Women's Writing of Ancient Mesopotamia
An Anthology of the Earliest Female Authors

This anthology translates and discusses texts authored by women of ancient Mesopotamia.

Charles Halton (Edited and translated by), Saana Svärd (Edited and translated by)

9781107052055, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 November 2017

254 pages, 2 b/w illus. 2 maps
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.7 cm, 0.56 kg

Women's Writing of Ancient Mesopotamia presents fresh and engaging translations of works that were composed or edited by female scribes and elite women of the ancient Near East. These texts provide insight into the social status, struggles, and achievements of women during the earliest periods of recorded human history (c.2300–540 BCE). In three introductory chapters and a concluding chapter, Charles Halton and Saana Svärd provide an overview of the civilization of ancient Mesopotamia and examine gender by analyzing these different kinds of texts. The translations cover a range of genres, including hymns, poems, prayers, letters, inscriptions, and oracles. Each text is accompanied by a short introduction that situates the composition within its ancient environment and explores what it reveals about the lives of women within the ancient world. This anthology will serve as an essential reference book for scholars and students of ancient history, gender studies, and world literature.

Preface and acknowledgements
Notes to the reader
Part I. Introduction: 1. The origins of writing in Mesopotamia
2. Mesopotamian women
3. Authorship, agency, and gender
Part II. The Texts: 4. Scholarly documents
5. Hymns, poems, and prayers
6. Letters
7. Inscriptions
8. Oracles
9. Proverbs and other literature
Part III. Conclusions: 10. Women's writing in Mesopotamia
Index of divine name
Index of personal names
Index of place names.

Subject Areas: Archaeology [HD], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]