Before The Muses

by Foster, Benjamin R.

• ISBN13: 9781883053765
• ISBN10: 1883053765
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-30
• Publisher: Capital Decisions Ltd

Author Biography

Benjamin R. Foster is Laffan Professor of Assyriology at Yale University.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments to the Third Edition	xix
General Introduction In Search of Akkadian Literature
The Akkadian Language	1	(5)
Semitic Languages	1	(1)
Akkadian Vernacular Languages	2	(1)
Akkadian Literary Languages	3	(1)
Akkadian Writing and Literacy	4	(2)
Rediscovery of Akkadian Literature	6	(7)
Loss and Rediscovery	6	(2)
Major Sources	8	(2)
Publication and Translation	10	(3)
Poetry and Prose	13	(6)
Linguistic Differentiation	13	(1)
Verse Structure	13	(1)
Parallelism	14	(1)
Repetition	15	(1)
Meter	16	(1)
Wordplay	16	(1)
Prose Style	16	(1)
Formulae and Word Pairs	17	(1)
Simile and Metaphor	18	(1)
Authors and Redactors	19	(7)
Authorship	19	(2)
Creativity	21	(1)
Intertextuality	22	(4)
Reading Akkadian Literature	26	(11)
Time	26	(2)
Place	28	(2)
Speech, Action, Clamor, Silence	30	(1)
Visual Aspects	31	(1)
Knowledge	32	(1)
Divine Images	33	(1)
Demonic Beings	34	(1)
Personal Deity and Good Fortune	35	(1)
Divination	36	(1)
Formation of Akkadian Literature	37	(12)
Categories	37	(7)
Sumerian and Akkadian	44	(1)
Oral Tradition	45	(1)
What is Akkadian Literature?	45	(4)
The Archaic Period (2300--1850 B.C.)
Archaic Literature	49	(5)
The Valorous Sun	50	(2)
Star Incantation	52	(2)
Old Akkadian Literature	54	(17)
Sargonic Kings and Their Times	57	(1)
Sargon the King	57	(1)
Sargon the Victorious	58	(1)
Naram-Sin and the Great Revolt	59	(4)
Naram-Sin and the Gods	63	(1)
Incantations	64	(1)
Against a Demon	64	(1)
Against the Evil Eye	65	(1)
Love Charm	66	(3)
Old Akkadian Letters	69	(1)
Do Not Sit on a Chair!	69	(1)
The Predatory Gutians	70	(1)
Old Assyrian Literature	71	(8)
Sargon, Lord of the Lies	71	(5)
Incantations	76	(1)
She Is Singular	76	(1)
She Is Furious	77	(1)
Against Dogs	78	(1)
The Classical Period (1850--1500 B.C.)
Introduction	79	(6)
In Praise of Deities	85	(22)
To Ishtar	85	(4)
To Nanay	89	(4)
To Papulegarra	93	(2)
Self-praise of Ishtar	95	(1)
The Agushaya Poem	96	(11)
Legends of Akkadian Kings	107	(15)
Legends of Sargon	107	(1)
Sargon, King of Battle	107	(6)
The Sargon Letter	113	(2)
Legends of Naram-Sin	115	(1)
The Siege of Apishal	115	(3)
The Great Revolt	118	(4)
Lamps of Babylonia and Their Times	122	(26)
Sin-kashid, King of Uruk	122	(2)
Naram-Sin, King of Eshnunna	124	(2)
Hammurabi, King of Babylon	126	(1)
Hammurabi, King of Justice	126	(10)
Hammurabi, for Whom Do You Wait?	136	(2)
Will Hammurabi Be Victorious?	138	(2)
Samsuiluna, King of Babylon	140	(3)
Royal Oracles and Prophecies	143	(1)
To Zimri-lim, King of Mari	143	(4)
To Ibalpiel II, King of Eshnunna	147	(1)
The Human Condition	148	(12)
Dialogue Between a Man and His God	148	(3)
At the Cleaners	151	(2)
