Ancient Mediterranean
IH: ANE&E IH: Ancient Egypt & Near East
  CLAS050 • CLAS050 • Ancient Egypt & Near East

E X T E N D E D   O U T L I N E




U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 1 • MYTHS OF CREATION

secondary sources
  • Coogan et al. 2001:3-7HB
    introduction to the Torah, or Pentateuch (the first “five books”)
    Documentary Hypothesis (J E P D sources)
ancient texts
  • Genesis 1-5
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: “Moses” | J E P D sources | redaction under Josiah | post-exile edition
        simplified: “Moses”, oral tradition, written, edited
    when: ca.1200 | 1000 | 610 | 530 BCE
        simplified: 1200-530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: written for Hebrew speaking elite, worshippers of YHWH

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Genesis, Torah (“law”) or Pentateuch (first “five books”)
    where: the cosmos, Mesopotamia (Garden of Eden)
    when: In the beginning...
    summary: explanations about the origin of the cosmos, human life, various customs and social affinities
    — Creation • walkthrough 01-1
    • Gen 1.1-2.3 • first creation narrative (Elohistic or Priestly source)
      God (’El) creates by His word; on the second day God separates the chaotic waters behind the firmament (Dome of the Sky) and beneath the earth (the Deep); on the fourth day He creates sea creatures; on the fifth land animals; on the sixth humans (men and women) in His image
    • 2.4-3.24 • second creation narrative (J or Yahwistic source)
      God (YHWH) creates Man/Clay/Adam from the dust, by breathing into Man's nostrils; next creates animals; then creates Woman/"Mother of Life"/Eve from Man
    • 4 • conflict between Cain and Abel
    • 5 • the descendants of Adam (toledoth), ca.900 year lifespans
  • Enuma elish
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribes
    when: ca.1700 (Old Babylonian Era) | 800 BCE (surviving edition)
    where: Babylonia
    summary: Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Enuma elish (incipit: "when on high...")
    where: the cosmos, Mesopotamia
    who: Marduk, Tiamat, Apsu, Ea, Kingu
    when: In the beginning...
    summary: separation of waters; creation by clay/blood, how life began, etc
    — Creation • walkthrough 01-1
    CoS 1.111; ANET 60-72, 501-503
  • Memphite Theology
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe | restored by Shabako
    when: NK/LB/Dyn 19/1200 BCE | Early Iron/Late Period/Dyn 25/700 BCE
    where: Memphis
    summary: creation by

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Memphite Cosmology
    where: the cosmos
    when: In the beginning...
    summary: Ptah, Atum, Ennead, creation by thought/word
    — Creation • walkthrough 01-1
    CoS 1.15; ANET 4-6
  • Cosmogonies of Esna
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Roman era Egyptian scribes
    when: 2nd CE
    where: Nekhen (Gk. Latopolis, mod. Esna) and Zau (Gk. Saïs)
    summary: those literate in Egyptian during Roman Era

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Cosmogonies
    who: Neith (Gk Athena), Thoth (Gk Hermes), Nun (Abyss) where: Egypt
    when: long ago
    summary: creation by speech, etymology ("people" > "tears")
    — Creation • walkthrough 01-1
  • Hesiod Theogony
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Hesiod of Ascra
    when: 700 BCE
    where: Boeotia/Euboea
    summary:

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Theogony
    where: the cosmos
    who: Uranus, Gaia, Cronus, Oceanus, Zeus, Prometheus, Pandora
    when: In the beginning...
    summary: creation by clay (Pandora); chaos waters; generations of gods
    — Cosmology • walkthrough 01-2
  • Philo Phoenician Affairs
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sanchuniathon (SKNYTN) Beirut | Philo of Byblos | Eusebius of Caesarea
    when: 1200 BCE | 2nd CE | 3rd CE
    where: Byblos
    summary: Phoenician/Canaanite elite; Phoenician Cosmology

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Phoinikikē (“Phoenician Things”)
    who: Taautos/Thoth, El, Baal, Chnas/Phoinix
    where: Phoenicia/Canaan
    when: In the beginning...
    summary: How life began, origin of...
    — Cosmology • walkthrough 01-2
    FGrHist 790 F2
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 2 • MYTHS OF DESTRUCTION

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Genesis 6-8
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: “Moses” | J E P D sources | redaction under Josiah | post-exile edition
        simplified: “Moses”, oral tradition, written, edited
    when: ca.1200 | 1000 | 610 | 530 BCE
        simplified: 1200-530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: written for Hebrew speaking elite, worshippers of YHWH

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Genesis, Torah (“law”) or Pentateuch (first “five books”)
    where: Mesopotamia
    when: antediluvian
    summary: explanations about the origin of human lifespams, various customs and social affinities
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-1
    • 6.1-4 • cause: monstrous violence (J or Yahwistic)
      breach of the divine-human boundary; the “sons of God” (’El) mate with human women, leading to 120-year limit of human life; beget violent “warriors of renown” (i.e. the giant Nephilim)
    • 6.5-8 • cause: human wickedness (Priestly)
    • 6.9-22 • Noah and family chosen (P)
    • 7.1-5 • method: rain 40 days and nights (J? non-Priestly source)
    • 7.6-9 • Noah, family and animals board ark (giant rectangular box)
    • 7.10-12 • method: chaotic waters erupt from Dome of the Sky and the Deep (P)
    • 7.13-16 • Noah, family and animals board ark (giant rectangular box)
    • 7.17-8.22 • Noah et al. survive (P and non-Priestly interwoven)
      conclusion: thanksgiving sacrifice; never again will all life be destroyed
    • 9.1-17 • Covenant with Noah (P)
      do not consume animal blood (sign: rainbow)
  • Gen 9-11 — Origin of Nations walkthrough 02-1
    • 9: 18-29 • Curse of Ham
      etiology of viticulture and drunkeness
    • 10.1-32 • Generations of Noah (“Table of Nations”); toledoth (P)
      division of peoples by kinship
    • 11.1-9 • Tower of Babel (J)
      division of peoples by language
  • Book of Enoch
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Enoch | redactor (Aramaic) | translator (Gecez)
    when: ante-diluvian | 300 BCE | 16th CE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: YHWH worshipers, Aramaic speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Book of Enoch
    who: Enoch, Noah, Watchers, nephilim
    where: Mesopotamia
    when: ante-diluvian, flood narrative
    summary: How man became corrupt/violent, origin of ...
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-1
  • Pseudo-Apollodorus Library
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Pseudo-Apollodorus
    when: 1st BCE
    where: Athens
    summary:

