions from Babylon, Assyria, and Syro-Palestine	134	(48)
Frans van Koppen, Kyle Greenwood, Christopher Morgan, Brent A. Strawn, Jeff Cooley, Bill T. Arnold, Eva von Dassow, and Yoram Cohen
I. Kassite Inscriptions (van Koppen)	135	(1)
77. The Agum-kakrime inscription	135	(5)
78. Inscription of Kurigalzu I	140	(1)
II. Middle Assyrian Period Texts	141	(19)
A. Ashur-uballit I (Greenwood)	141	(1)
79. Restoration of the Ishtar Temple	141	(1)
B. Adad-Nirari I (Greenwood)	142	(1)
80. The campaigns of Adad-nirari I against Mitanni	142	(3)
C. Tukulti-Ninurta I (Morgan)	145	(1)
81. The Tukulti-Ninurta I Epic	145	(1)
82. A letter from Tukulti-Ninurta I to Tudhaliya IV	152	(1)
83. The construction of a new capital	153	(3)
D. Tiglath-pilesar I (Greenwood)	156	(1)
84. Campaigns of Tiglath-pilesar I against the Arameans and Babylonia	156	(1)
85. Tiglath-pilesar I's subjugation of the Nairi lands	157	(3)
III. Middle Babylonian Texts	160	(14)
A. Text from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I (Cooley)	160	(1)
86. The Shitti-Marduk Stele	160	(5)
B. The Weidner Chronicle (Arnold)	165	(1)
87. Text	166	(2)
C. Apocalyptic texts (Strawn)	168	(1)
88. Marduk Prophecy	168	(6)
IV. Second Millennium BCE Syro-Palestinian Texts	174	(8)
A. Alalakh	174	(1)
89. Idrimi (AT 3) (von Dassow)	174	(2)
B. Emar (Cohen)	176	(1)
90. An attack of Hurrian troops on the city	176	(6)
7 Correspondence from El-Amarna in Egypt	182	(33)
Eva von Dassow and Kyle Greenwood
Introduction (von Dassow)	182	(3)
I. Great Kingdoms	185	(16)
A. Karduniash (von Dassow)	185	(1)
91. EA 1: Amenhotep III rebuts Kadashman-Enlil II (Greenwood)	186	(1)
92. EA 3: Kadashman-Enlil II to Amenhotep III (Greenwood)	191	(1)
93. EA 4: From the king of Karduniash to the king of Egypt (von Dassow)	193	(1)
B. Assyria	194	(1)
94. EA 15: Assyrian diplomacy (Greenwood)	195	(1)
95. EA 16: From Ashur-uballit to the king of Egypt (von Dassow)	197	(1)
C. Mitanni	198	(1)
96. EA 17: From Tushratta to Amenhotep III (von Dassow)	198	(1)
D. Hatti	199	(1)
97. EA 41: From Suppiluliuma to the king of Egypt (von Dassow)	200	(1)
II. Vassal Kingdoms	201	(15)
A. Northern Levant	201	(1)
98. EA 74: Rib-Hadda to Amenhotep III (von Dassow)	203	(1)
99. EA 137: Rib-Hadda writes to Akhenaten (von Dassow)	203	(3)
100. EA 170: From Baluya and Bet-ili to Aziru (von Dassow)	206	(1)
101. EA 165: From Aziru to Akhenaten (von Dassow)	207	(1)
B. Southern Levant	207	(1)
102. EA 254: From Lab'ayu to the king of Egypt (von Dassow)	208	(1)
103. EA 287: From Abdi-Reba to the king of Egypt (von Dassow)	209	(6)
8 Hittite Historical Texts I	215	(38)
Gary Beckman, Petra Goedegebuure, Joost Hazenbos, and Yoram Cohen
104. The Anitta text (Beckman)	216	(3)
105. Annals of Hattušili I (Beckman)	219	(3)
106. The bilingual testament of Hattusili I (Goedegebuure)	222	(6)
107. The proclamation of Telipinu (Goedegebuure)	228	(7)
108. CTH 40: Manly Deeds of Shuppiluliuma (excerpts) (Hazenbos)	235	(4)
109. The tribute agreement between Suppiluliuma and Niqmaddu (Cohen)	239	(2)
110. The end of Mittani (CTH 51.0 (Hazenbos)	241	(3)
111. The Hittite—Egyptian treaty (Cohen)	244	(9)
9 Hittite Historical Texts II	253	(27)
Kathleen R. Mineck, Theo van den Hout, and Harry A. Hoffner, Jr.