Lament for a City	153	(2)
The Faithful Lover	155	(5)
Love Lyrics	160	(10)
Nanay and Muati	160	(2)
Nanay and Rim-Sin	162	(3)
Love Songs	165	(1)
Where Has My Lover Gone?	165	(1)
A Lover's Riddle	166	(1)
Come In, Shepherd!	167	(2)
Your Heartbeat Is My Reveille	169	(1)
Incantations	170	(37)
Birth and Childhood	170	(1)
She Has Never Given Birth	170	(1)
The Child's Arms Are Bound	171	(1)
To Calm a Baby	172	(1)
Against Lamashtu	173	(1)
Anu Begot Her	173	(1)
She Is Fierce	174	(1)
Against Demons	175	(1)
A Demon	175	(1)
Against the Evil Eye	176	(1)
Against Disease, Discomfort, Unwanted Feelings	177	(1)
Various Diseases	177	(2)
All Diseases	179	(1)
Against an Infant Illness	180	(1)
Against a Mote in the Eye	181	(1)
Against Joint Pain (?)	182	(1)
Against a Disease of Sheep and Goats	183	(1)
Against Gas Pains	184	(1)
Against Stomach Ache	185	(1)
Against Arousal	186	(1)
Against Hunger and Thirst	187	(1)
Against Witchcraft	188	(1)
The World Around	189	(1)
Against a Noxious Herb(?)	189	(1)
Against Dogs	190	(2)
Against Snakes	192	(3)
Against Flies	195	(1)
Against Scorpions	196	(1)
Against a Water Monster	197	(1)
Against a Bleating Goat	198	(1)
Love Charms	199	(1)
Horns of Gold	199	(2)
Look at Me!	201	(6)
Prayers	207	(8)
Nocturnal Prayers of Diviners	207	(1)
To Gods of the Night	207	(1)
To Shamash and Gods of the Night	208	(1)
Diurnal Prayers of Diviners	209	(1)
The Cedar	209	(3)
The Lamb	212	(2)
Will Ur-Utu be Alive and Well?	214	(1)
Letters and Letter Prayers	215	(12)
Kussulu to the Moon-god	215	(2)
Ur-Nanshe to Ninsianna	217	(1)
Apil-Adad to ``God My Father,''	218	(1)
Ninurta-qarrad to Ninmug	219	(1)
Ahushunu to the Guardian of Life	220	(1)
Scribal Petitions and Exercises	221	(1)
To Zimri-Lim, King of Mari	221	(2)
A Ghost's Entreaty	223	(2)
A Letter Writing Exercise	225	(1)
A Declaration of War	226	(1)
Mythology	227	(54)
Atrahasis	227	(54)
Imitations of the Classical Style	281	(10)
Ishtar, Harasser of Men	281	(5)
To a Passer-by	286	(2)
Priestly Abuse of Office	288	(3)
The Mature Period (1500--1000 B.C.)
Introduction	291	(7)
Kings of Assyria and Their Times	298	(40)
Tukulti-Ninurta Epic	298	(20)
Psalm to Assur for Tukulti-Ninurta I	318	(6)
Hymn to Tiglath-pileser I	324	(3)
Psalms to Ishtar for Assurnasirpal I	327	(1)
On Occasion of Illness	327	(4)
On Occasion of an Offering	331	(3)
Prayers for Kings of Assyria	334	(1)
Coronation Prayer	334	(1)
Prayer at the Gods' Repast	335	(1)
The Hunter	336	(2)
Legends of Former Kings	338	(22)
Legends of Sargonic Kings	338	(1)
Sargon, King of Battle	338	(6)
The Cuthaean Legend of Naram-Sin	344	(13)
Shulgi Prophecy	357	(3)
Kings of Babylonia and Their Times	360	(32)
Agum-kakrime and the Return of Marduk	360	(5)
Kurigalzu, King of the Kassites	365	(1)
Kurigalzu and the Ishtar Temple	365	(2)
The Favor of Kurigalzu	367	(2)
Kudur-nahhunte of Elam	369	(1)
Kudur-nahhunte and the Babylonians	370	(1)
The Elamite Attack On Nippur	371	(3)
Marduk and the Elamites	374	(2)
