General provisions

The course is given as an independent course. The course can be counted to the minor subject Assyriology in a Bachelor's degree.

Entry requirements

At least 22.5 credits from Assyriology A

Learning outcomes

The education intends to give increased ability to read and interpret Akkadian cuneiform texts and provide elementary knowledge about Sumerian, and (or) certain advanced knowledge of the older history and culture of the Near East.

On completion of the course, the student should to deserve the grade Pass at least be able to:

• master the essentials of Sumerian phonology, morphology, and syntax (module 2-4);
• transliterate, read, translate and grammatically and content-wise analyse simple cuneiform texts in Sumerian carefully examined during the course (module 2-4);
• master an extended selection of basic cuneiform signs from different periods (module 1-4);
• master a certain specialisation of the Akkadian phonology, morphology, and syntax (module 1, 3-4);
• transliterate, transcribe read, translate and analyse grammatically and content-wise cuneiform texts in Akkadian (mainly Standard Babylonian and Old Babylonian) of some more important genres (module 1, 3-4);
• in modules where applicable, account for basic principles of historical processes, archaeology, culture and/or religion in the ancient Near East, mainly in Mesopotamia (module 3-4);
• transliterate, transcribe, read, translate, and analyse grammatically and content-wise cuneiform texts in Sumerian of some more important genres (module 3-4);
• in module where applicable, master the essentials of another ancient language or another dialect and its phonology, morphology, and syntax and be able to read, translate and make an elementary grammatical and content-based analysis of simple texts in this language (module 3-4)

Content

The course consists of the following four modules:

Module 1 Standard Babylonian text (7.5 credits)

With regard to which courses are taught during the current semester either of the following is chosen:

Standard Babylonian historical text I: Reading of 200 lines historical text from Assyria or

Standard Babylonian literary text I: Reading of 200 lines Standard Babylonian literary or religious text

Has this module already been completed under Assyriology A, module 3, one of the alternatives under module 3 is chosen as module 1.

Module 2 Sumerian I (7.5 credits)

The basics of Sumerian grammar. Reading of 200 lines Sumerian text.

Has this module already been completed under Assyriology A, module 3, one of the alternatives under module 3 is chosen as module 2.

Module 3

With regard to field of interest and with regard to which courses are taught during the current semester the student in consultation with examiner will choose one of the following optional courses that not have been read earlier.

Ancient Near East: Archaeology and art (7.5 credits)

Ancient Near East: History (7.5 credits)

Ancient Near East: Religion (7.5 credits)

Standard Babylonian historical text II (7.5 credits) (=Assyriology C, module 1, alternative)

Standard Babylonian historical text III (7.5 credits)

Standard Babylonian literary text I (7.5 credits) (= alternative of module 1)

Standard Babylonian literary text II (7.5 credits) (=Assyriology C, alternative of module 1)

Old Babylonian laws and historical text I (7.5 credits): Reading of 500 lines of Old Babylonian laws or historical texts

Old Babylonian letters and documents I (7.5 credits): Reading of 300 lines of Old Babylonian letters and documents

Middle Babylonian letters and documents I (7.5 credits)

Sumerian II (7.5 credits)

Other language or other dialect in the ancient Near East (7.5 credits)

See course syllabus of module 1, Assyriology C, including optional course or the separate introductory courses on the Ancient Near East, respectively

Module 4

One of the alternatives under module 3, that have not been completed there.

Assessment

Examination takes place through written or oral tests and through continuous assessment during the course. To receive the grade Pass with distinction on the whole course, it is required that this grade has been received on at least 22.5 credits.

Other directives

The course may not be included in a higher education qualification as an independent course if equivalent parts have been read within another course that is included in the higher education qualification.