DESCRIPTION:

A graded introduction to the grammar and writing system of Old Babylonian Akkadian. During this course we will read, in cuneiform copies and in transliteration, a variety of Akkadian texts: contracts, laws (Hammurabi's Code), omens, letters, royal inscriptions, and hymns and prayers. Along our journey we will pay some attention to the history, culture, and religion of the Ancient Near East, the background of the Old Testament.

Akkadian is one of the oldest Semitic languages that was used widely in the Ancient Near East over two millenniums. Its linguistic study greatly enhances the grammatical and syntactical understanding of Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. Many texts in the Old Testament bear a striking resemblance to Akkadian documents, and it is the hope that this course will provide a student with the introductory linguistic and cultural knowledge to assess the nature of the interrelationship between extra-biblical and biblical materials.

The course will meet weekly for a three-hour session of recitation and discussion of prepared materials.

Huehnergard, John. A Grammar of Akkadian. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.

Students will prepare by reading the introductory grammatical remarks in the textbook and by translating the exercises. We will work through these materials together during the two two-hour class sessions per week.

LG502 Hebrew.

Elective. Required language for the Semitic concentration in the M.A. in Theology.

Written mid-term and final exams.