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Cuneiform Literature in Context - Period 4
STEM in Amsterdam Program
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dates: 1/27/27 - 5/29/27
Cuneiform Literature in Context - Period 4
OVERVIEW
CEA CAPA Partner Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Primary Subject Area: Humanities
Instruction in: English
Course Code: L_AABAOHW311
Transcript Source: Partner Institution
Course Details: Level 300
Recommended Semester Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 84
Prerequisites: A thorough knowledge of Akkadian grammar, vocabulary and signs, equivalent to the knowledge acquired in the courses Elementary Akkadian 1-2 and Intermediate Akkadian (Assyrian/Babylonian Historical Texts) at the VU. If you acquired this knowledge elsewhere and you are uncertain about your level in Akkadian, please contact the course coordinator.
DESCRIPTION
In ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), mastering knowledge that was written down on cuneiform tablets was a respected and privileged calling. The scholars who composed, edited and copied literary texts were some of the most important people in society and their work was closely tied to palaces and temples. This course introduces students to the rich and varied composition that have survived from ancient Iraq and other parts of the Middle East thanks to these individuals. We will read and translate selected passages from myths, epics, hymns, prayers, rituals, oracles, elegiac poetry, fables, proverbs, riddles, debates and more, and consider what they can tell us about people’s lives and values in ancient times. We will consider the processes by which written knowledge was preserved and passed on, where they were collected and how they come to be scattered in museums today. The definition of “literature” adopted in this course takes into consideration aesthetic intent but also the subjects (e.g. love, death, heroism, gods) and forms of writing meaningful to an ancient audience.