DSMB21 Reading of Akkadian Texts II

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/4/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Lukáš Pecha, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Lukáš Pecha, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:40 C32, except Thu 18. 4.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
DSMB16 Akkadian I && DSMB17 Akkadian II && DSMB20 Akkadian - Reading I
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The purpose of this course is to improve the students’ knowledge of the Akkadian language using a variety of primary sources from later periods of Mesopotamian written tradition (1st millennium BC). Students will read difficult historical, magic, religious and literary texts.
Learning outcomes
By the completion of the course the student will:
- gain a very good knowledge of cuneiform script, Akkadian grammar, selected text genres, their literary form and style, historical and cultural context;
- further develop his/her abilities to work with complex sign systems, discuss and interpret them.
Syllabus
  • 1. Reading historical texts, incantations, rituals, prayers and (epic) poetry in literary Akkadian (Standard Babylonian) and Assyrian from cuneiform autographs.
  • 2. Discussion of various issues of grammar, lexicon, literary form and style, historical and cultural context of the sources.
Literature
    required literature
  • Borger, R., Mesopotamisches Zeichenlexikon, Münster 2004.
  • Soden, W. von, Akkadisches Handwörterbuch, Wiesbaden 1965–1981.
  • UNGNAD, Arthur. Akkadian grammar. Edited by Lubor Matouš, Translated by Harry A. Hoffner. 5th corr. ed. Atlanta, Ga.: Scholars Press, 1993, xix, 185. ISBN 1555408001. info
    recommended literature
  • Abusch, T., The Magical Ceremony Maqlû: A Critical Edition, Leiden – Boston 2015.
  • Abusch, T., The Witchcraft Series Maqlû, Atlanta 2015.
  • Abusch, T. – Schwemer, D., Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-Witchcraft Rituals, vol. 1, Leiden – Boston 2011.
  • A concise dictionary of Akkadian. Edited by Jeremy Black - A. R. George - J. N. Postgate - Tina Breckwoldt. 2nd (corr.) print. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2000, xxiv, 450. ISBN 9783447042642. info
  • Bord, L.-J. – Mugnaioni, R., L’écriture cunéiforme: syllabaire sumérien, babylonien, assyrien, Paris 2002.
  • George, A.R., The Assyrian Elegy: Form and Meaning. In: Melville, S.C. – Slotsky, A.L. (ed.), Opening the Tablet Box: Near Eastern Studies in Honor of Benjamin R. Foster, Leiden – Boston 2010, str. 203–216.
  • George, A.R., The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic: Introduction, Critical Edition and Cuneiform Texts, 2 vols. Oxford 2003.
  • Groneberg, B.R.M., Syntax, Morphologie und Stil der jungbabylonischen „hymnischen“ Literatur, Wiesbaden – Stuttgart 1987.
  • Hämeen-Anttila, J., A Sketch of Neo-Assyrian Grammar, Helsinki 2000.
  • Labat, R. – Malbran-Labat, F., Manuel d’épigraphie akkadienne: signes, syllabaire, idéogrammes, Paris 1988 (6th ed.).
  • Epos o Gilgamešovi. Translated by Lubor Matouš. Vyd. 4., v Mladé frontě 2. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1997, 148 s. ISBN 8020402810. info
  • Epos o Gilgamešovi. Translated by Jiří Prosecký - Blahoslav Hruška - Marek Rychtařík, Illustra. Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2003, 410 s. ISBN 807106517X. info
  • Mayer, W., Sargons Feldzug gegen Urartu – 714 v. Chr. Text und Übersetzung. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft zu Berlin 115 (1983): str. 65–132.
  • Mayer, W.R., Das Ritual KAR 26 mit dem Gebet “Marduk 24”. Orientalia Nova Series 68 (1999): str. 145–163.
  • Oshima, T., Babylonian Prayers to Marduk, Tübingen 2011.
  • Schwemer, D., The Anti-Witchcraft Ritual Maqlû: The Cuneiform Sources of a Magic Ceremony from Ancient Mesopotamia, Wiesbaden 2017.
  • Schwemer, D., Rituale und Beschwörungen gegen Schadenzauber, Wiesbaden 2007.
  • Soden, W. von, Grundriss der akkadischen Grammatik, Roma 1995 (3rd ed.).
  • Soden, W. von – Röllig, W., Das akkadische Syllabar, Roma 1991 (4th ed.).
  • Ungnad, A. – Matouš, L., Grammatik des Akkadischen, München 1969 (5th ed.).
Teaching methods
Seminar reading and discussion of cuneiform primary sources, active participation of students necessary, independent preparation of texts to be read in the next class.
Assessment methods
Written examination testing the ability to read and translate difficult Akkadian texts from cuneiform, and to comment on their content as well as historical and cultural context.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2024/DSMB21