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Library
    where: Ancient Greece
    when: many generations ago
    summary: Zeus (Jupiter) causes deluge; Prometheus helps Deucalion survive; he and his wife reseed people (laos) from stones (laas)
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-2
    Livius.org
    • [Apollod.] 3.98-99 • cause: human wickedness
      impeity of the Sons of Lycaon
    • [Apollod.] 1.47 • cause: violence of the Bronze Race
      Deucalion and family chosen; board giant rectangular box
    • [Apollod.] 1.48 • method: rain 9 days and nights
      conclusion: thanksgiving sacrifice
    • [Apollod.] 1.48-50 • Generations of Hellen
      division of peoples by kinship
  • Ovid Metamorphosis
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: P. Ovidius Naso
    when: 1st BCE / 1st CE
    where: Rome
    summary:

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Metamorphosis
    where: Aegean
    when: many generations ago
    summary: repopulation of Greece by Deucalion (sons of Hellen)
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-2
    Livius.org
  • Berossus Babylonian Affairs
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Berossus of Babylonia
    when: 3rd BCE
    where: Seleucid Mesopotamia
    summary: Greek-speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Babylōnikē (“Babylonian Things”)
    who: Cronus, Xisuthrus
    where: Babel/Babylon, Armenia/Urartu/Ararat
    when: ante-diluvian, flood narrative
    summary: How man became corrupt/violent, division by language...
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-3
  • Gilgamesh
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sumerian | Akk/Hurr/Hitt | Assyrian (Sin-leqe-unnini) scribes
    when: EB/2200 | LB/1400 (redactions) | Early Iron/625 BCE (standard edition)
    where: Sumerian city states | MB/LB kingdoms | Nineveh
    context: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Gilgamesh
    who: Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, Humbaba, Bull of Heaven; Scorpion-people; Siduri, Ut-napishtim, Enlil, Ishtar, etc
    where: Mesopotamia (Uruk), Cedar Forest, edge of the world
    when: heroic age; many generations ago
    summary: mortality, urban-civilized vs nomadic-savage, origin of...
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-3
  • Atrahasis
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Ipiq-aya
    when: ca.1700 BCE (Old Babylonian Era)
    where: Babylonia
    summary: Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Atra-ḫasis
    who: Annunaki/Igigi, Enlil/Ellil, Ea/Enki, Ninhursag/Mami, Atrahasis where: Mesopotamia
    when: many generations ago
    summary: antediluvian, flood narrative, corruption of man, mortality (& suffering)
    — The Deluge • walkthrough 02-3
    CoS 1.130; ANET 104-106; Livius.org
  • Cow of Heaven
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribes
    when: MK/1800 (composition) | NK/1200 BCE (royal tomb inscriptions)
    where: Per-Ramesses
    summary: Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Cow of Heaven (or Destruction of Mankind)
    where: cosmos
    when: many generations ago
    summary: Re-Atum (and Ennead) sends forth his Eye/Sekhmet/Hathor [from Nun (chaos)]
    — Destruction • walkthrough 02-4
    CoS 1.24
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 3 • MYTHS & SYNCRETISM, I

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Baal Cycle (Ba‘lu Myth)
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Ugaritic scribe — Elimelech (’Ilīmilku), scribe of king Niqmad (Niqmaddu)
    when: LB/1300 BCE
    where: Ugarit (Canaan)
    summary: Canaanite elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Baal Cycle or Ba‘lu Myth
    who: Baal (Ba‘lu), Yamm (Yammu), El (’Ilu), Anat (‘Anatu), Mot (Môtu), Kothar wa-Khasis ((Kôṯaru-wa-Ḫasīsu)
    where: Canaan
    when: timeless mythical past
    summary: battles between sky and sea, sky and death
    — Syncretism • walkthrough 03-1
    CoS 1.86; ANET 129-142
    • CTA 1.ii.?-13
    • 1.ii.13-?
      The Enoys Go to ‘Anat (cAnatu) and Deliver El's (ɔIlu's) Message
    • 1.iii.1-16
      El (ɔIlu) Sends for Kothar wa-Khasis (Kôṯaru-wa-Ḫasīsu)
    • 1.iii.17-end
      Kothar wa-Khasis (Kôṯaru-wa-Ḫasīsu) Obeys the Summons
    • 1.iv
      El's (ɔIlu's) Feast
    • 1.v
      unknown
    • CTA 2.1.11-19
      Yamm's (Yammu's) Message
    • 2.i.19-29
      At the Sight of the Approaching Messengers, the Gods Panic
    • 2.i.30-35
      The Messengers Arrive, Deliver Their Lines
    • 2.i.36-38
      El (ɔIlu) Declares That He Accedes to the Demand
    • 2.i.38-end
      Ba‘al (Baclu) Defends Himself
    • 2.ii
      Hostilities Continue
    • 2.iii.2-3
      Someone Sends Kothar wa-Khasis (Kôṯaru-wa-Ḫasīsu) to El (ɔIlu)
    • 2.iii.4-6
      Off He Goes
    • 2.iii.6-11
      El (ɔIlu) Enjoins the Building of Yamm's (Yammu's) Palace
    • 2.iii.6-11
      El (ɔIlu) Enjoins the Building of Yamm's (Yammu's) Palace
  • El-Kunirsha & Ashertu
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Hittite scribe
    when: 1300 BCE/LB
    where: Hatti (Hittite Empire)
    summary:Hittite elite; syncretism w/ Canaan

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: El-kunirša and Ašertu
    who: Storm-god; El (El-kunirsha. El “Creator of Heaven and Earth”); Ashertu (Asherah); Astart (DINNANA / Ishtar)
    where: Canaan
    when: timeless mythical past
    summary: truggle between generations
    — Syncretism • walkthrough 03-2
    CoS 1.55; ANET 519
  • Astarte & Tribute of the Sea
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe
    when: MK/MB/12th Dyn/1900 BCE
    where: Eastern Delta
    summary: Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Astarte and the Insatiable Sea
    who: Astarte; Ptah; Nut; Geb; Asiatics; Ennead
    where: Canaan
    when: timeless mythical past
    summary: syncretism with Canaan
    — Syncretism • walkthrough 03-2
    CoS 1.23; ANET 17-18
  • Hymn to Imhotep
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe
    when: 1st CE (reign of Tiberius)
    where: Temple of Ptah, Thebes (Karnak)
    summary: Egyptian-speaking Roman elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Hymn to Imhotep
    who: semi-divine architect of king Djoser
    where: Step Pyramid of Squarra
    when: 2600 BCE
    summary: origin of...
    First Interlude
  • Hymn to the Etemenanki
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Akkadian scribe
    when: 7th BCE
    where: Babylon
    summary: Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Etemenanki
    who: Marduk, Nabopolassar
    where: Babylon, temple of Marduk
    when: ca.625 BCE
    summary: rebuilding of the ziggurat (Tower of Babel)
    First Interlude
lectures
handouts


U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 4 • MYTHS & SYNCRETISM, II

