Women's Writing of Ancient Mesopotamia : An Anthology of the Earliest Female Authors

Women's Writing of Ancient Mesopotamia presents fresh and engaging translations of works that were composed or edited by female scribes and elite women of the ancient Near East. These texts provide insight into the social status, struggles, and achievements of women during the earliest periods of recorded human history (c.2300–540 BCE). In three introductory chapters and a concluding chapter, Charles Halton and Saana Svärd provide an overview of the civilization of ancient Mesopotamia and examine gender by analyzing these different kinds of texts. The translations cover a range of genres, including hymns, poems, prayers, letters, inscriptions, and oracles. Each text is accompanied by a short introduction that situates the composition within its ancient environment and explores what it reveals about the lives of women within the ancient world. This anthology will serve as an essential reference book for scholars and students of ancient history, gender studies, and world literature. Cover 1 Half-title page 3 Title page 5 Copyright page 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 List of Figures 14 List of Tables 15 Preface and Acknowledgments 17 Notes to the Reader 19 List of Abbreviations 21 Part I Introduction 23 Chapter 1 The Origins of Writing in Mesopotamia 25 1.1 Mythological Origins of Writing in Mesopotamia 27 1.2 The Invention of Writing in Mesopotamia 28 1.3 Mesopotamian Literature and Scribal Schools 32 1.4 Overview of Literary Periods in Mesopotamia 34 Chapter 2 Mesopotamian Women 38 2.1 Social Classes and Legal Position 39 2.2 Marriage 40 2.3 Elite Women 42 Chapter 3 Authorship, Agency, and Gender 47 3.1 The Problem of Essentialism 48 3.2 “Agency” as an Alternative Framework 49 3.3 Authorship and Women 52 3.4 Female Scribes and Female Literacy 56 Part II The Texts 59 Chapter 4 Scholarly Documents 61 4.1 Syllable Alphabet A 63 4.2 Proto a[sub(2)]=A Lexical List 66 4.3 ur[sub(5)]-ra=hubullu Lexical List 67 4.4 Hymn to the Hoe 68 Chapter 5 Hymns, Poems, and Prayers 73 5.1 Temple Hymns 75 5.1.1 The House of Enki at Eridu (lines 1–24) 76 5.1.2 The House of Enlil in Nippur (lines 25–38) 77 5.1.3 The House of Ninlil in Nippur (lines 39–47) 78 5.1.4 The House of Nusku in Nippur (lines 48–60) 78 5.1.5 The House of Ninurta in Nippur (lines 61–76) 79 5.1.6 The House of Šuziana in the Gagimah at Nippur (lines 77–86) 80 5.1.7 The House of Ninhursaga in Keš (lines 87–100) 80 5.1.8 The House of Nanna in Ur (lines 101–118) 81 5.1.9 Šulgi’s House Which is a Hill in Ur (lines 119–134) 82 5.1.10 The House of Asarluhi in Kuara (lines 135–146) 83 5.1.11 The House of Ningubalag in Ki-abrig (lines 147–157) 83 5.1.12 The House of Nanna in Gaesh (lines 158–168) 84 5.1.13 The House of Utu in Larsa (lines 169–178) 84 5.1.14 The House of Ninazu in Enegir (lines 179–186) 85 5.1.15 The House of Ningišzida in Gišbanda (lines 187–197) 85 5.1.16 The House of Inanna in Uruk (lines 198–209) 86 5.1.17 The House of Dumuzi in Badtibira (lines 210–220) 87 5.1.18 The House of Ninšubur in Akkil (lines 221–229) 87 5.1.19 The House of Ningirim in Murum (lines 230–239) 88 5.1.20 The House of Ningirsu in Lagaš (lines 240–262) 88 5.1.21 The House of Bau in Girsu (lines 263–271) 89 5.1.22 The House of Nanše in Sirara (lines 272–282) 90 5.1.23 The House of Ninmarki in Gu-aba (lines 283–293) 90 5.1.24 The House of Dumuzi-abzu in Kinirša (lines 294–302) 90 5.1.25 The House of Šara in Umma (lines 303–314) 91 5.1.26 The House of Inanna in Zabalam (lines 315–327) 91 5.1.27 The House of the Iškur in Karkara (lines 328–351) 92 5.1.28 The House of ... in ... (lines 352–362?) 93 5.1.29 The House of Ninhursaga in Adab (lines 363?