Introduces students to the grammar of Sumerian, a major language for the understanding of Ancient Mesopotamia. Students learn using transliterated Sumerian, as well as using cuneiform signs. Reading exercises focus on actual examples from Sumerian texts, culminating with the translation of royal inscriptions.
Students learn Sumerian grammar both in transliteration and in cuneiform. This gives students access to a body of literature with which to better understand Mesopotamian culture, which shares commonalities with Ancient Israel.
Students develop skills with which to understand Mesopotamian worldview and religion, a tool with which to understand the contextual nature of the Hebrew Bible’s theology.
The course teaches students to read Sumerian literature, which shares a common worldview and religious outlook as the Hebrew Bible.
The study is missionally-driven by its goal to learn Sumerian, an important step for the thorough understanding of a society with which Ancient Israel interacted and held much in common. Crossing cultural divides is essential for participating in the Missio Dei.
Although an ancient language even in an ancient culture, Sumerian was important religiously for Mesopotamia from the pre Sargonic period to the Hellenistic Period. A knowledge of Sumerian helps missioners to understand the Hebrew Bible in its larger context as it gives them access to numerous cultural and religious texts from that context.
Ancient Mesopotamia shared commonalities with Ancient Israel. The larger Mesopotamian cultural sphere included Israel, so it can serve as a model for a better understanding of Israel’s culture.
Students gain the ability to read and translate key texts from the Sumerian monumental inscription corpus and some key literary texts, the Descent of Inanna and the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Students are measured by taking exams and quizzes on elements of Sumerian grammar, and translating elementary texts, mainly from Sumerian Royal Inscriptions. Students are measured through the writing of a paper on a cultural or religious aspect from the literary texts explored.