Nebuchadnezzar I	376	(1)
The Seed of Kingship	376	(5)
The War With Elam	381	(2)
Nebuchadnezzar in Elam	383	(2)
Nebuchadnezzar and Marduk	385	(1)
Nebuchadnezzar to the Babylonians	386	(1)
Prayer in the Name of Nebuchadnezzar	387	(1)
Marduk Prophecy	388	(4)
Wisdom and Experience	392	(44)
The Poem of the Righteous Sufferer	392	(18)
A Sufferer's Salvation	410	(2)
Words of the Wise	412	(1)
Counsels of Wisdom	412	(4)
Wisdom of Ugarit	416	(6)
Sumero--Akkadian Wisdom and Proverbs	422	(12)
Proverbs from Letters	434	(2)
Mythological Poetry	436	(147)
Epic of Creation	436	(51)
Myths of Origins	487	(1)
Marduk, Creator of the World	487	(2)
The Myth of the Plow	489	(2)
Creation of Humankind	491	(3)
Providing for the Gods	494	(1)
Creation of Sun and Moon	494	(1)
Creation of the King	495	(3)
Descent of Ishtar to the Netherworld	498	(8)
Nergal and Ereshkigal	506	(19)
The Adapa Story	525	(1)
Adapa and the South Wind	525	(6)
Adapa and Enmerkar	531	(2)
Etana	533	(22)
Anzu	555	(24)
Monster Serpents	579	(1)
The Serpent	579	(2)
The Lion-Serpent	581	(2)
Great Hymns and Prayers	583	(53)
Gula Hymn of Bullutsa-rabi	583	(9)
Ishtar Queen of Heaven	592	(7)
Great Prayer to Ishtar	599	(7)
Literary Prayer to Ishtar	606	(5)
Literary Prayer to Marduk	611	(6)
Great Hymn to Marduk	617	(4)
Great Hymn to Nabu	621	(6)
Shamash Hymn	627	(9)
Devotional and Ritual Poetry	636	(132)
To Adad	636	(1)
Against Thunder	636	(2)
Against Lightning	638	(1)
In Gratitude for Rain	639	(1)
To Anu	640	(1)
To Dumuzi	641	(1)
To Ea	642	(1)
For Success in Divination	642	(1)
Protector of the King	643	(2)
To Ea, Shamash, and Marduk	645	(1)
Against Congenital Guilt	645	(1)
Against Any Evil	646	(2)
To Purify a Cult Image	648	(1)
Against a Ghost	649	(3)
To Enlil	652	(1)
Spoken by a Person in Authority	652	(2)
Protector of the King	654	(2)
Against Enlil's Anger	656	(2)
To Family Ghosts	658	(2)
To Girra	660	(1)
Illuminator	660	(1)
Melter	661	(1)
Judge	662	(1)
Refiner	663	(1)
To Gods of the Night	664	(1)
Against Pestilence	664	(1)
Against Cultic Impurity	665	(1)
Against Witchcraft	666	(2)
To Gula	668	(1)
Healer	668	(3)
Intercessor	671	(2)
To Ishtar	673	(1)
Against Sorcery	673	(1)
The Greatness of Ishtar	674	(2)
Against Impotence	676	(1)
A Gift to Ishtar	677	(1)
Ishtar Will Not Tire	678	(1)
Self-Praise of Ishtar	679	(1)
To Marduk	680	(1)
Against Marduk's Anger	680	(2)
Against Illness	682	(4)
Protector of the King	686	(2)
Reviver of the Sick	688	(1)
Lord of the Universe	688	(2)
Prince of the Gods	690	(2)
Syncretic Hymn to Marduk	692	(1)
Foremost of the Gods	693	(2)
To Nabu	695	(1)
For Protection From Black Magic	695	(2)
An Old Man's Prayer	697	(1)
Discouragement	698	(3)
Compound Acrostic Prayer to Nabu	701	(1)
The Names of Nabu	702	(2)
Acrostic Prayers of Nabu-ushebshi	704	(2)
To Nergal	706	(1)
Nergal the Warrior	706	(1)
The Terrors of Nergal	707	(1)
Sublime Nergal	708	(2)
To Ninurta	710	(1)
Prescriptive Hymn to Ninurta	710	(1)
Protector of the King	711	(2)
