DESCRIPTION:

A study of Ancient Near Eastern history, literature, and culture. This course begins with the emergence of culture in the Fertile Crescent and includes events until the division of Alexander's empire. Special attention is directed to the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, and Hebrews.

For students pursuing either a course of study leading to an advanced degree in Old Testament or Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, a knowledge of the history, literature, and culture of the Ancient Near East is an important discipline to master. This course is also valuable for students who may not seek advanced degrees but who wish to place the writings of the Old Testament in their broader context.

This course will require the expenditure of a total of one hundred and twenty (120) hours during the quarter. Classes, meeting weekly for three and a half hour sessions, dealing with assigned work, will account for thirty-five hours of this total. Students will use the eighty-five hours remainder of the time for their own preparation.

Baines, John and Jaromír Málek. Atlas of Ancient Egypt. New York/Oxford: Facts on File, 1980.

Jacobsen, Thorkild. The Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion. New Haven/London: Yale University Press, 1976.

Kuhrt, A. The Ancient Near East, c. 3000-330 BC. London/New York: Routledge, 1995.

Meeks, D. and C. Favard-Meeks. Daily Life of the Egyptian Gods. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1996.

Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York/Oxford: Facts on File, 1990.

1. Prepared class attendance.
   Each student should come to class with the reading finished and ready to participate in the class process. At the class meeting each week students shall submit a two-page (400-500 words) type-written summary of some aspect of the reading for the week. An electronic version is also required.

2. Paper.
   Students will read Thorkild Jacobsen's The Treasures of Darkness on their own for this exercise. Each student will write a book review, no longer than 1500-2000 words in length, summarizing and evaluating what Jacobsen has written. An electronic version is also required.

3. Paper.
   Students will read Meeks and Favard-Meeks' Daily Life of the Egyptian Gods. Each student will write a book review, no longer than 1500-2000 words in length, summarizing and evaluating this book. An electronic version is also required.

None.

Required for students with a concentration in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature at the M.A. in Theology, Th.M., and Ph.D. levels. Elective for all others.

No.