Akkadian literature

As Akkadian literature is defined as the predominantly derived from Mesopotamia Akkadian literature. It was built mainly between the Old Babylonian period, scattered works are also older, and the beginning of the 1st millennium BC and was eventually replaced by Aramaic literature. It is estimated that today about one third of Akkadian literature exists, the rest is probably lost forever, many works has also received only fragmentary.

First finds of Akkadian literature date back to the 17th century and were brought as curiosities in European museums. The hitherto most productive source is the library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, where the most famous work of Akkadian literature was found: the Gilgamesh epic, which had a precursor in the Sumerian literature. Further, particularly because of its parallels to the Old Testament famous works are the Atramhasis epic ( Flood narrative ) and the Enûma Elis ( creation story ). To prominence also the based on a Sumerian myth template Istar reached passage to the underworld, the Adapa and the Etana myth and the only in the 9th / 8 Century BC resulting Erra poem.

In addition to epics and myths Akkadian literature also consists of hymns (eg Šamaš Gula hymn or hymn ) from individual prayers and lamentations (rather in Sumerian ), literary letters (eg 8 campaign report of Sargon II. ) and numerous propaganda literature, especially royal inscriptions (eg Code of Hammurabi ).