Akkadica
Assyriological Center
Georges Dossin
Georges Dossin
|
Akkadica Assyriological Center
Georges Dossin |
Conspectus Librorum - Book Review:
Hardcover, Pp. 292 (98 Color-, 39 BW-photographs and 8 Tables). Verlag Philipp von Zabern, ISBN: 3-8053-3377-3. Price: 49,90 Euro - 85,50 SFR [CH] Orders: Verlag Philipp von Zabern Mainz Philipp-von-Zabern-Platz 1-3 55116 Mainz Postfach 4065 - 55030 Mainz Tel. 06131 / 28 747 -0 Fax: 06131 / 28 747 -44 Order: www.kunstbuecher-online.de/zabern/verlag/ The number of articles and books on the history, civilisations and archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia and neighbouring regions increases every year. While many publications mainly concentrate on Mesopotamia's flourishing periods, "Irak in der Antike" presents a general outline on the entire history of civilisation, beginning with the Palaeolithic era through the Late Antiquities. The first edition of this book, titled "Ancient Iraq", was published in 1964, later to be translated into French, Spanish, Polish and Arabic, and remained a significant work for many years, mainly to non-specialists, students, and everyone interested in the ancient Near East. The present German edition, re-published by Philipp von Zabern Verlag, however, is the first with a wonderful selection of illustrations and high-quality photographs, making this volume an even more valuable contribution. The introductory chapters deal with the geographical setting, the chronological aspects, dating methods and the archaeological research conducted in this area. In subsequent chapters we find out more about the cultural history from prehistoric times, "Von der Grotte zum Dorf"(Chapter 3, p.28-36) till the "End of a Civilisation" in the final chapter. Chapter 4, titled "Vom Dorf zum Stadtstaat" focuses on the evolution from the Neolithic into early historic times, from Hassuna through the Ubaid period (c. 5800-3750 BCE). The Ubaid culture, with its origins in the south of the region, spread into northern Mesopotamia, gradually replacing the Halaf culture, and was especially characterized by the appearance of the first temples, the development of large villages and a distinguishable pottery decoration style. The next four chapters (Chapters 5 through 8, p.43-80) concentrate on the Sumerian civilisation and its amazing achievements. Uruk and Djemdet-Nasr, the first two periods of Sumer's history, together with the invention of writing and its evolution into the cuneiform system are well presented and wealthy illustrated in Chapter 5. In 'Die Sumerischen Götter' (Chapter 6, p.53-59) the authors deal with the Sumerian pantheon, the tales of creation and concludes with an indispensable paragraph on the Sumerian mythology. Chapter 7 narrates the Age of the Heroes, starting with a paragraph on the "Genesis", from Adam to the Deluge. Sumerians as well as Babylonians believed that the first man was created out of earth. In the myths of Enki and Ninmah and in the Atrahasis-myth, man and woman are created this way. Though till today we have no Sumerian literary documents that are comparable with the Biblical story of the fall and expulsion from paradise. The next paragraphs of this chapter successively deal with the Great Flood, the Dynasties of Supermen and the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Early Dynastic Period, highlighting the Sumerian city-states and the Early Sumerian Rulers, is treated in chapter 8. Chapters 9 through 15 illustrate the rise of the Akkadian empire under Sargon (2334-2279 BCE), followed by the decline of ancient Mesopotamia during the Kassite dynasty. As pointed out on p.88, the rise and fall of Akkad under Sargon perfectly illustrates the destiny of all subsequent Mesopotamian empires, i.e. a tremendous and rapid expansion at first, followed by revolts of the subjected, by endless wars near the frontiers, by palace revolutions and ultimately by the finishing stroke from steppe peoples or highlanders that were attracted by the wealth of the Mesopotamian empires. One day they were Guti, the other day Elamites and Amorites, and later on the Hittites, Kassites, Medians and Persians. Chapter 10 deals with the Sumerian kingdom of Ur (the Empire of the Third Dynasty of Ur) and its final collapse at the end of the third millennium BCE, marking an important change in the history of Mesopotamia. It did not only announce the end of a dynasty and a kingdom, but also the end of a nation and a society. The invasion of the Amorites (Chapter 11) into Mesopotamia engaged important and lasting changes on political, ethnic, economic, as well as social structures. The idea and most principles of the city-state were removed by the Amorite division of the region into kingdoms, of which the city of Babylon was one of the most important. By the establishment of the First Babylonian Dynasty, the city of Babylon flourished and many temples and palaces were constructed. One of the most famous of the Amorite monarchs was Hammurabi who ruled from 1792 until 1750 BCE. (Chapter 12). He was not only famous for his Code of Hammurabi, but also for being able to consolidate the foundations of his kingdom. Being one of the earliest-known legislations in history, Hammurabi's code of laws included at least 282 paragraphs regulating the organization of society (p.110-113). Temples and their Gods, kings and palaces, and the private dwellings of citizens in the days of Hammurabi, are the topics of Chapter 13 (p.114-121). In about 1600 BCE the Hittites from the northwest invaded Babylon and made an end to its dominating role which could be re-established almost a century later, this time under the rule of the Kassites, conquerors from the northeast. In 1157 BCE the Elamites make an end to the Kassite dynasty, the longest lasting dynasty of Mesopotamia till then. Babylon falls and the Elamites carry off the statue of Marduk, as did the Hittites almost 437 years before (p.148 of Chapter 16). What followed were several centuries of turbulence, especially characterized by migrations (Chapter 17). A successful war against the Elamites and consequently their withdrawal resulted in a short and brilliant revival and the return of the statue of the god Marduk to Babylon. One of the great rulers of Babylon at this time was Nebuchadnezzar I (c. 1124 - 1103 BCE). Chapters 18 to 22 deal with the rise and collapse of the Assyrian Empire (c. 911 - 609 BCE). The author not only pays attention to the numerous wars, the famous and less famous Assyrian kings like Ashurnasirpal II, Shalmaneser III, Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, Ashurbanipal, etc., but also to the organization of state; the glorious achievements in arts; and the progress in medicine, mathematics and astronomy. The final three chapters (Chapter 23 - 25; p.212-242) describe the decline of the Mesopotamian civilization., which was the result of many important and less important historic events. The Chaldean kings of Babylonia together with their Medean allies were responsible for the destruction of Assyria in the 7e century BCE. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II the Babylonian culture flourished. Chapter 24 deals with the city of Babylon, its plan, its architecture, economic aspects and there even is a whole paragraph on the New Year Festival. "Tod einer Kultur", or the end of the Mesopotamian civilization is the topic of Chapter 25, with subsections dealing with the Achaemenian Period, the Seleucid Empire, the Parthians and the Sassanians. The epilogue (Chapter 26, p. 243-244) briefly overviews some aspects of the heritage of this ancient and fascinating civilization. Furthermore there is an index, a list of books, nine very useful historical tables and eight maps. "Iraq in der Antike" may be considered as one of the most complete, readable and richly illustrated introductions to the history of civilisations in ancient Mesopotamia. Ingrid Swinnen Vrije Universiteit Brussel |