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Lamentation of Isis & Nephthys
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: family of Tentruty
    when: Hellenistic/200 BCE
    where: Hieratic papyrus
    summary: Ptolemaic Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Lamentation of Isis &Nephthys (P. Berlin 3008)
    who: Isis, Nephthys
    where: Egypt
    when: eternal
    summary: death/rebirth, mourning rituals,
  • Plutarch Isis & Osiris
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Plutarch of Chaeronea
    when: 150 CE (Roman Empire)
    where: Greece (Alexandria?)
    summary: Greek-speaking (Roman) elite; syncretism between Egypt ∧ Canaan

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Moralia (Isis & Osiris) 351C-384C
    who: Isis, Osiris, Horus, Typhon (Seth)
    where: Egypt
    when: eternal
    summary: death/rebirth, chaos/order
    — Syncretism • walkthrough 04-1
  • Contendings of Horus & Seth
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe
    when: LB/NK/Dyn19/1150 BCE
    where: Eastern Delta
    summary: Egyptian elite; syncretism between Egypt & Canaan

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Contendings of Horus & Seth
    who: Ennead, Re-Harakhti-Atum (Universal Lord); Nut; Neith, Thoth; Isis; Osiris;
    where: Egypt (river islands, mountains, marshes)
    when: long ago
    summary: legitimate kingship, chaos/order, origin of...
    — Syncretism • walkthrough 04-1
essay
ESSAY 1
prompt
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 5 • SEASONS AND LIFE CYCLES

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Wrath of Telepinu
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Hittite scribe
    when: LB/1300 BCE
    where: Hattusa (Hittite Empire)
    summary: Hittite elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Telpinu
    who: Storm-god, Sun-god, Telepinu, Mother goddess (Hannahanna), Kamrusepa
    where: cosmos, Hatti
    when: timeless mythical past
    summary: wrath, cycle of seasons, origin of...
    — Cycle of Life • walkthrough 05-1
    CoS 1.57; ANET 126-128
  • Adapa
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Akkadian speaking Egyptian scribe | Assyrian scribe
    when: LB/1300 | Early Iron/650 BCE
    where: Tall al-‘Amarna | Nineveh (Library of Assurbanipal)
    summary: Akkadian-speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Adapa
    who: South Wind, Ea/DENKI Ilibrat; Tammuz; Gizzida; Anu
    where: Mesopotamia
    when: long ago
    summary: mortality, consuming divine food, origin of...
    — Cycle of Life • walkthrough 05-1
    CoS 1.129; ANET 101-103
  • Descent of Ishtar
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribes
    when: MB/2000 | Early Iron/650 BCE
    where: Ur III | Nineveh
    summary: Sumero-Akkadian-speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Descent of Ishtar
    who: Inanna/Ishtar; Ea/Enki; Erishkigal Tammuz
    where: Mesopotamia
    when: long ago
    summary: cycle of seasons, katabasis (descent), origin of...
    — Cycle of Life • walkthrough 05-2
    CoS 1.108; ANET 106-109
  • Hymn to Demeter
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: "Homer" | rhapsodes (oral tradition) | redactor | editor (Pisistratus)
    when: 1200 | 1000 | 750 | 530 BCE
    where: Aegean (Euboea)
    summary: Greek-speaking elite of city-states

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Hymn to Demeter
    who: Demeter, Persephone, Pluto
    where: Sicily (Enna)
    when: long ago
    summary: cycle of seasons, katabasis (descent), eating divine food
    — Cycle of Life • walkthrough 05-2
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 6 • EPIC, I

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Gilgamesh
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sumerian | Akk/Hurr/Hitt | Assyrian (Sin-leqe-unnini) scribes
    when: EB/2200 | LB/1400 (redactions) | Early Iron/625 BCE (standard edition)
    where: Sumerian city states | MB/LB kingdoms | Nineveh
    context: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Gilgamesh
    who: Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, Humbaba, Bull of Heaven; Scorpion-people; Siduri, Ut-napishtim, Enlil, Ishtar, etc
    where: Mesopotamia (Uruk), Cedar Forest, edge of the world
    when: heroic age; many generations ago
    summary: mortality, urban-civilized vs nomadic-savage, origin of...
    Tab.I-III — Civilization & Savagery • walkthrough 06-1
  • Odyssey
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: "Homer" | rhapsodes (oral tradition) | redactor | editor (Pisistratus)
    when: 1200 | 1000 | 750 | 530 BCE
    where: Aegean (Euboea)
    summary: Greek-speaking elite of city-states

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Odyssey
    who: Odysseus, Polyphemus
    where: Mediterranean, edge of the world
    when: long ago
    summary: urban-civilized vs nomadic-savage, origin of...
    IX — Civilization & Savagery • walkthrough 06-1
  • Gilgamesh
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Sumerian | Akk/Hurr/Hitt | Assyrian (Sin-leqe-unnini) scribes
    when: EB/2200 | LB/1400 (redactions) | Early Iron/625 BCE (standard edition)
    where: Sumerian city states | MB/LB kingdoms | Nineveh
    context: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Gilgamesh
    who: Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, Humbaba, Bull of Heaven; Scorpion-people; Siduri, Ut-napishtim, Enlil, Ishtar, etc
    where: Mesopotamia (Uruk), Cedar Forest, edge of the world
    when: heroic age; many generations ago
    summary: mortality, urban-civilized vs nomadic-savage, origin of...
    Tab.IV-XI — Mortal & Immortal • walkthrough 06-2
  • Aqhat
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Ugaritic scribe — Elimelech (’Ilīmilku), scribe of king Niqmad (Niqmaddu)
    when: 1300 BCE
    where: Ugarit (Canaan)
    context: Ugaritic speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Aqhat or A
    who: Daniel (Dānī’ilu), Aqhat (’Aqhatu), Anat (‘Anatu), Kothar wa-Khasis (Kôṯaru-wa-Ḫasīsu), YṬPN, Paghat (Pūǵatu)
    where: cosmos, Ugarit
    when: timeless mythical past
    summary:
    — Mortal & Immortal • walkthrough 06-2
    CoS 1.103; ANET 149-155
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 7 • EPIC, II

