Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
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The present thesis examines the liminal aspects of four Akkadian wisdom compositions from the first millennium B.C.E., specifically: Babylonian Theodicy, Counsels of Wisdom, Dialogue of Pessimism...Show moreThe present thesis examines the liminal aspects of four Akkadian wisdom compositions from the first millennium B.C.E., specifically: Babylonian Theodicy, Counsels of Wisdom, Dialogue of Pessimism and Ludlul bēl nēmeqi. The aim of the present study is to explore the social functions fulfilled by these four texts. I argue that the notion of liminality, as a creative social process, contributes to this discussion. Liminality, as a period which suspends social norms and allows their critical evaluation by an individual or a group (Turner, 1969), is instrumental to explain the social function of wisdom and to describe its productive process. In the present paper, I explore the liminal aspects of these four wisdom compositions based on character and plot description and on the analysis of parallelism and imagery. In these texts, metaphors of material boundaries and social marginality, alongside opposing parallel constructions, accentuate traditional social values exposing them to criticism. My thesis, through heuristic analysis of manuscripts and close-reading of standard versions, studies the relation between the textual representation of liminal situations and the production context offering a new theoretical perspective for the understanding of the social function of Akkadian Wisdom Literature.Show less
Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
open access
Until Esarhaddon's reign, adê "treaties" in the Neo-Assyrian period were considered an instrument of subjugation. Esarhaddon's Succession Treaty (EST), concluded in 672 BC, when the empire was...Show moreUntil Esarhaddon's reign, adê "treaties" in the Neo-Assyrian period were considered an instrument of subjugation. Esarhaddon's Succession Treaty (EST), concluded in 672 BC, when the empire was arguably at its peak, respects previous adê display tradition while introducing new visual elements in order to make it an instrument of internal political control.Show less
Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
closed access
This thesis investigates the social networks of the inhabitants of Old Babylonian Nippur (modern Nuffar) in central Mesopotamia. The period chosen for this study is the period when Nippur belonged...Show moreThis thesis investigates the social networks of the inhabitants of Old Babylonian Nippur (modern Nuffar) in central Mesopotamia. The period chosen for this study is the period when Nippur belonged under the jurisdiction of king Samsuiluna of Babylon (r. 1749–1712 BCE), the son and successor of the king Hammurabi (r. 1792–1750 BCE). The selection of Si 1–30 is made out of interest in king Samsuiluna’s reign, especially concerning his political and economic struggles, and therefore its impact on socio-economic changes, which might possibly have an impact on the social networks. The core of this thesis consists of 191 cuneiform documents that the residents of Old Babylonian Nippur left behind, and the amount of individuals identified in these documents is 1165. The method for this research is Social Network Analysis (SNA). With SNA, one can visualize the interconnections between individuals. This is done by creating a database (FileMaker Pro 14) and using a computer program (UCINET) which uses various algorithms to measure the data.Show less
Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
open access
2018-09-22T00:00:00Z
In this thesis, I analyze the Akītu festival for the purpose of understanding the socio-political landscape of the Neo- and Late-Babylonian periods in Babylon (626 BCE - 100 BCE). The history of...Show moreIn this thesis, I analyze the Akītu festival for the purpose of understanding the socio-political landscape of the Neo- and Late-Babylonian periods in Babylon (626 BCE - 100 BCE). The history of the Akītu festival, known as the Mesopotamian New Year’s festival, spans several millennia, but was especially known in its 1st millennium form in Babylon. This analysis focuses on the relationship between kings, gods, and high priests of Babylon and their actions in an historical and social space with relation to this festival. The interaction between cult and state in this shared space is used to compare how each empire utilized the festival and gods in order to exert and subvert power over the other within both an historic context and a wider socio-political history. I show that the Akītu festival was a constantly developing festival that was as dependent on the ruling king as it was a defining factor of kingship in Babylon.Show less
