The Ancient Near East: History, Texts, etc.

Abstract

The Ancient Near East:History, Texts, etc. Thomas Hieke, Christopher T. Begg, Fred W. Guyette, and Victor H. Matthews Thomas Hieke Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz Christopher T. Begg Catholic University of America Fred W. Guyette Erskine College and Seminary Victor H. Matthews Missouri State University 25. [LKA 64] Johannes Bach, "LKA 64: A possible royal song (zamar šarri) celebrating the Trans-Euphratian victories of Aššurnaṣirpal II's 9th campaign," UF 49 (2018) 1-27. B.'s paper edits, translates, and comments on LKA 64, a royal hymn from the reign of Aššurnaṣirpal II that deals with the only trans-Euphratian military campaign conducted by this king. It also analyzes the narratological arrangement of the text in minute detail and compares it in this regard to the poetics of LKA 64's Middle Assyrian predecessor LKA 63 [End Page 9] from the reign of Tiglath-Pileser I. The article concludes by drawing attention to the rather exceptional narrative style that was used by the scribes of Aššurnaṣirpal II for this text. [Adapted from published abstract—T.H.] Google Scholar 26. [Sargonid Royal Literary Identity and the Epic of Gilgameš] Johannes Bach, "Royal Literary Identity under the Sargonids and the Epic of Gilgameš," WdO 50 (2, 2020) 318-38. The high number of intertexts drawn from the Epic of Gilgameš in the corpus of Sargonid-era royal narratives is unprecedented in Assyrian literary history. Basing itself on the work of Kenneth Gergen on narrativity and identity construction, this paper understands these programmatic innovations as deliberate attempts by the Sargonids to reformulate their royal identity. Utilizing a concise methodology for intertextual analysis inspired by Gérard Genette, I seek to show how two prominent Sargonid texts, i.e., the royal report known as "Sargon's Eighth Campaign" (TCL 3) and the inscription Esh. 1 use allusions to the Gilgameš epic to inscribe the figure of the Assyrian king into a literary world analogous to that of the legendary king of Uruk. This process culminated with a literary paralleling of Assyrian kingship with that of Gilgameš under Esarhaddon. My paper closes with a short survey of other Gilgameš-related elements in Sargonid-era Assyrian culture and concluding thoughts on the "expansion of the narrative borders" of Assyrian royal identity. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] Google Scholar 27. [The Story of Sinuhe] Miroslav Bárta and Jiři Janák, "Sinuhe: Popular Hero, Court Politics, and the Royal Paradigm," Middle Kingdom Palace Culture, 101-18 [see #789]. The Story of Sinuhe is one of the best preserved, best known, and most often read, translated, analyzed, and discussed literary texts from ancient Egypt, one that had been known for more than a century and inspired both Egyptologists and fiction writers. Yet, despite all the efforts of modern scholarship, many would agree that the story has not been fully understood with regard to its form, meaning and context. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] Google Scholar 28. [Relationships at Elephantine] Bob Becking, "Love and Friendship in Elephantine," With the Loyal You Show Yourself Loyal, 81-96 [see #794]. Elephantine is an island in the Nile. During the fifth century b.c.e., a Persian garrison was established on the island to regulate trade going up and down the Nile. There is abundant textual evidence of religious diversity and intermarriage on the island. Texts of three genres found at Elephantine—a wisdom story, letters, and a marriage contract—reveal some of the dimensions of love and friendship in that time and place: (1) The Story of Ahiqar is about a scribe in the court of Esarhaddon. Ahiqar has no heir, so he adopts his nephew. But this nephew participates in a plot against the king, and Esarhaddon sends one of his agents, Nabusumiskun, to kill Ahiqar (though in truth, Ahiqar never had any knowledge of the conspiracy). However, since Ahiqar once spared the life of Nabusumiskun many years ago, the agent now returns the favor, showing loyalty to Ahiqar and sparing his life. (2) The Jews of Elephantine wrote letters to the Persian governor (Bagohi) requesting his financial help...