What Do I Read Next?
Samuel Noah Kramer's History Begins at Sumer: Thirty-Nine Firsts in Man's Recorded History (3rd rev. ed., Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1981) explores various Sumerian "innovations"—key cultural, historical, scientific, and social developments first documented in Sumeria. Kramer's book delves into topics such as "Education: The First Schools," "Medicine: The First Pharmacopoeia," "Ethics: The First Moral Ideals," "The Sacred Marriage Rite: The First Sex Symbolism," "Ua aua: The First Lullaby," and "Home of the Fish: The First Aquarium."
James B. Pritchard's Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1950) provides an essential compilation of literary, historical, religious, legal, and other cultural texts from the ancient Near East. This collection includes texts from the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Egyptian civilizations, among others. It features individual myths from the Sumerian Gilgamesh song-cycle, the Enuma Elish or Mesopotamian Creation Epic, other early mythological writings, and renowned documents like the Code of Hammurabi.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.