Babylonian Wisdom Literature (Hardcover)

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In Babylonian studies 'Wisdom' is used to cover a group of texts similar in scope to the Biblical Wisdom books: discussions on the problem of suffering, teaching on the good life, fables or contest literature, and proverbs. These texts are not only of considerable literary merit, but are also of great importance to all students of the ancient Near East as revealing the thought pattern of the ancient Babylonians. The cuneiform texts have been copied direct from the tablets and are accompanied by both transliteration and translation. An introductory chapter describes the cosmological background against which the works are to be set. Philological notes and a glossary complete the volume.This book was originally published by Oxford University Press in 1960. It is being reprinted by Oxford University Press in 2003 for Oxbow Books, Oxford, and Powell's Books, Chicago. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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by W G Lambert --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Eisenbrauns (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931464943
• ISBN-13: 978-0931464942
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,904,865 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complete textual edition and English translations, September 25, 1998

By A Customer

The following is taken from the publisher's catalogue: W. G. Lambert's classic work has served students of Akkadian literature over the years as a useful sourcebook and as a model publication for studying a particular corpus of cuneiform literature. Contents: The Development of Thought and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia The Poem of the Righteous Sufferer--Ludlul bel nemeqi The Babylonian Theodicy Precepts and Admonitions--Instructions of Shuruppak, Counsels of Wisdom, Counsels of a Pessimist, Advice to a Prince, Varia Preceptive Hymns--Hymn to Ninurta, The Shamash Hymn The Dialogue of Pessimism Fables or Contest Literature--The Tamarisk and the Palm, The Fable of the Willow, Nisaba and Wheat, The Ox and the Horse, The Fable of the Fox, The Fable of the Riding-donkey, Varia Popular Sayings Proverbs In addition to providing the text and translation of the above literature, the author provides critical and philological notes and meticulous hand copies of the texts under discussion. Various indexes complete the volume. 1996 (reprint of 1960 ed.). Pp. xix + 359 + 75 plates.