–378) 93 5.1.30 The House of Nininsina in Isin (lines 379–395) 94 5.1.31 The House of Numušda in Kazallu (lines 396–406) 94 5.1.32 The House of Lugal-Marda in Marda (lines 407–415) 95 5.1.33 The House Ištaran in Der (lines 416–424) 95 5.1.34 The House of Ninazu in Ešnunna (lines 425–447) 96 5.1.35 The House of Zababa in Kish (lines 448–456) 96 5.1.36 The House of Nergal in Gudua (lines 457–467) 97 5.1.37 The House of Sîn in Ur (lines 468–478) 97 5.1.38 The House of Utu in Zimbir (lines 479–493) 98 5.1.39 The House of Ninhursaga in HI.ZA (lines 494–506) 98 5.1.40 The House of Inanna in Ulmaš (lines 507–519) 99 5.1.41 The House of Aba in Akkad (lines 520–528) 99 5.1.42 The House of Nisaba in Ereš (lines 529–545) 100 5.2 Poems to Inanna 101 5.2.1 A Hymn to Inanna 101 5.2.2 Inanna and Ebih 109 5.2.3 The Exaltation of Inanna 115 5.3 Other Literary Compositions 120 5.3.1 Letter-prayer of Inannaka to Nintinuga 120 5.3.2 Ninšatapada to Rim-Sin 122 5.3.3 Lullaby for a Son of Šulgi 124 5.3.4 Šu-Sin, The Ideal Lover (Šu-Sin A) 127 5.3.5 A Wedding Song (Šu-Sin B) 130 5.3.6 Death of Ur-Namma and his Descent to the Underworld 132 Chapter 6 Letters 138 6.1 A Sumerian Letter 140 6.1.1 Letter from an Angry Wife 140 6.2 Old Assyrian Letters 141 6.2.1 Letter by Priestess Ahaha 144 6.2.2 Letter from Anatolian Secondary Wife Regarding Finances 146 6.2.3 Letter to a Sister About Finances 148 6.3 Old Babylonian Letters of the nadītum 149 6.3.1 Letter from Iltani and Gullubtum 152 6.3.2 Father, Why Am I Hungry? 153 6.3.3 Duššuptu, nadītum of Marduk Is Sending Provisions 155 6.3.4 Letter by Tarâm-Sagila, nadītum of Marduk 155 6.3.5 Letter from Zababa about a Debt Slave 156 6.4 Old Babylonian Letters from Mari 158 6.4.1 I Have Only One Maidservant 159 6.4.2 I Want the Sheep, Brother 161 6.4.3 I Want the Throne of Queenship 161 6.4.4 Kirû Suspects her Husband is a Murderer 163 6.5 Other Old Babylonian Letters 164 6.5.1 Letter to the King from his Mother-in-Law 164 6.5.2 Letter About Finances 166 6.5.3 Letter From The Housekeeper 167 6.5.4 A Plea for Mercy to a Brother 168 6.6 A Middle Assyrian Letter 169 6.6.1 A Letter Concerning Sheep 169 6.7 Letters from the Neo-Assyrian Empire 170 6.7.1 Letter from the Daughter of a King to her Sister-in-Law 171 6.7.2 Letter to the Palace Scribe Regarding Servants 172 6.7.3 Letter to Brother: I Will Forgive You Your Deficient Character 173 6.7.4 News from Bit-Dakkuri to the King 175 6.8 Letters from the Neo-Babylonian Empire 176 6.8.1 Letter to a Son 177 6.8.2 Cut up the Meat 178 6.8.3 My Dates Have Been Stolen! 178 6.8.4 Settle the Matter About a Field 179 Chapter 7 Inscriptions 181 7.1 Monumental Inscriptions 182 7.1.1 Disk of Enheduanna 182 7.1.2 Cone of Enanedu 183 7.1.3 The Grave Inscription of Queen Mullissu-mukannišat-Ninua 185 7.1.4 The Grave Inscription of Queen Iabâ 188 7.1.5 Adad-guppi Inscription 190 7.1.6 Boundary Stone of Sammu-ramat and Adad-nerari III 196 7.1.7 Naqi’a’s Building Inscription 198 7.1.8 A Neo-Assyrian Queen’s Stele 201 7.2 Votive Inscriptions 203 7.2.1 Female Genitalia 203 7.2.2 Mace Heads 204 7.2.3 Female Statuette 204 7.2.4 Queen Naqi’a’s/Zakûtu’s Dedicated Jewelry 205 7.2.5 From Queen Libbali-šarrat to an Unknown Deity 207 Chapter 8 Oracles 209 8.1 Female Oracles Transmitted by Women 212 8.1.1 Water Under Straw 212 8.1.2 Enemies Circling the Border 213 8.1.3 A Drunken Oracle 213 8.1.4 A Servant Girl’s Frenzy 215 8.1.5 Do Not Go On Campaign 216 8.1.6 Send Them Downstream 217 8.1.7 An Oracular Query by a Woman in the Neo-Assyrian Period 218 8.2 Female Oracles Transmitted by Men: Oracles from Mari 219 8.2.1 Schemes of Subterfuge 219 8.2.2 A Wind Will Rise Against The Land 221 8.2.3 I Will Restore Abundance and Plenty 222 8.2.4 A Woman’s Dream 223 8.2.5 Do Not Worry 224 8.3 Female Oracles