A New Edition of Gilgamesh and Akka

Abstract

THE STUDY UNDER REVIEW, which is compact and handsomely produced, consists basically of two parts. First we have a general introduction, presenting the tale and discussing succinctly the history of publication, the literary structure, the materials of the plot and textual problems. Somewhat more detailed are discussions of three topics the author deemed of special importance: the historicity of the composition, the literary traditions concerning the war, and the governmental institutions and their historicity. introduction ends with a brief literary and chronological evaluation. second part of the book is devoted to the text. After a list (which regrettably does not describe the manuscripts) we find a detailed discussion of the affiliation of the manuscripts; then the text is presented in transliteration and translation, with a notice of variant readings and half a page of commentary. book ends with a bibliography and a glossary. On the whole the language is clear and adequate, although there are a number of solecisms and not quite idiomatic turns of phrase that might have been avoided; for example, the strange title of section 6: The historicity of the composition,' and what, if anything, is exact literal meaning (p. 4 n. 13)? Typographic errors are few: I have noted followes on p. 3; occurence on p. 6; foudation on p. 9; scholing on p. 19; an usurper on p. 31 (twice). text is presented as a composite, based mainly on MSS a and b, but there are a few pages of eclectic remarks on variant readings. This editorial policy is acceptable on the ground that, as the author says, a and b seem to represent the same tradition (p. 38), which, as J. Cooper pointed out (Gilgamesh and Agga, JCS 33 [1981]: