The Literature of Ancient Sumer

This anthology of Sumerian literature constitutes the most comprehensive collection ever published, and includes examples of most of the different types of composition written in the language, from narrative myths and lyrical hymns to proverbs and love poetry.

The translations have benefited both from the work of many scholars and from our ever-increasing understanding of Sumerian.

In addition to reflecting the advances made by modern scholarship, the translations are written in clear, accessible English.

An extensive introduction discusses the literary qualities of the works, the people who created and copied them in ancient Iraq, and how the study of Sumerian literature has evolved over the last 150 years.

Review

“This excellent little book thoroughly deserves to find the wide readership it courts, and also to endure as a standard tool for university teaching and research. It is required reading for all who are interested in ancient intellectual cultures, in the study of the oldest literary forms, and in the field of comparative literature.”–Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

“This long-awaited collection of 70 ancient Sumerian works in new English translations is the most comprehensive collection available…. Written in clear, readable prose, the new translations profit from the work of many scholars and are accompanied by introductions, notes on alternative versions, and suggestions for further reading…. Essential.”–Choice

About the Author

Jeremy Black was University Lecturer in Akkadian and Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. Graham Cunningham is Researcher at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Eleanor Robson is University Lecturer in History of Science and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Gábor Zólyomi is Head of the Department of Assyriology and Hebrew Studies, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest.