From an Antique Land An Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature

by Ehrlich, Carl S.; Beckman, Gary; Foster, Benjamin R.; Hollis, Susan Tower; Kottsieper, Ingo; Pitard, Wayne T.; Rubio, Gonzalo

• ISBN13: 9780742543355
• ISBN10: 0742543358
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-30
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Many of the world's first written records have been found in the area of the Ancient Near East, in what is today known as the Middle East. While many people are familiar with the ancient Israelite literature recorded in the Hebrew Bible, most Near Eastern literature remains a mystery. From an Antique Land lifts the veil from these fascinating writings, explaining the ancient stories in the context of their cultures. From the invention of writing through the conquest of Alexander the Great, expert scholars examine literature originally written in Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, Hittite, Ugaritic, Canaanite, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Each chapter includes an overview of the culture, a discussion of literary genres, and descriptions and short analyses of the major literary works. Photos of archaeological remains further illustrate these people and their writings.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Sumerian Literature	p. 11
Egyptian Literature	p. 77
Akkadian Literature	p. 137
Hittite Literature	p. 215
Canaanite Literature	p. 255
Hebrew/Israelite Literature	p. 313
Aramaic Literature	p. 393
Bibliography	p. 445
Index	p. 493
About the Editor and Contributors	p. 505
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