Syncretic Hymn to Ninurta	713	(2)
Ninurta as Sirius	715	(2)
To Nusku	717	(1)
Guardian of the Night	717	(1)
Courier of Dreams	718	(1)
Forfender of Nightmares	719	(1)
Protector Against Sorcery	720	(1)
To a Personal God	721	(1)
God of My Family	721	(1)
Furious God	722	(1)
The Piteous Sufferer	723	(1)
Who Has Not Sinned?	724	(2)
To the River	726	(1)
To Shamash	727	(1)
Against Impending Evil	728	(1)
Against a Known Sorcerer	729	(1)
Against Snakes	729	(1)
Against Dogs	730	(1)
Against Ghosts	731	(1)
Against a Curse	732	(2)
Golden Tiara of the Heavens	734	(1)
Protector of the King (1)	735	(3)
Protector of the King (2)	738	(3)
Protector of the King (3)	741	(2)
Protector of the King (4)	743	(1)
Protector of the King (5)	744	(2)
Absolver	746	(1)
The Supremacy of Shamash	747	(2)
Healer	749	(2)
Against the Consequences of a Nightmare	751	(1)
Homecoming	752	(2)
To Shamash and Adad	754	(1)
The Cleansing Water	754	(1)
Lighting the Incense	754	(1)
Placing the Flour Offering	755	(1)
The Sacrificial Gazelle	755	(1)
The Sacrificial Lamb	756	(1)
To Shamash and Marduk	757	(1)
To Sin	758	(1)
For Help in Haruspicy	758	(2)
Illuminator of Darkness	760	(2)
To Sin and Shamash	762	(1)
To Any God	763	(3)
Prayer for Laying the Foundation of a Temple	766	(1)
Litigant's Prayer	767	(1)
Miscellaneous Expressive Compositions	768	(3)
The Monkey Man	768	(1)
The Ballad of Former Heroes	769	(2)
The Late Period (1000--100 B.C.)
Introduction	771	(8)
Kings of Assyria and Their Times	779	(62)
Shalmaneser III	779	(1)
Shalmaneser in Ararat	779	(3)
To Mullissu	782	(2)
Sargon II	784	(1)
Prayers From Dur-Sharrukin	784	(4)
To Nanay	788	(2)
The Eighth Campaign	790	(24)
Esarhaddon and Ishtar of Arbela	814	(1)
Assurbanipal	815	(1)
Coronation Prayer	815	(2)
To Assur	817	(2)
To Ishtar of Nineveh and Arbela	819	(2)
Acrostic Hymn to Marduk	821	(6)
To Shamash	827	(2)
Assurbanipal and Nabu	829	(2)
Pious Scholar	831	(1)
The Netherworld Vision of an Assyrian Crown Prince	832	(8)
In Praise of Arbela	840	(1)
Kings of Babylonia and Their Times	841	(39)
Nabopolassar	841	(1)
To Marduk (1)	841	(1)
To Marduk (2)	842	(1)
Nebuchadnezzar II	843	(1)
To Marduk (1)	843	(1)
To Marduk (2)	844	(1)
To Marduk (3)	845	(1)
To Marduk (4)	845	(1)
To Marduk (5)	846	(1)
To Nabu	846	(1)
To Nabu and Marduk	847	(1)
To Ninmah	847	(1)
To Shamash (1)	848	(1)
To Shamash (2)	848	(1)
Acrostic Hymn to Nabu	849	(3)
The Lament of Nabu-shuma-ukin	852	(5)
Neriglissar to Marduk	857	(1)
Nabonidus	858	(1)
To Ishtar of Akkad	858	(1)
To Marduk (1)	859	(1)
To Marduk (2)	859	(1)
To Shamash (1)	860	(2)
To Shamash (2)	862	(1)
To Sin (1)	863	(1)
To Sin (2)	864	(2)
Antiochus Soter to Nabu	866	(1)
Advice to a Prince	867	(3)
The King of Justice	870	(5)
In Praise of Ezida	875	(1)
In Praise of Babylon	876	(1)
Sublime Holy Place	876	(2)
The Babylonians	878	(1)
Full of Joy to Behold	879	(1)
Mythological and Historical Narratives	880	(34)
Erra and Ishum	880	(32)
The Birth Legend of Sargon of Akkad	912	(2)