Transmitted by Men: Oracles from the Neo-Assyrian Period 224 8.3.1 I Rejoice 225 8.3.2 I Will Tear the Conspiring Rats into Pieces 226 8.3.3 Kingship is Yours 227 8.3.4 Like a Nursemaid I Will Carry You on My Hip 228 8.3.5 I Roam the Open Country 229 Chapter 9 Proverbs and Other Literature 232 9.1 Proverbs 232 9.1.1 My Mouth Makes Me Equal to a Man 233 9.1.2 Let Me Go Pluck 234 9.1.3 The Lower Mill Stone 234 9.1.4 My Vagina 235 9.1.5 An Expression of Love 235 9.1.6 Husbands Don’t Grow in the Steppe 236 9.1.7 Where Shall I Go? 236 9.1.8 I Am a Lady 236 9.1.9 How Your Braids Hang Down 237 9.1.10 A Clumsy Woman 237 9.1.11 Neighborly Insults 237 9.1.12 Crushed by a Stone 238 9.1.13 A Hunger Strike for Clothing 238 9.2 Other Literature 238 9.2.1 Zakûtu Treaty 238 9.2.2 A Perfume-making Recipe of Tapputi-belet-ekallim 241 Part III Conclusions 247 Chapter 10 Women’s Writing in Mesopotamia 249 Index of Divine Names 253 Index of Personal Names 255 Index of Place Names 258 Women's Writing Of Ancient Mesopotamia Presents Fresh And Engaging Translations Of Works That Were Composed Or Edited By Female Scribes And Elite Women Of The Ancient Near East. These Texts Provide Insight Into The Social Status, Struggles, And Achievements Of Women During The Earliest Periods Of Recorded Human History (c.2300-540 Bce). In Three Introductory Chapters And A Concluding Chapter, Charles Halton And Saana Svärd Provide An Overview Of The Civilization Of Ancient Mesopotamia And Examine Gender By Analyzing These Different Kinds Of Texts. The Translations Cover A Range Of Genres, Including Hymns, Poems, Prayers, Letters, Inscriptions, And Oracles. Each Text Is Accompanied By A Short Introduction That Situates The Composition Within Its Ancient Environment And Explores What It Reveals About The Lives Of Women Within The Ancient World. This Anthology Will Serve As An Essential Reference Book For Scholars And Students Of Ancient History, Gender Studies, And World Literature-- These Texts Provide Insight Into The Social Status, Struggles, And Achievements Of Women During The Earliest Periods Of Recorded Human History (ca. 2300 - 540 Bce). In Three Introductory Chapters And A Concluding Chapter, Charles Halton And Saana Svard Provide An Overview Of The Civilization Of Ancient Mesopotamia And Examine Gender By Analyzing These Different Kinds Of Texts. The Translations Cover A Range Of Genres, Including Hymns, Poems, Prayers, Letters, Inscriptions, And Oracles-- The Origins Of Writing In Mesopotamia -- Mesopotamian Women -- Authorship, Agency, And Gender -- Scholarly Documents -- Hymns, Poems, And Prayers -- Letters -- Inscriptions -- Oracles -- Proverbs And Other Literature -- Women's Writing In Mesopotamia -- Index Of Divine Names -- Index Of Personal Names -- Index Of Place Names. [edited And Translated] By Charles Halton, Saana Svärd. The Focus Of This Book Is On Mesopotamia, More Specifically Texts Written In The Sumerian And Akkadian Languages. We Have Mainly Concentrated On The Heartland Of Mesopotamia, The Area Surrounding The Tigris And Euphrates Rivers. A Slight Exception To This Are The Texts From The Kingdom Of Mari, Which Was Located To The West Of Mesopotamia Proper--page Xvii. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. "These texts provide insight into the social status, struggles, and achievements of women during the earliest periods of recorded human history (ca. 2300 - 540 BCE). In three introductory chapters and a concluding chapter, Charles Halton and Saana Svard provide an overview of the civilization of ancient Mesopotamia and examine gender by analyzing these different kinds of texts. The translations cover a range of genres, including hymns, poems, prayers, letters, inscriptions, and oracles"-- Provided by publisher