"Pritchard enlisted some of the best scholars of his day to translate myths from Mesopotamia, novellas from Egypt, and calendars from Palestine. They provide an amazing backdrop to reread, and in some cases reinterpret, the Bible. Furthermore, the translations themselves are works of art. . . . These translations have staying power. Not only do they convey the cultural environment of the biblical world but they do so with elegance and timeliness. The translators achieved an admirable balance of fidelity to the original compositions and imaginative creativity."--Books and Culture
"While there are other collections of texts published more recently with some more current translations, there is no extant, modestly priced volume that includes both texts and pictures tor the many cultures this one includes. . . . [T]his volume can serve well in personal, public, school, and small college libraries with its modest price and collected materials. It provides a wealth of material useful for understanding the ancient Near East."--Susan Tower Hollis, American Reference Books Annual
Pritchard enlisted some of the best scholars of his day to translate myths from Mesopotamia, novellas from Egypt, and calendars from Palestine. They provide an amazing backdrop to reread, and in some cases reinterpret, the Bible. Furthermore, the translations themselves are works of art. . . . These translations have staying power. Not only do they convey the cultural environment of the biblical world but they do so with elegance and timeliness. The translators achieved an admirable balance of fidelity to the original compositions and imaginative creativity. Books - & - Culture
While there are other collections of texts published more recently with some more current translations, there is no extant, modestly priced volume that includes both texts and pictures tor the many cultures this one includes. . . . [T]his volume can serve well in personal, public, school, and small college libraries with its modest price and collected materials. It provides a wealth of material useful for understanding the ancient Near East. Susan Tower Hollis
"I recommend the new edition to all academic libraries in light of the quantity of primary source material. . . . [I]t would make an excellent classroom resource."--Tyler Mayfield, Religious Studies Review
"There is no other anthology on the ancient Near East with this breadth of geographical and linguistic coverage, or with this variety of genres, from the literary and historical to the legal, epistolary, and religious."--Francesca Rochberg, University of California, Berkeley
"There is no other anthology on the ancient Near East with this breadth of geographical and linguistic coverage, or with this variety of genres, from the literary and historical to the legal, epistolary, and religious."--Francesca Rochberg, University of California, Berkeley
James B. Pritchard (1909-1997) was professor of religious thought at the University of Pennsylvania and curator of Syro-Palestinian archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Daniel E. Fleming is professor of Hebrew and Judaic studies at New York University.
List of Illustrations xi
Foreword ? Daniel E. Fleming xxiii
Preface to the 1975 Edition xxvii
Preface to the 1958 Edition xxix
Chapter I: Egyptian Myths and Tales by John A. Wilson
The Memphite Theology of Creation 1
Deliverance of Mankind from Destruction 3
The Story of Si-nuhe 5
The Story of Two Brothers 11
The Journey of Wen-Amon to Phoenicia 14
The Tradition of Seven Lean Years in Egypt 21
Chapter II: Myths and Epics from Mesopotamia
A Sumerian Myth by S. N. Kramer
The Deluge 25
Akkadian Myths and Epics
The Creation Epic (Enuma elish) E. A. Speiser 28
Additions to Tablet V by A. K. Grayson 36
The Epic of Gilgamesh by E. A. Speiser 39
A Cosmological Incantation: The Worm and the Toothache by E. A. Speiser 72
Adapa by E. A. Speiser 73
Descent of Ishtar to the Nether World by E. A. Speiser 77
The Legend of Sargon by E. A. Speiser 82
Nergal and Ereshkigal by A. K. Grayson 83
Pritchard. The Myth of Zu (Anzu) by A. K. Grayson 92
A Babylonian Theogony by A. K. Grayson 99
Chapter III: Hittite Myths by Albrecht Goetze
The Telepinus Myth 101
El, Ashertu, and the Storm-god (Elkunirsha and Ashertu) 105
Chapter IV: Ugaritic Myths and Epics by H. L. Ginsberg
Poems about Baal and Anath (The Baal Cycle) 107
The Tale of Aqhat 134
Chapter V: Legal Texts
Collections of Laws from Mesopotamia
The Laws of Eshnunna by Albrecht Goetze 150
The Code of Hammurabi by by Theophile J. Meek 155
The Laws of Ur-Nammu by by J. J. Finkelstein 179
Sumerian Laws by J. J. Finkelstein 182
The Edict of Ammisaduqa by J. J. Finkelstein 183
Documents from the Practice of Law
Mesopotamian Legal Documents by Theophile J. Meek, J. J. Finkelstein 187
Aramaic Papyri from Elephantine by H. L. Ginsberg 200
Chapter VI: Treaties
Hittite Treaty by Albrecht Goetze
Treaty of Suppiluliumas of Aziras of Amurru 205
Akkadian Treaties from Syria and Assyria by Erica Reiner
Treaty between Niqmepa of Alalakh and Ir-dim of Tunip 208
Treaty between Idrimi and Pilliya 210
Treaty between Ashurnirari V of Assyria and Mati'ilu of Arpad 210
Treaty of Esarhaddon with Baal of Tyre 212
The Vassal-Treaties of Esarhaddon 213
Chapter VII: Egyptian Historical Texts by John A. Wilson
The Expulsion of the Hyksos 226
The Asiatic Campaign of Thut-mose III 228
A Campaign of Seti I in Northern Palestine 234
The Report of a Frontier Official 235
A Syrian Interregnum 236
The War against the Peoples of the Sea 237
The Megiddo Ivories 239
The Campaign of Sheshonk I 239
Asiatics in Egyptian Household Service 240
The War against the Hyksos 242
Chapter VIII: Assyrian and Babylonian Historical Texts
A. Leo Oppenheim
The Dedication of the Shamash Temple by Yahdun-Lim 246
The Story of Idrimi, King of Alalakh 248
Ashurnasirpal II (883-859): Expedition to the Lebanon 250
The Banquet of Ashurnasirpal II 250
Shalmaneser III (858-824): The Fight against the Aramean Coalition 255
Adad-nirari III (810-783): Expedition to Palestine 258
The Assyrian King List 259
Tiglath-pileser III (744-727): Campaigns against Syria and Palestine 264
Sargon II (721-705): The Fall of Samaria 266
Sennacherib (704-681): The Siege of Jerusalem 269
Esarhaddon (680-669): The Syro-Palestinian Campaign 271
Receipt of Tribute from Palestine 272
The Fall of Nineveh 272
The Fall of Jerusalem 273
The Conquest of Jerusalem 273
Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562) 274
The Mother of Nabonidus 275
Nabonidus and His God 278
The Fall of Babylon 281
Cyrus (557-529) 282
The Uruk King List from Kandalanu to Seleucus II 284
A Seleucid King List 285
Chapter IX: Palestinian Inscriptions by W. F. Albright
The Gezer Calendar 287
The Moabite Stone 287
The Ostraca of Samaria 289
The Siloam Inscription 290
A Letter from the Time of Josiah (Mesad Hashavyahu Ostracon) 290
Three Ostraca from Arad 291
The Lachish Ostraca 292
Chapter X: Canaanite and Aramaic Inscriptions
Franz Rosenthal
Building Inscriptions
Yehimilk of Byblos 294
Azitawadda of Adan 294
Kilamuwa of Y'dy-Sam'al 296
Barrakab of Y'dy-Sam'al 297
Cultic Inscriptions
