Wisdom of Ancient Sumer

by Bendt Alster

Discussion of the nature of Sumerian wisdom literature and complete editions of many Sumerian wisdom texts, including the Instructions of Shuruppak, Instructions of Ur-Ninurta, Counsels of Wisdom, Sumerian fables, Nothing Is of Value, Ballade of Early Rulers, and more. This unusual book describes the Sumerian literature and many of their proverbs featured in speeches of wise men of that time.

426 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2005

Reviews

[John Varner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's stunning to think of the sheer age of the material included here. True, much of it is fragmentary and the extensive textual notes, introductions, translator's commentaries, etc. are most likely only of interest to specialists, but the value of being able to read the very oldest literature we have is inestimable. The fact that the oldest of them all, the Instructions of Suruppak, begins with an invocation of "those days, those far remote days...those years, those far remote years" really makes the modern reader stop and consider his place in the history of humanity. How much was lost? How little do we remember of our own history?

[بسام عبدالامير · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book describe the Sumerian literature and their proverbs and wise speech of those who are great.