Across Cultures, Across Languages. Interconnectivity in the Late Bronze Age Ugarit

Abstract

The spread of cuneiform writing and associated linguistic and literary traditions represents one of the key moments in the cultural history of the ancient Near East. This complex and multilayered process can indisputable be considered an excellent example of cultural transfer. Its long duration and the state of preservation of the sources allow us to follow this process in its entirety, but also to focus on specific details. The aim of this article is to identify the importance of cultural transfer in the Akkadian texts of Ugarit, more specifically with respect to the origins of the phrase “according to the loyalty of someone’s heart”.