Dialogues and Debates	914	(17)
The Babylonian Theodicy	914	(9)
The Dialogue of Pessimism	923	(4)
The Tamarisk and the Palm	927	(3)
The Dog's Boast	930	(1)
Folktale Humor	931	(13)
The Poor Man of Nippur	931	(6)
Why Do You Curse Me?	937	(2)
The Jester	939	(3)
The Birds' Purchase	942	(2)
Love Lyrics	944	(5)
Love Lyrics of Nabu and Tashmetu	944	(3)
Love Lyrics of Ishtar of Babylon	947	(2)
Laments	949	(5)
Elegy for a Woman Dead in Childbirth	949	(1)
Laments for Dumuzi	950	(1)
I Stood Tall in Our Orchard	950	(2)
The Husband in Whom I Delighted	952	(2)
Incantations	954	(61)
Marduk and the Demons	954	(5)
Against an Adversary in a Lawsuit	959	(1)
Against an Angry Man	960	(1)
I Will Dissolve Your Anger	960	(1)
Anger	960	(1)
Against Bile	961	(1)
Against the Evil Eye	962	(1)
Against Evil Spirits	963	(1)
The Seven	963	(1)
Black Tragacanth	964	(2)
Mysterious Demons	966	(1)
Against Eye Disease	967	(1)
Daughters to the Wind	967	(1)
Bloodshot Eyes	968	(1)
They Are Two	968	(1)
Mote	969	(1)
Wind Blew Down	969	(1)
Vessels of Blood	970	(1)
Against Fever	971	(1)
Fire, Fire!	971	(1)
Your Smoke Has No Smell	972	(1)
Against Flatulence	973	(1)
Against Headache	974	(1)
Epidemic	974	(1)
Affliction	975	(1)
Misery	976	(1)
Do Not Enter the House I Enter	977	(1)
I Am Pazuzu	978	(1)
Against Infertility	979	(1)
The Kiln	979	(1)
The Date Palm	980	(1)
Against Lamashtu	981	(1)
``Bring Me Your Sons!''	981	(1)
She Tortures Babies	982	(1)
``I Am the Daughter of Anu,''	983	(1)
She Seized	984	(2)
Against Nurses Harmful to Children	986	(1)
Against Phantoms	987	(1)
Life Passed Them By	987	(3)
Against a Ghost That Has Appeared	990	(1)
Why Do You Keep Appearing to Me?	991	(1)
Against ``Redness,''	992	(1)
Against Scorpions	993	(1)
It Is Green	993	(1)
Wolf of the Storeroom	993	(1)
Against Sickness and Pain	994	(1)
Against Toothache	995	(1)
Against Witchcraft	996	(1)
My Magic Works	996	(1)
Blockading	996	(1)
They Are Working Against Me	997	(1)
The Footpad	998	(2)
Love Charms	1000	(1)
The Harpstring	1000	(1)
Get Up!	1000	(1)
I Have Made a Bed	1001	(1)
May I Not Miss My Prey!	1002	(1)
For Absolution	1003	(1)
The Brazier	1003	(1)
May My Sin Rise Up to the Sky!	1004	(1)
For a Ruler's Favor	1005	(1)
I Am Proud	1005	(1)
I've Put My Shoes on My Feet	1005	(1)
For a Woman in Labor	1006	(1)
The Baby Is Stuck!	1006	(1)
Sin and the Cow	1007	(1)
Run Hither to Me!	1008	(1)
The Boat	1009	(1)
To Calm a Baby	1010	(1)
Be Placid as a Pond	1010	(1)
Be Still as Swamp Water	1011	(1)
Let Mother Get Her Chores Done	1012	(1)
To Recapture a Runaway Slave	1013	(1)
To Secure Brisk Trade at a Tavern	1014	(1)
Letters and Miscellaneous	1015	(14)
When Old Men Dance	1015	(2)
The Gilgamesh Letter	1017	(3)
The Man Who Would Be King	1020	(1)
Open the Tablet Box	1020	(1)
Lackey of a Dead God	1021	(2)
In Praise of the Scribal Art	1023	(2)
Seeking Out Dumuzi	1025	(1)
A Literary Prophecy	1026	(3)
Index of Texts Translated	1029	(6)
Abbreviations	1035