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Sinuhe
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Egyptian scribe
    when: MB/MK/Dyn.12/ca.1800 BCE
    where: Itj-tawy
    context/summary: Egyptian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Sinuhe
    when: ca. 1960 BCE
    who: Sinuhe, Amenemhet, Sesostris, Ammunenshi (Egyptianzing name, since Amun = chief god of Thebes)
    where: Western Delta (Libyans), Upper Retjenu/Canaan (Byblus, Qedem)
    context/summary: old man, former Egyptian harem attendant, beats up Asiatics
    — Heroic Journey • walkthrough 07-1
    CoS 1.38; ANET 18-22
  • Shipwrecked Sailor
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Egyptian scribe
    when: MB/MK/Dyn.12/ca.1800 BCE
    where: Itj-tawy
    context/summary: Egyptian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Shipwrecked Sailor
    when: ca. 1800 BCE
    who: an attendant, a Lord
    where: Wawat (Kush), Senmut (Nubia), island in (Red?) Sea
    — Heroic Journey • walkthrough 07-1
    CoS 1.39
  • Genesis 37-42
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: “Moses” | J E P D sources | redaction under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca.1200 | 1000 | 610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: internal attribution to Moses, but various traditional sources were interwoven under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Genesis, or Torah (“law”) or Pentateuch (first “five books”)
    where: Canaan, Egypt
    when: ca.1500 BCE (Hyksos)
    who: Joseph, Potiphar, sons/tribes of Jacob/Israel
    where: Canaan, Egypt, Pithom (Goshen)
    context/summary: Asiatic becomes official in royal household; palace/temple economic redistribution, syncretism of Canaan / Egypt; origin of Israelite tribes; Potiphar's Wife motif; Seven Lean Years motif
    — Heroic Journey • walkthrough 07-2
    • consult Table of Nations (Gen 10)
  • Campaign of Sennacherib
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Assyrian scribe
    when: ca.700 BCE
    where: Nineveh
    context/summary: Assyrian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Campaign of Sennacherib
    when: ca.700 BCE
    who: Sennacherib of Assyria
    where: Canaan
    context/summary: campaign narrative
    — Siege (& Mouse & Lion & Man) • walkthrough 07-3
    CoS 2.119B
  • II Kings 18:1-19:37
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Deuteronomistic Historian (DtrH) / Josiah / post-exile
    when: ca.610 / 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    context/summary: Hebrew speaking elite, written then edited

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: II Kings 18-19
    when: ca.700 BCE
    who: Sennacherib of Assyria, Hezekiah of Jerusalem
    where: Jerusalem
    context/summary: siege miraculously fails
    — Siege (& Mouse & Lion & Man) • walkthrough 07-3
  • Herodotus History II.141
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Herodotus of Halicarnassus
    when: ca.420 BCE
    where: Halicarnassus > Athens > Thurii
    context/summary: Greek speaking elite, oral performance

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: History (“inquiry”)
    when: Dyn.25/ca.700 BCE
    who: Sennacherib of Assyria, Sethos (Shabako) of Egypt
    where: Pelusium (Canaan)
    context/summary: siege miraculously fails
    — Siege & Mouse (& Lion & Man) • walkthrough 07-3
  • Lion in Search of a Man
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Egyptian (demotic) scribe
    when: 3rd BCE to 6th CE (Greco-Roman Era)
    where: Egypt
    context/summary: Egyptian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Lion in Search of a Man (P.Leiden I 384)
    when: timeless
    who: the Human, the Lion, the Mouse
    where: Egypt
    context/summary: Thoth tells tales to Tefnut (daughter of Eye of Re) to soothe her
    — (Siege &) Mouse & Lion & Man • walkthrough 07-3
  • Aesop Fables 150
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: “Aesop”
    when: 6th/5th BCE
    where: Samos/Thace > Egypt
    context/summary: Greek speaking ex-slave (traditionally his master was either Xanthus of Samos or Iadmon of Thrace)

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Fable 150
    when: timeless
    who: the Lion, the Mouse
    where: Egypt
    context/summary: animal tales (Libyan Fables – Aristot. Rhet. 1393a, Quint. Inst. Orat. 5.11.20)
    — (Siege &) Mouse & Lion (& Man) • walkthrough 07-3
lectures
handouts

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 8 • FOLKLORE MOTIFS

secondary sources
A. Dundes. 2002. Projective Inversion. Journal of American Folklore 115.457/458: 378-394.
ancient texts
  • Tale of Two Brothers
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Egyptian scribes (Kagab and Ennana)
    when: LB/NK/19th Dyn/ca.1200 BCE
    where: 17th nome of Upper Egypt, with city of Hardai (Gk. Cynopolis, "city of the dog") with temple of Anubis and city of Saka (mod. al-Qaïs) with temple of Bata
    context/summary: Egyptian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Tale of Two Brothers (P.Jumilhac and P.D’Orbiney)
    when: timeless
    who: Anubis (and his wife), Bata (and his wife), pharaoh, Khnum, Ra-Harakhti
    where: Egypt, Retjenu (Valley of Pine / Cedar)
    context/summary: one of the world's oldest and richest sources of folklore motifs
    — Potiphar's Wife Motif • walkthrough 08-1
    CoS 1.40
  • Homer Iliad V.119-236
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: "Homer" | rhapsodes (oral tradition) | redactor | editor (Pisistratus)
    when: 1200 | 1000 | 750 | 530 BCE
    where: Aegean (Euboea)
    summary: Greek-speaking elite of city-states

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Iliad
    when: ca.1200 BCE
    who: Glaucus, Diomedes, Belerephon, Proetus, Anteia
    where: Troy, Lycia
    context/summary: Potiphar’s Wife motif
    — Potiphar's Wife Motif • walkthrough 08-1
  • Oracular Dream of Ashurbanipal
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Assyrian Scribe
    when: 648 BCE
    where: Nineveh
    context/summary: Assyrian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Oracular Dream of Ashurbanipal
    when: ca.650 BCE
    who: Ishtar, Teuman
    where: Arbela, Elam, Akkad, Amurru
    context/summary: oracular dream; Seven Lean Years motif
    — Seven Lean Years Motif • walkthrough 08-2
    ANET 451-2
  • Famine Stela
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Egyptian Scribe
    when: 3rd-1st BCE (Ptolemaic)
    where: Setjet (Sehel Island, near Elephantine)
    context/summary: either complete fiction (most likely) or restoration of 3rd Dyn inscription (less likely)

