Epics of Sumerian Kings: The Matter of Aratta (Writings from the Ancient World) (Writings from the Ancient World)

Epics of Sumerian Kings presents for the first time both the authoritative Sumerian text and an elegant English translation of four key epics from the Sumerian literary canon. These epics, the earliest known in any language, revolve around the conflict between the cities of Uruk (biblical Erech) in ancient Iraq and Aratta in neighboring Iran. Of special interest is “Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta,” which contains the story of the confounding of human language, often cited as a source of the biblical tower of Babel narrative, as well as the Sumerians’ own account of the invention of cuneiform writing. In addition to providing English translations of the epics, Vanstiphout discusses their intellectual and cultural context, their poetics and meaning, and the significance of the epic cycle as a whole. The volume will interest scholars and students of Assyriology and the ancient Near East, biblical scholars, and general readers and will be a valuable text for courses on ancient Near Eastern literature or history General -- The Stories -- Time And Space -- Actors -- Intention And Message -- Structure And Style -- The Literary Context -- Texts, Authors, And Public -- Concluding Remarks -- About This Book -- I. Enmerkar And Ensuhgirana -- Introduction -- Composite Text -- Translation -- Ii. Enmerkar And The Lord Of Aratta -- Introduction -- Composite Text -- Translation -- Iii. The Lugalbanda Poems -- Introduction -- Lugalbanda In The Wilderness -- Introduction -- Composite Text -- Translation -- The Return Of Lugalbanda -- Introduction -- Composite Text -- Translation. By Herman Vanstiphout ; Edited By Jerrold S. Cooper. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 167-172). Texts In English And Sumerian (romanized). General The stories Time and space Actors Intention and message Structure and style The literary context Texts, authors, and public Concluding remarks About this book I. Enmerkar and Ensuhgirana Introduction Composite text Translation II. Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta Introduction Composite text Translation III. The Lugalbanda poems Introduction Lugalbanda in the wilderness Introduction Composite text Translation The return of Lugalbanda Introduction Composite text Translation. Bibliography Glossary. Frontmatter 1 Series Editor's Foreword (page vii) 7 Abbreviations (page ix) 9 Explanation of Signs and Conventions (page xi) 11 Introduction (page 1) 13 I. Enmerkar and Ensuhgirana (page 23) 35 II. Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta (page 49) 61 III. The Lugalbanda Poems (page 97) 109 Bibliography (page 167) 179 Glossary (page 173) 185 With about 280 lines, this tale is the shortest of the cycle.