112. The Ten Year Annals of Muršili II (Mineck)	253	(6)
113. Muršili II's "First" Plague Prayer (van den Hout)	259	(4)
114. Muršili II's "Second" Plague Prayer (van den Hout)	263	(3)
115. The Apology of Hattušili III (Hoffner)	266	(4)
116. The treaty with Kurunta of TarHuntašša (Hoffner)	270	(5)
117. A letter from the Hittite King Hattušili III to Kadašman-Enlil II (Mineck)	275	(5)
10 Neo-Assyrian and Syro-Palestinian Texts I	280	(51)
Sarah C. Melville, Brent A. Strawn, Brian B. Schmidt, and Scott Noegel
I. Neo-Assyrian Texts I	280	(19)
A. Adad-nirari II (Melville)	280	(1)
118. Text	282	(3)
B. Ashurnasirpal II (Strawn)	285	(1)
119. Calah Annals text	286	(3)
C. Shalmaneser III (Strawn)	289	(1)
120. Black Obelisk	291	(2)
D. Eponym lists (Melville)	293	(1)
121-2. Assyrian Eponym Lists	295	(4)
II. Syro-Palestinian Texts I	299	(32)
123. Treaty of Ktk and Arpad (Strawn)	299	(6)
124. Tel Dan stele inscription (Schmidt)	305	(2)
125. Zakkur inscription (Noegel)	307	(4)
126. Moabite Stone (Schmidt)	311	(20)
11 Neo-Assyrian and Syro-Palestinian Texts II	331	(51)
Brent A. Strawn, Sarah C. Melville, Kyle Greenwood, and Scott Noegel
I. Neo-Assyrian Texts II	331	(41)
A. Tiglath-pileser III (Strawn)	331	(1)
127. Calah Annals	332	(1)
B. Sargon II (Melville)	333	(1)
128. Sargon's Letter to Ashur	337	(1)
129. The display inscription from the palace of Sargon at Dur-Sharrukin	340	(2)
C. Sennacherib (Melville)	342	(1)
130. Oriental Institute Prism	345	(1)
131. The Bavian inscription	349	(1)
132. The Akitu inscription from Ashur	349	(1)
D. Esarhaddon (Melville)	350	(1)
133. Nin A: Esarhaddon's accession	353	(1)
134. Babylon A-G: Esarhaddon's reconstruction	354	(1)
135. The Succession Treaty	355	(2)
E. Naqia/Zakutu (Melville)	357	(1)
136. Building inscription	358	(1)
137. The Zakutu Treaty	359	(1)
F. Ashurbanipal (Melville)	360	(1)
138. Apology and Egyptian Campaigns	363	(1)
139. Civil war and Elamite campaigns	365	(1)
140. Elamite campaign	367	(1)
G. Assyrian King List (Greenwood)	368	(1)
141. Text	369	(3)
II. Syro-Palestinian Texts II (Noegel)	372	(10)
142. Ekron inscription	372	(10)
12 Neo-Babylonian Period Texts from Babylonia and Syro-Palestine	382	(25)
Benjamin Studevent-Hickman, Sarah C. Melville, and Scott Noegel
I. Texts from the Neo-Babylonian Period	382	(14)
A. Nabopolassar (Studevent-Hickman)	383	(1)
143. The restoration of the Babylonian inner wall named Imgur-Enlil	383	(3)
B. Nebuchadnezzar II (Studevent-Hickman)	386	(1)
144. Administrative texts from Babylon concerning King Jehoiachin of Judah	386	(1)
145. The court and state document of Nebuchadnezzar II	387	(1)
C. Nabonidus	388	(1)
146. The autobiography of Adad-guppi (Melville)	389	(1)
147. The installation of En-nigaldi-Nanna, daughter of Nabonidus, as high priestess of Nanna at Ur (Studevent-Hickman)	393	(3)
II. Syro-Palestinian Documents	396	(11)
148. Samaria Ostraca (Noegel)	396	(4)
149. Lachish Ostraca (Noegel)	400	(7)
13 Achaemenid Period Historical Texts Concerning Mesopotamia	407	(24)
Bill T. Arnold and Piotr Michalowski
I. The Neo-Babylonian Chronicle Series (Arnold)	407	(19)
150. Chronicle 1	407	(4)
151. Chronicle 2	411	(1)
152. Chronicle 3	412	(3)
153. Chronicle 4	415	(1)
154. Chronicle 5	416	(1)
155. Chronicle 6	417	(1)
156. Chronicle 7	418	(8)
II. The Cyrus Cylinder (Michalowski)	426	(5)
157. Text	428	(3)
Index	431