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Famine Stelae
    when: ca.2650 BCE
    who: Djoser, Imhotep, Khnum, Hapy,
    where: Elephantine (Yebu), Kush (Wawat)
    context/summary: Seven Lean Years motif
    — Seven Lean Years Motif • walkthrough 08-2
    CoS 1.53; ANET 31-32
  • Birth of Sargon
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Assyrian Scribe
    when: 8th BCE (reign of Sargon II)
    where: Assyria
    context/summary: Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Birth of Sargon
    when: ca.2300 BC
    who: Sargon of Akkad
    where: Akkad / AGADEKI
    context/summary: Found(l)ing Hero motif
    — Found(l)ing Hero Motif • walkthrough 08-3
    CoS 1.133; ANET 119
    • Sargon
  • Exodus 2:1-10
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: “Moses“ | J E P D sources | redaction under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca.1200 | 1000 | 610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary:internal attribution to Moses, but various traditional sources were interwoven under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Exodus (or Torah / Pentateuch, or Tanakh)
    when: ca.1200 BC
    who: Moses, Pharaoh’s daughter
    where: banks of the Nile, [Pithom (Goshen)]
    context/summary: Found(l)ing Hero motif
    — Found(l)ing Hero Motif • walkthrough 08-3
    • Moses
  • Herodotus History I.107-114
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: Herodotus of Halicarnassus
    when: ca.420 BCE
    where: Athens
    context/summary: Greek speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: History (“inquiry”)
    when: ca.600 BCE
    who: Cyrus, Astyages, Mandane, magi, Hapargus, Mitradates, Cyno (“bitch”)
    where: Media, Persia
    context/summary: Found(l)ing Hero motif
    — Found(l)ing Hero Motif • walkthrough 08-3
    • Cyrus
  • Livy From the City's Foundation I.3-4
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    author: T. Livius (Livy)
    when: 1st BCE/1st CE
    where: Padua > Rome
    context/summary: Latin speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: From the Foundation of the City (Ab urbe condita)
    when: ca.750 BCE
    who: Romulus and Remus, Mars, Rhea Silvia (Vestal), Faustulus, Laurentia/Lupa (“she-wolf”)
    where: Alban Mount, Rome, banks of the Tiber
    context/summary: Found(l)ing Hero motif
    — Found(l)ing Hero Motif • walkthrough 08-3
    • Romulus & Remus
essay
ESSAY 2
prompt
lectures

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

WEEK 9 • HYMNS

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Mesopotamian Hymns

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: oral composition/scribes

    when: varied

    where: Mesopotamia

    summary:


    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Mesopotamian Hymns

    who: varied

    where: varied

    when: varied

    summary: focus on poetic composition techniques

    walkthrough 09-1
    • Hymn to Ishtar and Lamentation to Ishtar
      ANET 383-85
    • Hymn to Enlil and Hymn to Ninurta
      ANET 576-77
    • Hymn to Shamash
      CoS 1.117; ANET 387-89
  • Egyptian Hymns

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: oral composition/scribes

    when: varied

    where: Egypt

    summary:


    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Egyptian Hymns

    who: varied

    where: varied

    when: varied

    summary: focus on poetic composition techniques

    walkthrough 09-1
    • Hymn to Osiris and Hymn to Min
      Lichtheim 1973: 202-04
    • Hymn to Hapy
      Lichtheim 1973: 204-09
    • Great Hymn to Osiris
      CoS 1.26; Lichtheim 1976: 81-85
    • Hymns to the Sun
      CoS 1.27
    • Penitential Hymns
      Simpson 2003: 284-99
  • Hymn to the Aten

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian Scribe

    when: 1350 BCE (LB/NK/Dyn18)

    where: Akhetaten (mod.Tall al-cAmarna)

    summary: Atenist revolution

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Hymn to the Aten

    who: Aten, Akhenaten

    where: everywhere (beyond Canaan and Nubia)

    when:1350 BCE (LB/NK/Dyn18)

    summary: henotheism, universal monad over all

    walkthrough 09-2
      CoS 1.28; ANET 369-71
  • Psalm 104

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: “David” / oral tradition / redaction under Hezekiah

    when: 1000 BCE / 610 BCE

    where: Jerusalem

    summary: Hebrew speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Psalms (təhîllîm “praises”) or psalmoi (“music”); part of the Ketubim (“writings,” or poetic books – Psalms, Proverbs, Job)

    who:

    where: Jerusalem (Israel/Judah)

    when: ca.1000 BCE

    summary: synonymous and antithetical parallelism

  • Execration of Asiatics

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: ca.1900 BCE (MB/MK/Dyn12)

    where: Itj-Tawy

    summary:

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title:Execration of Asiatics

    who: rulers of Byblos, Jerusalem

    where: Levant (Canaan/Retenu)

    when: ca.1900 BCE

    summary: threat of Asiatic/Canaanite invasion

    walkthrough 09-2
      CoS 1.32; ANET 328-29
  • Obelisk of Hatshepsut

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: scribe of Hatshepsut

    when: ca.1460 BCE (LB/NK/Dyn.18)

    where: Thebes

    summary: asserting legitimacy of female pharaoh - daughter of Thutmose I, wife of Thutmose II, mother/regent of Thutmose III


    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Obelisk of Hatshepsut

    who: Amun, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III

    where: Temple of Amun (Ipet-isut, mod.Karnak)

    when: ca.1460 BCE

    summary: transfer of Sun worship from Heliopolis > Thebes, Atum > Amun

    excursion
      Lichtheim 1976: 25-29
  • Vatican Obelisk

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Latin scribes in Egypt

    when: ca.30 BCE / ca. 30 CE

    where: Heliopolis / Alexandria / Rome

    summary: uninscribed obelisk from Heliopolis / moved to Alexandria by Gallus / then to Rome by Caius (Caligula) on the spina of his circus next to the Vatican Hill


    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Vatican Obelisk

    who: C. Cornelius Gallus, Imp. Tiberius Iulius Caesar

    where: Alexandria

    when: ca.30 BCE / ca.30 CE

    summary: dedicated in the Forum Iulium of Alexandria by the first praefectus of Egypt (Gallus), then erased (damnatio memoriae) and reinscribed there by Tiberius

    excursion
      Gordon 1983: no.35
lectures

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 10 • GUIDES TO THE AFTERLIFE

secondary sources

ancient texts
  • Pyramid Texts

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribes

    when: 2400-2200 BCE (EB/OK/Dyn5-6)

    where: Saqqara, part of extensive line of pyarmids (from Giza and Abusir to Saqqara and Dahshur) on the edge of the plateau west of the Nile

    summary: composed for tomgs of Egyptian royalty

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Pyramid Texts

    who: Osiris; Unas, Pepi, Teti, etc.

    where: Saqqara (near Memphis)

    when: 2400-2200 BCE

    summary: death/rebirth, afterlife…

    walkthrough 10-1
    • Utterance 213, 219
        CoS 2.8
    • Utterance 214, 217, 364, 412, 422, 473, 570-71
        Simpson 2003: 248-62
  • Coffin Texts

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: ca.1900 BCE (MB/MK/Dyn12)

    where: Itj-Tawy

    summary: Egyptian elite funerary practice

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Coffin Texts

    who: Osiris, etc.

    where: Ancient Egypt

    when:ca.1900 BCE

    summary: death/rebirth, afterlife…

    walkthrough 10-2
    • Spell 335, 261, 647, 1130
        CoS 1.10-12, 17
    • Spell 148, 162, 125
        Simpson 2003: 263-266
  • Book of the Dead

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribes

    when: ca.1550 BCE (LB/NK/Dyn18) to ca.50 BCE (Ptolemaic)

    where: from Thebes to Alexandria

    summary: for all Egyptians, from elite to commoner

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Book of the Dead

    who: Osiris, etc.

