28776 - Assyriology (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have a grammatical and linguistic knowledge of the documentary sources of Assyriology as a basis for developing a critical mastery of the reconstruction of Mesopotamian civilisations; they will be able to work with an up-to-date international bibliography on specific topics and will have the ability to use information and digital systems relating to this cultural area. They will be able to extend and adapt their knowledge of Assyriology for the purposes of a mature structural Orientalist education.

Course contents

The course is divided into two parts:

Part 1:

Introduction to the study of the history and culture of the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations (Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians).

Introduction to cuneiform writing.

Elements of the Sumerian language.

Guide to the electronic resources for the study of Sumerian.

Reading, translation and grammatical analysis of elementary Sumerian texts in cuneiform writing.

Part 2:

Sumerian royal inscriptions: typology, structure, and contents.

Reading, translation and historical-philological comment of Sumerian royal inscriptions in cuneiform writing.

NB Students enrolled in the 6-credit course must follow Part 1.

Students who yearn to graduate in Assyriology must enroll in the 12 credit course, which consists of Part 1 + Part 2. Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The syllabus for non-attending students is the same, to be prepared by studying the works of Finkel and Taylor, Cooper, van Driel, Seminara, and the textbook of D'Agostino et alii, listed in the course bibliography (only the parts indicated).

Non-attending students enrolled in the 6-credit course need only bring the textbook of D'Agostino et alii (see course bibliography, below).

Readings/Bibliography

EXAM PREPARATION TEXTS:

I. Finkel - J. Taylor, Cuneiform, London: The Trustees of the British Museum, 2015.

J. S. Cooper, Sumerian and Akkadian Royal Inscriptions, I: Presargonic Inscriptions, New Haven: The American Oriental Society, 1986, pp. 4-13 ("The Inscribed Artifacts" and "Structure of the Inscriptions").

G. van Driel, "On 'Standard' and 'Triumphal' Inscriptions", in: Symbolae biblicae et mesopotamicae Francisco Mario Theodoro de Liagre Bohl dedicatae, a cura di M. Beek et alii, Leiden: Brill, 1973, pp. 99-106.

S. Seminara, Le iscrizioni reali sumero-accadiche d'età paleo-babilonese (Atti della Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Classe di Scienze Morali, Storiche e Filologiche - Memorie, Serie IX, Volume XVIII, Fascicolo 3), Roma: Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 2004, pp. 533-556 §§ 2-4; e 631-654 § 7.

NB For the 6-credit course only the book by Finkel and Taylor is to be studied.

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MANUALS AND REFERENCES (FOR CONSULTATION ONLY):

A. H. Jagersma, A Descriptive Grammar of Sumerian, PhD dissertation, Leiden University, 2010 [downloadable at the following web address: https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/16107].

G. Zólyomi, An Introduction to the Grammar of Sumerian, Budapest: Eötvös University Press 2017 [downloadable at the following web address: https://www.academia.edu/21921968/An_Introduction_to_the_Grammar_of_Sumerian].

F. D'Agostino et alii, La lingua dei Sumeri, Milano: Hoepli, 2019.

K. Volk, A Sumerian Chrestomathy, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2012.

Teaching methods

Lectures. A number of Sumerian texts will be read, analyzed and commented in class.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The student will have to read, translate, and comment on selected passages of the texts that have been read in class. For the students enrolled in the 6-credit course, only the texts read in the first part of the course are to be brought. The others will bring a text of their choice among the ones read in the second part of the course. For the assessment, the ability to read cuneiform texts, to analyze the writing system, grammar, and syntax correctly will be taken into account. The strength of the preparation, speaking ability, and command of the appropriate terminology will represent further assessment elements. In addition, the student must demonstrate his ability to correctly categorize and analyze texts (structure, content, message, Sitz im Leben).

In order to obtain an excellent mark, students must show excellent knowledge of cuneiform writing and of the elements of the Sumerian language that have been dealt with in class. Moreover, they must be able to present their arguments with clarity and authority, showing mastery of terminology and critical thinking in dealing with texts.

Students showing lesser preparation and ability but who are nonetheless able to read and translate the texts for the exam and who have a good knowledge of the basic elements of cuneiform writing will receive a good mark.

Students who do not show an adequate knowledge of grammar and who are not able to translate and comment the texts for the exam will not pass the exam.

NB Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Teaching tools

Internet resources. The sites dedicated to the study and the research in the field of Assyriology will be explored, and instructions on how to use them will be given.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Office hours

See the website of Gianni Marchesi