Content

(1) Text corpus: we will be reading Ancient Near Eastern historiographic texts in their original language (Akkadian), in order to understand the historical and cultural context of the Ancient Near East from the ninth century BCE till the beginning of the Hellenistic period. This coincides with the period of the first world empires (Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian and Persian empires). The focus lies on these empires, because they are richly documented, are considered an axial period in the formation and forging of Jewish identity and were the background against what eventually resulted in the formulation and editing of the Bible. Moreover, events that took place in these periods have cast a lasting impression on western Europe’s collective memory. We have all heard of the beautiful Assyrian palaces, and Babylon’s legendary “hanging gardens”, impressive city walls (known as one of the seven world wonders in classical sources) and “Tower”. Texts range from chronicles, annals and other royal inscriptions, that recount the main events of the period (military campaigns, deportations, tribute, etc.), to legal, administrative and economic documents that throw light on daily life. Their narrative can be critically compared to the Biblical narrative of the same events.

(2) Scientific research: study of the scientific tools to critically analyse these written sources of information (text editions, modern translations, secondary literature). The student will be motivated to collect and reflect upon different ways of interpretation and translation, to carefully formulate his/her opinion, adduce arguments for or against a certain opinion, or to refrain from taking position due to fragmentary state of preservation of the text or its ambiguous formulations.

(3) Presentation: the student will give a presentation on an Akkadian text(*) that (s)he independently prepared in advance. The presentation will take place during the last class of the semester. (S)he will have to present a grammatically and philologically sound translation of the text, and explain its importance for the history or historiography of ancient Israel. (*) one text, or passages from a coherent group of texts, chosen by the student in coordination with the course instructor. The text(s) should be chosen in such a way that comparison with the history of ancient Israel, or its historical sources is possible.     

Course material

RIME = The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, University of Toronto. RINAP (The royal inscriptions of the Neo Assyrian period: http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/). Rocío Da Riva, The Neo-Babylonian Royal Inscriptions. An Introduction (Guides to the Mesopotamian Textual Record  4), Ugarit-Verlag 2008. Mark W. Chavalas (ed.), The Ancient Near East. Historical Sources in Translation (Blackwell Sourcebooks in Ancient History), Oxford : Blackwell Publishing, 2006. Jean-Jacques Glassner, Chroniques Mésopotamiennes (1993) (translated as Mesopotamian Chronicles, 2004). Karl Hecker et alii, Texte aus der Umwelt des Alten Testaments (TUAT), Band I – Rechts- und Wirtschaftsurkunden – Historisch-chronologische Texte; TUAT Neue Folge Band 2 – Staatsverträge, Herrscherinschriften und andere Dokumente zur politischen Geschichte; TUAT Neue Folge Band 6 – Grab-, Sarg-, Bau- und Votivinschriften.

Additional bibliography, see Toledo.

Student's own class notes.

Language of instruction: more information

It is possible for students from abroad with limited knowledge of Dutch to participate in the course and take the exam.

Format: more information

The course consists of (1) the guided reading of texts, (2) a weekly assignment that optimally supports the reading of texts during the contact hours, and (3) a presentation by the student in the last class of the semester. When reading the texts during the contact hours, the students are expected to actively participate; this will count for 10% in the assessment. During the last class of the semester, the student gives a presentation, which counts for 15% in the assessment.