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They Wrote on Clay: The Babylonian Tablets Speak Today
Edward Chiera was that most remarkable of men, a competent and respected scholar possessed of an ardent desire to make his research readily and entertainingly available to laymen. More remarkable, Chiera had extraordinary gifts to equal to his desire. They Wrote on Clay combines fascinatingly the fruits of sound and painstaking archeology with the natural-born storyteller's art. As transmitted by Chiera, the message of the recently discovered Babylonian clay tablets becomes an absorbing excursion into the common life of a vanished civilization. Few will read They Wrote on Clay without becoming infected with something of Chiera's love for the rich archeological lore of the ancient Near East.
"The book presents, briefly and clearly, a vivid picture of a long-dead people who in numerous ways were very like ourselves."—L. M. Field, New York Times
"No mystery story can be as exciting."—Harper's
"Plainly and fetchingly written."—New Republic
"The book presents, briefly and clearly, a vivid picture of a long-dead people who in numerous ways were very like ourselves."—L. M. Field, New York Times
"No mystery story can be as exciting."—Harper's
"Plainly and fetchingly written."—New Republic
251 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 10, 2017
کشف اسرار ملل و فرهنگ و هنر تمدن های مختلف به مدد علم باستان شناسی و تحقیقات منظم و صحیح امکان پذیر گردیده است. تمدن بابل (به معنی دروازه خدا) نزدیک به 4000 سال قبل با مرکزیت شهر بابل در بین النهرین شکل گرفت. درباره این تمدن کتاب های بسیار نوشته شده و بررسی های فراوانی در این منطقه صورت پذیرقته است. ادوارد شییرا در کتاب پیش رو نتیجه کاوشهای خویش را با خوانندگان به اشتراک می گذارد و در هجده فصل با عناوینی چون کتابهای جاویدی، الفبای باستانی، در عالم کسب و تجارت، سرگذشت کاهنان، تعلیم ابتدائی، انسان و هنر و ... نقاط بسیاری از تاریخ تاریک بابل را روشن می سازد. کتاب الواح بابل با ترجمه علیاصغر حکمت در سال 1375 توسط انتشارات علمی و فرهنگی به چاپ دوم رسید.
November 7, 2010
Hats off to the author and his 'editor' George Cameron (who completed the manuscript after the author's untimely death) for a really great book. This book was written a long time ago (1938) and there has been a lot of archeology between then and now. But even though many things that have been learned of discovered since it's publication, nothing that I know of is its equal in the fields of Assiriology.
There are plenty of facts, dates and descriptions of what has been found on the tablets, as you would expect(and as are found in many similar books on ancient writing). But this book takes a wider view of how the people and cultures that are captured influenced both their neighbors (and successor cultures) and ourselves. While one may not agree with some or even all of these conjectures (and many have been proven out by the march of time) I think everyone will appreciate the humor and low-key storytelling that is used to illustrate and enliven the material. (I contrast this with the book I own and read years ago on the decipherment of Linear B!)
This book may have been scientifically superseded, but not with regard to its writing, readability and accessibility. Chiera was a master of his craft at a time when major finds were still being linked to random collections of tablets in museums and private collections the world over. I heartily recommend it.
There are plenty of facts, dates and descriptions of what has been found on the tablets, as you would expect(and as are found in many similar books on ancient writing). But this book takes a wider view of how the people and cultures that are captured influenced both their neighbors (and successor cultures) and ourselves. While one may not agree with some or even all of these conjectures (and many have been proven out by the march of time) I think everyone will appreciate the humor and low-key storytelling that is used to illustrate and enliven the material. (I contrast this with the book I own and read years ago on the decipherment of Linear B!)
This book may have been scientifically superseded, but not with regard to its writing, readability and accessibility. Chiera was a master of his craft at a time when major finds were still being linked to random collections of tablets in museums and private collections the world over. I heartily recommend it.
December 11, 2017
This old book has been superseded in scholarly terms many times over, of course. There are plenty of books with more up-to-date research. But not many can approach this for charm and wit. Dr. Chiera had a real love of his topic, and took delight in presenting it in a down-to-earth manner. A quick and easy read, and still not a bad way to enter into the topic. Not the last word, of course, but a good first word.
June 7, 2023
Старая книга, но интересная и полезная. Автор не просто обобщил чужие знания, не просто делал вид, что читает таблички по чужим переводам, не просто читал таблички зная языки, он принимал активное участие в их нахождении. В книге есть несколько интересных историй с лихо закрученным сюжетом, хотя хотелось бы больше, автор точно мог бы их рассказать, но не сделал этого, к сожалению. Зато в книге много информации о самих табличках и всем, что с ними связано. Читается легко и интересно.