    where: from Thebes to Alexandria

    when: ca.1550-50 BCE

    summary: death/rebirth, afterlife…

    walkthrough 10-3
    • Spell 17 (see CT 335), 109, 112, 125 (“negative confession”), 175
        CoS 1.11-12, 18, 20; cf. Simpson 267-77
  • Orphic Texts
    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Greek scribes
    when:
    where:
    summary:

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title:
    who:
    where:
    when:
    summary:
    walkthrough 10-4
lectures

U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

UNIT 11 • WISDOM - RIGHTEOUS SUFFERER

secondary sources

ancient texts
Ludlul bēl nēmeqi

AUTHORS CONTEXT

who: Assyrian scribe

when: post-1000 BCE (Iron/Late)

where: Assyria

summary: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

NARRATIVE CONTEXT

title: Ludlul bēl nēmeqi (“I will praise the Lord of Wisdom”)

who: Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan, Marduk, Enlil

where: 

when: 

summary: why do good men suffer?…

(or Poem of the Righteous Sufferer) • walkthrough 11-1
  CoS 1.153; ANET 596-600
  • Babylonian Theodicy

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Babylonian scribe

    when: ca.1500 BCE (LB/MK)

    where: Babylonia

    summary: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Babylonian Theodicy

    who: Saggil-Kinnam-ubbib

    where: 

    when: 

    summary: why do good men suffer?…

    — Righteous Sufferer • walkthrough 11-1
      CoS 1.154; ANET 438-40, 601-604
  • Job 1-21, 28, 38-42

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: oral tradition / redaction under Josiah

    when: before 1000 / ca.610 BCE

    where: Jerusalem

    summary: Hebrew speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Job (Heb. ’Iyyôb); part of the Ketubim (“writings,” or poetic books – Psalms, Proverbs, Job)

    who: Job, Yahweh, the Adversary (i.e. Śāṭān), Divine Council (Sons of ’El) etc.

    where: Jerusalem

    when: ca.1000 BCE

    summary: poetic wisdom, righteous sufferer

    — Righteous Sufferer • walkthrough 11-1
    • Job 1-2prologue, two scenes (first on earth, second in heaven)
    • Job 3opening monologue, transition to three cycles
    • Job 4-14 – first cycle of dialogue
      • Eliphaz (4-5) and Job's response (6-7)
      • Bildad (8) and Job (9-10)
      • Zophar (11) and Job (12-14)
    • Job 15-21 – second cycle of dialogues
      • Eliphaz (15) and Job (16-17)
      • Bildad (18) and Job (19)
      • Zophar (20) and Job (21)
    • Job 22-28 – third cycle of dialogues
    • Job 29-31 – closing monologue, transition from three cycles
    • Job 32-37 – monologue of Elihu – why does Elihu suddenly pop up here?
    • Job 38-42dialogue with the divine
      • YHWH (38:1-40:2) and Job(40:3-5)
      • YHWH (40:6-41:34) and Job (42:1-6)
    • Job 42:7-17epilogue
      • humiliation of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (7-9)
      • restoration of Job (10-17)
  • A Man and His God

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Sumerian scribe

    when: ca.2000 BCE (EB/1st Intermediate)

    where: Lower Mesopotamia

    summary: Ur III period, Sumerian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: A Man and His God

    who: unnamed man, unnamed god

    where: Ur (?)

    when: timeless

    summary: why do good men suffer?…

    — Dialogue • walkthrough 11-2
      CoS 1.151
  • Dialogue of Pessimism

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Akkadian scribe

    when: ca.1000 BCE (Iron/3rd Intermediate)

    where: Upper Mesopotamia

    summary: Sumero-Akkadian speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Pessimistic Dialogue between a Master & Servant

    who: unnamed master, unnamed servant

    where: Assur (?)

    when: timeless

    summary: why do good men suffer?…

    (or The Obliging Slave) — Dialogue • walkthrough 11-2
      CoS 1.155; ANET 358-60
  • Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: scribes of Cyrus (C), Darius (D), Xerxes (X) and Artaxerxes II or III (A) of Persia
    when: ca.500-350 BCE
    where: Parsagadae (M), then Persepolis (P)
    summary: legitimize control over (sometimes rebellious) territories

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Royal InscriptionsCMac, DB, DNa, DSab, DSe, XPh, A?Pb
    who: every daiva and satrapy
    where: Pasargadae (M), Naqs-e Rustam (N), Persepolis (P), or Susa (S)
    when: ca.500-350 BCE
    summary: royal inscriptions emphasizing the loyalty and support of vassals listed by people (daiva) or province (satrapy)
    — Persian Empire • excursion
    • CMcPasargadae, Gate R
      inscription of Cyrus at Pasargadae (mod. Dasht-i Murghab); cf. winged genius
    • DNaTomb of Darius
      Old Persian tomb inscription of Darius at Naqsh-i Rustam; satrapies and daiva
    • DPeTerrace Inscription (Old Persian)
      Old Persian inscription of Darius at Persepolis; satrapies and daiva
    • DPgTerrace inscription (Babylonian)
      Babylonian inscription of Darius at Persepolis; imperial diversity
    • DPhApadana Tablets
      trilingual inscription of Darius at Persepolis; imperial ideology
    • DSabStatue of Darius (Egyptian)
      bilingual inscription of Darius at Susa; satrapies and daiva (in cartouches)
    • DSeSatrapy List (Babylonian)
      trilingual inscription of Darius at Susa; satrapies and daiva
    • DZcSuez Inscription
      trilingual inscription of Darius (Chalouf Stela) at Suez; controling Egypt, building canal
    • XPhDaiva Inscription
      trilingual inscription of Xerxes at Persepolis; imperial ideology; satrapies and daiva
    • A?PTomb of Artaxerxes
      trilingual inscription of Artaxerxes (II? or III?) at Persepolis; satrapies and daiva
    lectures

    U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

    UNIT 12 • WISDOM - TEACHINGS

    secondary sources

    ancient texts
    Eloquent Peasant

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: ca.1900 BCE (MB/MK/Dyn12)

    where: Itj-tawy

    summary: Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Eloquent Peasant

    who: Khu-n-Anup (wife Mryt) the peasant, Nemty-nakht the overseer, Rensi (son of Meru) the high steward, Nebkaure (Khety) the king, Heryshaf the demiurge

    where: Salt Fields (Wadi Natrun), Herakleopolis

    when: ca.2150 (EB/1st Intermediate/Dyn.9)

    summary: good and evil, balance of justice (ma'at)…

    — Poetic Wisdom • walkthrough 12-1
      CoS 1.43; Parkinson 1997: 54-88
  • Instructions of Amenemhet

