ID:
511344
Duration (hours):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
Storia dell'Asia occidentale e del Mediterraneo orientale antichi
Year:
2026
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (22/02/2027 - 25/05/2027)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the languages and written traditions of the Near Eastern area, in particular Mesopotamia and Syria, between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC and to study in depth two of the main languages of the ancient Near East, Akkadian and Hurrian. At the end of the course the student will be aware of the diachronic development of the languages and written traditions of the Syro-Mesopotamian area between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC and will be acquainted with the main linguistic features of Akkadian and Hurrian, which will allow him to translate and grammatically analyze texts written in these two languages.
Course Prerequisites
No one, although it may be useful to have attended the short introduction to the Akkadian language in the course of History of the Ancient Near East and to have at least a basic knowledge of the linguistic, historical and cultural context of the Near East between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC.
Teaching Methods
Lectures and translation exercises of texts in the original language under the guidance of the teacher.
Assessment Methods
Oral exam: two questions on the general introductory part; the translation and grammatical commentary of two of the texts analyzed in class; a question on the poems to be read in translation.
Texts
1. General part
The study of the following texts is required, in addition to the lecture notes and the powerpoint presentations available on KIRO:
R. Hasselbach-Andee (ed.), A companion to ancient Near Eastern languages, Hoboken, HJ 2020 (the following chapters: Sumerian, Akkadian, Eblaite, Hurrian).
L. Verderame, Letterature dell'antica Mesopotamia, Firenze 2016.
2. The Akkadian language
Teaching materials, powerpoint presentations and the texts read during classes are available on KIRO.
Reference Akkadian grammar: F. d'Agostino et al., La lingua di Babilonia, Milano 2016.
Students are required to read the following poems in translation: Atram-hasis, Enuma elish, Gilgamesh (Standard Babylonian version).The relevant bibliography will be provided by the instructor during the course.
3. The Hurrian language
Teaching materials, powerpoint presentations and the texts read during classes are available on KIRO.
Reference Hurrian grammar: M. Giorgieri, Schizzo grammaticale della lingua hurrica, in: La civiltà dei Hurriti, Napoli 2000, pp. 171-277.
The study of the following texts is required, in addition to the lecture notes and the powerpoint presentations available on KIRO:
R. Hasselbach-Andee (ed.), A companion to ancient Near Eastern languages, Hoboken, HJ 2020 (the following chapters: Sumerian, Akkadian, Eblaite, Hurrian).
L. Verderame, Letterature dell'antica Mesopotamia, Firenze 2016.
2. The Akkadian language
Teaching materials, powerpoint presentations and the texts read during classes are available on KIRO.
Reference Akkadian grammar: F. d'Agostino et al., La lingua di Babilonia, Milano 2016.
Students are required to read the following poems in translation: Atram-hasis, Enuma elish, Gilgamesh (Standard Babylonian version).The relevant bibliography will be provided by the instructor during the course.
3. The Hurrian language
Teaching materials, powerpoint presentations and the texts read during classes are available on KIRO.
Reference Hurrian grammar: M. Giorgieri, Schizzo grammaticale della lingua hurrica, in: La civiltà dei Hurriti, Napoli 2000, pp. 171-277.
Contents
1. General part
Overview of the languages of the Syro-Mesopotamian area between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC.
The cuneiform script and the Sumerian language.
Diachronic overview of the written traditions of Mesopotamia and Syria between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC: the different textual categories and the main written compositions.
2. The Akkadian language Akkadian in the Near Eastern linguistic scenario; Akkadian and other Semitic languages; the main grammatical features; dialectal differences between Babylonian and Assyrian; Akkadian as a language of diplomacy and peripheral Akkadian dialects.
The Creation of Mankind in Babylonian Epic: reading of passages from Atram-hasis and Enuma Elish.
3. The Hurrian language Hurrian in the Near Eastern linguistic scenario; Hurrian and Urartian; the main grammatical features; the Hurro-Akkadian dialect.
Reading of passage from the Letter of Mittani (EA 24) and from the poem Song of Release.
The texts analyzed in class will be read in transliteration.
Students who are not interested in parts 2 and 3 of the course and in learning the Akkadian and Hurrian languages are asked to contact the teacher to arrange an alternative reading program.
Overview of the languages of the Syro-Mesopotamian area between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC.
The cuneiform script and the Sumerian language.
Diachronic overview of the written traditions of Mesopotamia and Syria between the 3rd and 1st millennium BC: the different textual categories and the main written compositions.
2. The Akkadian language Akkadian in the Near Eastern linguistic scenario; Akkadian and other Semitic languages; the main grammatical features; dialectal differences between Babylonian and Assyrian; Akkadian as a language of diplomacy and peripheral Akkadian dialects.
The Creation of Mankind in Babylonian Epic: reading of passages from Atram-hasis and Enuma Elish.
3. The Hurrian language Hurrian in the Near Eastern linguistic scenario; Hurrian and Urartian; the main grammatical features; the Hurro-Akkadian dialect.
Reading of passage from the Letter of Mittani (EA 24) and from the poem Song of Release.
The texts analyzed in class will be read in transliteration.
Students who are not interested in parts 2 and 3 of the course and in learning the Akkadian and Hurrian languages are asked to contact the teacher to arrange an alternative reading program.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Attending classes for parts 2 and 3 of the course is strongly recommended.
Students who are unable to attend lectures are asked to contact the teacher to arrange an alternative exam program.
Students who are unable to attend lectures are asked to contact the teacher to arrange an alternative exam program.
Degrees
Degrees
CLASSICAL AND ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
Master’s Degree
2 years
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