June 14, 2023
I never thought this would interest me. I found it on a reading list somewhere. The author is passionate about his work and just as passionate about educating us heathens, that is, we who do not know archeology or history of Babylonia.
In general it is well written, educational and entertaining. It did have some areas that I skimmed through but the pictures and detail sketches made for an enjoyable read.
In general it is well written, educational and entertaining. It did have some areas that I skimmed through but the pictures and detail sketches made for an enjoyable read.
December 28, 2024
Easy read that is charmingly written with interesting images of artifacts, archeological digs, and contemporary Iraqis. This book really is about the clay tablet medium. There are better surveys about Mesopotamian history, but probably few that go into such detail about the clay tablets themselves and the role these tablet played in their civilization and the early archeology of the region.
October 10, 2017
Read in connection with an Ancient history course I was taking in my senior year of college.
August 4, 2021
Very interesting book! Liked it so much because of its simplicity and very valuable information inside :) Recommend to read.
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January 22, 2024pg 40
"Even scientifically minded travelers who know from the Bible the existence of Nineveh attempted to find it and several times passed over the very ruins without knowing it."
"Even scientifically minded travelers who know from the Bible the existence of Nineveh attempted to find it and several times passed over the very ruins without knowing it."
October 17, 2012
I'm hopeful that it's just my copy of the book, but there were repeating pages all throughout. I would often finish reading a chapter and start the next only to realize it was the same chapter I'd just read. Annoying, but nothing to do with the actual text.
Chiera's writing is informative and written colloquially, so it's easy to read, but it's very bland. There isn't much of a connection between each character and the topic seems to bounce back and forth. The book's a little confused about whether it's going to focus JUST on cuneiform, language and writing, or if it's going to spread its focus to Babylonian culture and society as well. I think that if Chiera hadn't died before he finished the project, it could've been a much more focused read. Overall, it's got some good information and is written in a way that makes it easy to comprehend, so there's not much more you can ask out of an academic book (except, of course, for style).
Chiera's writing is informative and written colloquially, so it's easy to read, but it's very bland. There isn't much of a connection between each character and the topic seems to bounce back and forth. The book's a little confused about whether it's going to focus JUST on cuneiform, language and writing, or if it's going to spread its focus to Babylonian culture and society as well. I think that if Chiera hadn't died before he finished the project, it could've been a much more focused read. Overall, it's got some good information and is written in a way that makes it easy to comprehend, so there's not much more you can ask out of an academic book (except, of course, for style).
February 16, 2016
Небольшой отрывок из послесловия переводчика книги:
Множество неприметных деталей, вскользь брошенных замечаний и намеков удивительно тонко передают колорит и дух этой, уже весьма отдаленной от нас, эпохи. Но, пожалуй, самое главное в другом — в поразительном «эффекте присутствия», который создает автор. Читая иные страницы, буквально чувствуешь палящее южное солнце, ощущаешь предзакатный ветерок пустыни, слышишь ее вечерние голоса, вдыхаешь запах влажной глины. Повествование совсем нелитературно, написано «неписьменным» языком; это — свободно льющаяся речь, живое слово рассказчика. И может быть, именно этим и объясняется секрет успеха книги: она издавалась пятнадцать раз (последнее издание 1967 г.!). Хочется верить, что и для русского читателя пусть несколько запоздалое, так сказать, ретроспективное знакомство с ней будет небесполезным и приятным.
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Множество неприметных деталей, вскользь брошенных замечаний и намеков удивительно тонко передают колорит и дух этой, уже весьма отдаленной от нас, эпохи. Но, пожалуй, самое главное в другом — в поразительном «эффекте присутствия», который создает автор. Читая иные страницы, буквально чувствуешь палящее южное солнце, ощущаешь предзакатный ветерок пустыни, слышишь ее вечерние голоса, вдыхаешь запах влажной глины. Повествование совсем нелитературно, написано «неписьменным» языком; это — свободно льющаяся речь, живое слово рассказчика. И может быть, именно этим и объясняется секрет успеха книги: она издавалась пятнадцать раз (последнее издание 1967 г.!). Хочется верить, что и для русского читателя пусть несколько запоздалое, так сказать, ретроспективное знакомство с ней будет небесполезным и приятным.
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July 30, 2009
A fun, engaging, and illuminating book on the clay tablet literature of Sumer. I most enjoyed the vivid way Chiera depicts his fieldwork. Very enjoyable introduction to the topic.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews