Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook (Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World)

__Women in the Ancient Near East__ provides a collection of primary sources that further our understanding of women from Mesopotamian and Near Eastern civilizations, from the earliest historical and literary texts in the third millennium bc to the to the end of Mesopotamian political autonomy in the sixth century bc. This book is a valuable resource for historians of the Near East and for those studying women in the ancient world. It moves beyond simply identifying women in the Near East to attempting to place them in historical and literary context, following the latest research. A number of literary genres are represented, including myths and epics, proverbs, medical texts, law collections, letters, treaties, as well as building, dedicatory, and funerary inscriptions. Women In The Ancient Near East Provides A Collection Of Primary Sources That Further Our Understanding Of Women From Mesopotamian And Near Eastern Civilizations, From The Earliest Historical And Literary Texts In The Third Millennium Bc To The To The End Of Mesopotamian Political Autonomy In The Sixth Century Bc. This Book Is A Valuable Resource For Historians Of The Near East And For Those Studying Women In The Ancient World. It Moves Beyond Simply Identifying Women In The Near East To Attempting To Place Them In Historical And Literary Context, Following The Latest Research. A Number Of Literary Genres Are Represented, Including Myths And Epics, Proverbs, Medical Texts, Law Collections, Letters, Treaties, As Well As Building, Dedicatory, And Funerary Inscriptions.-- An Exploration Of The World Of Women In Third-millennium Mesopotamia / Harriet Crawford -- The Feminine In Myths And Epic / Alhena Gadotti -- Sumerian Wisdom Literature / Alhena Gadotti -- Akkadian Wisdom Literature / Karen Nemet-nejat -- Medicine And Healing Magic / Joann Scurlock -- Women And Law / Martha T. Roth -- The Epic Of Gilgamesh / Karen Nemet-nejat -- The Descent Of Ishtar To The Netherworld Compared To Nergal Ereshkigal / Karen Nemet-nejat -- Akkadian Texts: Women In Letters: Old Assyrian Kaniš / Cécile Michel -- Akkadian Texts: Women In Letters: The Neo-assyrian Period / Sarah C. Melville -- Women In Neo-assyrian Texts / Sarah C. Melville -- Women In Neo-assyrian Inscriptions / Karen Nemet-nejet -- Women In Hittite Ritual / Billie Jean Collins -- Hurro-hittite Stories And Hittite Pregnancy And Birth Rituals / Mary Bachvarova. Edited By Mark W. Chavalas. Includes Bibliography And Index. Introduction Mark W. Chavalas1. An exploration of the world of women in third-millenium Mesopotamia Harriet Crawford2. The feminine in myths and epic Alhena Gadotti3. Sumerian wisdom literature Alhena Gadotti4. Akkadian wisdom literature Karen Nemet-Nejat5. Medicine and healing magic JoAnn Scurlock6. Women and law Martha T. Roth7. The Epic of Gilgamesh Karen Nemet-Nejat8. The Descent of Ishtar to the Netherworld compared to Nergal and Ereshkigal Karen Nemet-Nejat9a. Akkadian texts - Women in letters: Old Assyrian Kanis Cecile Michel 9b. Akkadian texts - Women in letters: The Neo-Assyrian period Sarah C. Melville10a. Women in Neo-Assyrian texts Sarah C. Melville10b. Women in Neo-Assyrian inscriptions Karen Nemet-Nejat11. Women in Hittite ritual Billie Jean Collins12. Hurro-Hittite storie and Hittite pregnancy and birth rituals Mary BachvarovaIndex "Women in the Ancient Near East provides a collection of primary sources that further our understanding of women from Mesopotamian and Near Eastern civilizations, from the earliest historical and literary texts in the third millennium bc to the to the end of Mesopotamian political autonomy in the sixth century bc. This book is a valuable resource for historians of the Near East and for those studying women in the ancient world. It moves beyond simply identifying women in the Near East to attempting to place them in historical and literary context, following the latest research. A number of literary genres are represented, including myths and epics, proverbs, medical texts, law collections, letters, treaties, as well as building, dedicatory, and funerary inscriptions."-- Publisher's description Women in the Ancient Near East provides a collection of primary sources for the lives of women from a broad range of Near Eastern civilizations, from the earliest historical and literary texts (c. 2700 BC) to the latest Hellenistic historians who comment on Near Eastern history (e.g., Berossus, c.205 BC).