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe (cf. Dua-khety)

    when: MB/MK/Dyn12 composition > LB/NK/Dyn19-20 edition

    where: Itj-tawy > Pi-Ramesses

    summary: 

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Instruction of Amenemhet (British Museum EA10182,2 P.Sallier II)

    who: Amenemhet, Senwosret

    where: Itj-tawy

    when: 1910 BCE

    summary: advice for a royal son…

    — Teachings • walkthrough 12-2
      CoS 1.36; Parkinson 1997: 203ff0
  • Loyalist Instructions

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: ca.1900 BCE (MB/MK/Dyn12)

    where: Itj-Tawy

    summary: for Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Loyalist Teachings

    who:

    where: Itj-Tawy

    when:

    summary: advice to royal subjects…

    — Teachings • walkthrough 12-2
      Parkinson 1997: 235-245
  • Instructions of Amenemope

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: ca.1000 BCE (Iron/3rd Intermediate)

    where: Lower Egypt

    summary: Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Instructions of Amenemope

    who: Amenemope

    where: Lower Egypt

    when: ca.1000

    summary: advice to elite, protection of the weak

    — Poetic Wisdom • walkthrough 12-3
      CoS 1.47; ANET 421-24
    Proverbs

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: oral tradition / redaction under Josiah

    when: ca.1000 / ca.610 BCE

    where: Jerusalem

    summary: Hebrew speaking elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Proverbs (Heb. mišlê šəlōmōh “Proverbs of Solomon”; Gk. paroimiai Lat. proverbia); part of the Ketubim (“writings,” or poetic books – Psalms, Proverbs, Job)

    who: universal

    where: Jerusalem

    when: ca.1000 BCE

    summary: poetic wisdom

    22:17-24:34
  • Dialogue between a Man and his Soul (ba)

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: 1900 BCE/Middle Kingdom/Middle Bronze

    where: Egypt

    summary: for the Egyptian elite

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Discourse between a Man and his Soul

    who: unnamed man, ba

    where: 

    when: 

    summary: poetic wisdom, why do good men suffer?…

    — Poetic Wisdom • walkthrough 12-3
      CoS 3.146; Parkinson 1997: 151-65
  • essay
    ESSAY 3
    prompt
    lectures

    U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

    UNIT 13 • WISDOM - DIALOGUES

    secondary sources

    ancient texts
    The Craft of the Scribe

    AUTHOR CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe

    when: 1279-1213 BCE / Dyn19 (Ramesses II) / Late Kingdom / Late Bronze

    where: Pi-Ramesses (Lower Egypt, Eastern Delta)

    summary: model letter / scribal exercise

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: The Craft of the Scribe (British Museum EA10247 = P. Anastasi I)

    who: mahir (army scribe/quartermaster) Hori, mahir Amenemope

    when: 1279-1213 BCE / Dyn19 (Ramesses II)

    where: Pi-Ramesses (Lower Egypt, Eastern Delta)

    summary: one scribe mocks another's unwarranted claims of scribal learning and experience; useful practical calculations and foreign topography; loanwords from NW Semitic languages; vivid descriptions of contemporary Canaanite life and customs

    walkthrough 13-1
      CoS 3.2
  • Teaching of Dua-khety

    AUTHOR CONTEXT

    who: Egyptian scribe (cf. Amenemhet)

    when: ca.1200 BCE / 19th-20th Dyn / LK / LB (Ramesside)

    where: Pi-Ramesses (Lower Egypt, Eastern Delta)

    summary: model letter / scribal exercise

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: The Craft of the Scribe (British Museum EA10182,6 = P. Sallier II)

    who: 

    when: ca.1200 BCE / Dyn19-20 (Ramesside)

    where: Pi-Ramesses (Lower Egypt, Eastern Delta)

    summary: styled after instructions of father to son; duties and rewards of the scribal professionison; satirical caricatures of 18 (1esser) professions

    (Satire of the Trades) — walkthrough 13-1
      CoS 1.48; Parkinson 1997: 273-283
  • Dialogue between Two Scribes

    AUTHOR CONTEXT
    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribe
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    where: Mesopotamia
    summary: scribal exercise

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Dialogue between Two Scribes
    who: GIRINE-ISAG (“big brother”); ENKI-MANSUM
    where: Mesopotamian é.dub.ba.a (“house of tablets”, i.e. scribal school)
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    summary: competition between two scribal students, one more advanced (šeš.gal, or “big brother”) uses his seniority to bully and insult the younger one; practical and methodological details about scribal education, aims and rewards; form of poetical disputation

    walkthrough 13-1
      CoS 1.184
  • Dialogue between a Supervisor and a Scribe

    AUTHOR CONTEXT
    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribe
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    where: Mesopotamia
    summary: scribal exercise

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Dialogue between a Supervisor and a Scribe
    who: supervisor (UGULA); student/scribe
    where: Mesopotamian é.dub.ba.a (“house of tablets”, i.e. scribal school)
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    summary: supervisor submits his student to an examination of scribal skill and moral education; examples of Sumerian style and rhetoric; eulogy of the student

    walkthrough 13-1
      CoS 1.185
  • Words of Ahiqar

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Aramaic scribe

    when: 5th BCE

    where: Elephantine

    summary: for the Aramaic speakers (garrison?) of Abu/Elephantine

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Words of Ahiqar

    who: Ahiqar, Shamash

    where: cosmopolitan

    when: timeless

    summary: wise counselor, proverbs…

    walkthrough 13-2
      Ginsberg 2018; ANET 379-83
    “At the Cleaners”
    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribe
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    where: Mesopotamia
    summary: a joke!

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: “At the Cleaners”
    who: cleaner; patron
    where: Mesopotamia
    when: MB / Old Babylonia
    summary: humorous but accurate account of the different stages for washing and treating luxury garments

  • walkthrough 13-2
      CoS 1.156
  • Dispute between Hoe and Plough

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Sumero-Akkadian scribes

    when: MB / Old Babylonia

    where: Mesopotamia

    summary: 

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Dispute between Hoe and Plough

    who: toothed hoe, plough

    where: 

    when: 

    summary: poetic wisdom, dialogue…

    walkthrough 13-2
      CoS 1.181
  • Dispute between Date Palm and Tamarisk

    AUTHORS CONTEXT

    who: Sumero-Akkadian

    when: MB/Old Babylonia

    where: Mesopotamian city states

    summary: 

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT

    title: Dispute between Date Palm and Tamarisk

    who: Council of Gods, date palm, tamarisk

    where: 

    when: 

    summary: poetic wisdom, dialogue…

    walkthrough 13-2
      Cohen 2013: 277-198, no.2.5; ANET 360-62
  • Kadesh Battle Inscriptionwalkthrough 13-3
      CoS 2.5A (“Poem”), 2.5B (“Bulletin”); Lichtheim 1976: 57-57
  • Kadesh Treaty walkthrough 13-3
      Chavalas 2006: 244-52, no.111
  • lectures

