Introduction to Sumerian Mythology

SUMERIAN 141 001 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Sumerian is the oldest recorded language in the world, spoken in Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) over 5,000 years ago. Among the texts that were written in this language we find stories of love and loss, creation and destruction, humor, awe, and hope. These myths, though perhaps less familiar than those of ancient Greece and Rome or of ancient Egypt, offer profound insights into ideas of the cosmos, society, and humanity circulating in the ancient world. Sumerian myths and their Akkadian retellings also played a major role in the development of modern theories of mythology, with scholars of the 20th century taking a great interest in stories such as Dumuzi’s death and “resurrection,” or the great flood sent to destroy humankind. In this course, we will examine eleven of these stories in detail, discussing their themes, characters, and literary style. We will see how they are relevant not just to study ancient society and culture, but also to reflect on our lives today.

This course is a Sumerian language course, though no prior knowledge is expected. We will be doing close readings of texts in parallel Sumerian and English. Students will learn to recognize key words and patterns in the original language, understand the relationship between the cuneiform writing system and transliterated Sumerian, and practice engaging with translations of ancient texts in critical and informed ways.