Jeremy A. Black (1951–2004)

Thorough anthology of Sumerian texts, that is, texts from the earliest history of southern Mesopotamia, approximately the period from 2500 to 1800 bce. Sumerian was a non-Semitic language, which cannot be traced back to any other known language group. In recent decades, scholars have become less and less certain whether it was the language of a clearly separate people (as specialists such as Jean Bottéro still maintained at the end of the last century). Anyway, in the period in question it show more was the leading language for texts composed by and for the political and cultural elite, and it remained so for a long time, until it was completely supplanted by Akkadian and later Aramaic. This book offers an interesting, broad sample of Sumerian texts, with a good global explanation and a short introduction per text. It is just a pity that the translators did not attempt a more precise chronological positioning of the individual texts. More in my History account in Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4152619160 show less

Beautifully typeset and organized in a manner familiar to most users, this is a lovely dictionary. Etymologies are present, although sparse, and words are organized in fully vocalized forms instead of by root.

Frontispiece is a high-relief ceramic of a winged goddess, which may be a portrayal of Istar (Inana) from the Isin-Larsa Period, with lions and owls, and eagle feet, serpentined hair, and instruments in her gesturing hands.