The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic: Introduction, Critical Edition and Cuneiform Texts - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198149220 ISBN 13: 9780198149224

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2003

Synopsis

The Babylonian Gilgamesh epic is the acknowledged masterpiece of ancient Mesopotamian literature. Nevertheless it has to be re-edited periodically to take account of the enormous increase in primary sources that occurs every generation. Since the last critical edition of the epic seventy years ago the known fragments of the epic have almost doubled. This book collects all the extant texts in one place again, including twenty-three fragments published for the first time. The author has studied personally every available fragment to produce a definitive edition and translation. Four introductory chapters place the epic in its context and examine the name, person and traditions of Gilgamesh and other characters in the poem. The plates present the cuneiform text of all the extant fragments of the epic. The result is a publication which is a standard academic resource.

About this title

Review:

... monumental ... splendid book ... expect to see a revival of Gilgamesh studies in the next few years, renewed and invigorated by George's magnificent study. (Bryn Mawr Classical Review)

... exhaustive ... comprehensive ... George is an excellent cuneiformist and his edition is as complete as anyone might hope ... a great achievement. (The Times Higher Education Supplement)

George will be thanked by Assyriologists for the labour of producing such a comprehensive edition of all known pieces of text, great and small. (The Times Higher Education Supplement)

About the Author:

A. R. George is Professor of Babylonian at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0198149220
• ISBN 13: 9780198149224
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1178
• Editor: George A. R.