Ben-Hadad of Damascus 298
Kilamuwa of Y'dy-Sam'al 298
Zakir of Hamat and Lu'ath 298
Yehawmilk of Byblos 299
The Marseilles Tariff 300
The Carthage Tariff 302
Other Inscriptions
The King of Kedar 303
Punic Ex-voto Inscriptions 303
The Amulet from Arslan Tash 304
The Uruk Incantation 305
The Treaty between KTK and Arpad 305
Ahiram of Byblos 310
Agbar, Priest of the Moon-god in Nerab 310
Tabnit of Sidon 310
Eshmun'azar of Sidon 311
Chapter XI: South-Arabian Inscriptions by A. Jamme
Sabaean Inscriptions 313
Minaean Inscriptions 315
Qatabanian Inscriptions 318
Hadrami Inscriptions 320
Chapter XII: Egyptian Execration Texts by John A. Wilson
The Execration of Asiatic Princes 322
Chapter XIII: Egyptian Hymns by John A. Wilson
The Hymn to the Aton 324
Hymn of Victory of Mer-ne-Ptah ("The Israel Stela") 328
Chapter XIV: Mesopotamian Hymns
Sumerian Hymns by S. N. Kramer
Hymn to Ninurta as God of Vegetation 330
Hymn to Ninurta as God of Wrath 331
Hymnal Prayer of Enheduanna: The Adoration of Inanna of Ur 332
The King of the Road: A Self-Laudatory Shulgi Hymn 337
An Akkadian Hymn by Ferris J. Stephens
Hymn to Ishtar 341
Chapter XV: Didactic and Wisdom Literature
Egyptian Instructions by John A. Wilson
The Instruction of the Vizier Ptah-hotep 343
The Instruction of Amen-em-Opet 346
Sumerian Didactic and Wisdom Literature
Man and His God: A Sumerian Variation of the "Job" Motif by S. N. Kramer 352
Proverbs from Mesopotamia by Robert H. Pfeiffer 357
Akkadian Didactic and Wisdom Literature
Observations on Life: A Pessimistic Dialogue between Master and Servant by Robert H. Pfeiffer 358
An Akkadian Fable by Robert D. Biggs 360
Counsels of Wisdom by Robert D. Biggs 362
Ludlul Bel Nemeqi, "I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom" by Robert D. Biggs 365
The Babylonian Theodicy by Robert D. Biggs 374
Aramaic Proverbs and Precepts
The Words of Ahiqar by H. L. Ginsberg 379
Chapter XVI: Oracles and Prophecies
The Egyptian Prophecy of Nefer-rohu by John A. Wilson 384
Akkadian Oracles and Prophecies
Divine Revelations in Letters from Mari and Ashur by William L. Moran 388
Oracles concerning Esarhaddon by Robert D. Biggs 398
A Letter to Ashurbanipal by Robert D. Biggs 399
An Oracular Dream concerning Ashurbanipal by Robert D. Biggs 400
Prophecies by Robert D. Biggs 400
Chapter XVII: Love Poetry
Egyptian Love Songs by John A. Wilson 403
Sumerian Love Poetry by S. N. Kramer
Dumuzi and Inanna: Love in the Gipar 404
Dumuzi and Inanna: The Ecstasy of Love 406
Inanna and the King: Blessing on the Wedding Night 408
"The Honey-man": Love-song to a King 410
"Set Me Free, My Sister": The Sated Lover 411
Chapter XVIII: Other Literary Texts
An Egyptian Poem
In Praise of the City Ramses by John A. Wilson 413
Sumerian Literature by S. N. Kramer
The Curse of Agade: The Ekur Avenged 414
Ua-aua: A Sumerian Lullaby 423
Chapter XIX: Letters
Akkadian Letters
The Mari Letters by W. F. Albright 427
The Amarna Letters by W. F. Albright 429
The Substitute King by William L. Moran 443
A Happy Reign by William L. Moran 444
A Royal Decree of Equity by William L. Moran 444
A Letter to a God by William L. Moran 445
Punishment by Fire by William L. Moran 445
Treaties and Coalitions by William L. Moran 445
"The God of My Father" by William L. Moran 446
A Loan between Gentlemen by William L. Moran 447
A Boy to His Mother by William L. Moran 447
Aramaic Letters by H. L. Ginsberg
Letters of the Jews in Elephantine 448
Assignment to a New Lessor of Land Abandoned in the Egyptian Rebellion of 410 B.C. 452
Illustration Credits 455
Index to Biblical References 457
Index 461