    U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

    UNIT 14 • PROPAGANDA & EMPIRE

    secondary sources

    ancient texts
    Amarna Letters

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Akkadian speaking Egyptian scribe
    when: ca.1350 BCE / LB/ NK / Dyn18
    where: Akhetaten (mod. Tall al-‘Amarna)
    summary: international correspondence from the reign of Akhetaten

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Amarna Letters, or Amarna Correspondence
    who: between the pharaoh (Akhetaten) and peer kings (“brothers”) or vassals (e.g. Rib-Hadad of Byblos)
    where: Egypt, Canaan/Retenu, Mesopotamia
    when: ca.1350 BCE
    summary: conspicuous consumption of wealth in gift exchanges; appeal for military support against hapiru

    walkthrough 14-1

      Moran 2000; CoS 3.92A-G; 4.80-86; ANET 429-43
  • Report of Wenamun

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe
    when: ca.1000 BCE / EIron / Late / Dyn21
    where: Tayu-djayet/Ankyronpolis (mod. al-Ḥība)
    summary: traveller's tale

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Tale of Wenamun
    who: Wenamun, ambassador of Herihor (High Priest of Thebes); Smendes of Tanis (Chief of the Ma, or Meshwesh), Ramesses XI of Pi-Ramesses; Tiekerbaal of Byblus; Sea Peoples (Pelset, Tjeker)
    where: Egypt, Canaan/Retenu
    when: 1075 BCE (Year 5 of the Renaissance Era); transition between Ramesside Dyn 20 and Libyan Dyn 21; independence of High Priest of Amun
    summary: weakness and fragmentation of Egypt; threat of Sea Peoples; comparative equal standing and strength of Byblus

    walkthrough 14-1

      CoS 1.41; ANET 14-21
  • Campaign of Shoshenq

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian scribe
    when: ca.925 BCE (reign of Shoshenq, 945-924)
    where: Bubastite Portal (named after Libyan Dyn 22 capital), Temple of Amun, Thebes
    summary: list of campaigns in the Levant (Canaan/Retenu); following restablishment of commercial ties with Byblus

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Mesha Stela, or Moabite Stone
    who: Shoshenq
    where: Bubastis to Retenu
    when: ca.923 BCE
    summary: success of king attributed to Amun; victory over Asiatics (and other traditional enemies); era of small states

    walkthrough 14-2
      CoS 4.3; ANET 239-40
    I Kings
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Deuteronomistic Historian (DtrH), derivative of D source, redacted under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca.610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: compiled under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile for a Hebrew-speaking audience

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: I Kings, Nevi'im (“prophets”, or historical books)
    where: Israel
    when: 923 BCE, i.e. fifth year of Rehoboam (928-911)
    summary: raid of Shishak (Shoshenq) pillaging of he temple; era of small states
    14:21-28 (cf. II Chron 12:1-9)
  • Mesha Stela

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Moabite scribe
    when: ca.850 BCE
    where: Dibon (Moab)
    summary: list of campaigns that legitimize rule of king

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Mesha Stela, or Moabite Stone
    who: Mesha, Chemosh
    where: Moab
    when: ca.850 BCE
    summary: success of king attributed to Chemosh; victory of subjects over former overlord; era of small states

    (Moabite Stone) — walkthrough 14-3
      CoS 2.23; ANET 287-88, fig.74
    II Kings
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Deuteronomistic Historian (DtrH), derivative of D source, redacted under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca.610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: compiled under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile for a Hebrew-speaking audience

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: II Kings, Nevi'im (“prophets”, or historical books)
    where: Israel
    when: ca.850
    summary: campaigns against Mesha; era of small states
    3
    lectures

    U01 | U02 | U03 | U04 | U05 | U06 | U07 | U08 | U09 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | REVIEW

    secondary sources

    ancient texts
    Black Obelisk

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Assyrian scribe
    when: ca.825 BCE
    where: capital of Shalmaneser at Kalhu (mod. Nimrud)
    summary: depiction and legitimizaton of king's might; continuation of campaign vs Aramaean Coalition (Battle of Qarqar 853 BCE)

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
    who: Shalmaneser III (858-824); Jehu of Samaria/Israel (842-814)
    where: Levant
    when: ca.825 BCE
    summary: list of campaigns and tribute, depiction of tribute-bearing vassals; end to era of small states

    walkthrough 15-1
      CoS 2.113F; ANET 255-58, figs.97-8, 100
    II Kings
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Deuteronomistic Historian (DtrH), derivative of D source, redacted under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca. 610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: compiled under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile for a Hebrew-speaking audience

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: II Kings, Nevi'im (“prophets,” or historical books)
    where: Israel
    when: c.a850
    summary: campaigns of Shalmaneser; end to era of small states
    8:7-15, 10:32-43
  • Victory Stela of Piye

    AUTHORS CONTEXT
    who: Egyptian speaking Nubian scribe
    when: ca.730 BCE
    where: Temple of Amun at Napata (mod. Ǧabal al-Barkal), Nubian capital (Dynasty 25)
    summary: depiction and legitimizaton of king's might; Nubian control of the High Priests of Amun in Thebes
    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: Victory Stela of Piye
    who: rebel Tefnakht of Saïs, Chief of the Ma (732-725 BCE, Libyan Dyn. XXIV), with allies Osorkon IV of Bubastis (730-715 BCE, Libyan Dyn. XXII); Iuput of Leontopolis (754-715 BCE); Namart of Hermopolis (754-725 BCE)
    punitive campaign led by Piye of Napata (732-725 BCE, Nubian Dyn. XXV), in defense of loyal vassal Peftuaubast of Heracleopolis (754-720 BCE, Libyan Dyn. XXIII)
    where: Napata, Thebes, Hermopolis, Heracleopolis, Memphis
    when: ca.734 BCE
    summary: campaign vs coalition of Libyan dynasts in Lower Egypt; end to era of small states

    walkthrough 15-2
      Ritner 2009: 466-492; CoS 2.7
    II Kings
    AUTHOR'S CONTEXT
    who: Deuteronomistic Historian (DtrH), derivative of D source, redacted under Josiah | post-exile edition
    when: ca. 610 | 530 BCE
    where: Jerusalem
    summary: compiled under Josiah and edited after the Babylonian exile for a Hebrew-speaking audience

    NARRATIVE CONTEXT
    title: II Kings, Nevi'im (“prophets,” or historical books)
    where: Israel
    when: ca.722 BCE
    summary: campaigns of Shalmaneser V (727-722); unfaithful Judean vassals ally with King So (Nubian Dyn 25 King Piye, ca.714); end to era of small states, destruction of Samaria and 10 lost tribes
    17
  • ESSAY 4
    prompt