Mesopotamia in Classical literature

Mesopotamia in Classical literature

Before the decipherment of cuneiform text, knowledge of the history of the ancient Mesopotamia and was mostly dependent upon classical authorities, besides the Hebrew Bible. These testimonies were scanty and confused for times predating the 7th century BCE. Had the native history of Berossus survived, this may not have been the case; all that is known of the Chaldaean historian's work, however, is derived from quotations in Josephus, Ptolemy, Eusebius, Jerome and George Syncellus.

Contents

Classical Greece

The account of Babylon given by Herodotus is not that of an eye-witness and not very extensive. In his Histories he mentions that he will devote a whole section to the history of Assyria, but this promise was unfulfilled, or perhaps the book has been lost. Herodotus' opinions are disputed by Ctesias, who, however, has mistaken mythology for history, and Greek romance owed to him its Ninus and Semiramis, its Ninyas and Sardanapalus. Xenophon's account in the Anabasis gives information on the Achaemenid Empire of his time.

Hellenistic era

Berossus

The authenticity of his list of 10 antediluvian kings who reigned for 120 sari or 432,000 years, has been partially confirmed by the inscriptions; but his 8 postdiluvian dynasties are difficult to reconcile with the monuments, and the numbers associated with them are probably corrupt. It is different with the 7th and 8th dynasties as given by Ptolemy in the Canon of Kings in his Almagest, which prove to have been recorded faithfully:

  1. Nabonassar (747 BC) 14 years
  2. Nadios (Nabu-nadin-zeri)
  3. Khinziros (Nabu-mukin-zeri) and Poros (Pul)
  4. Ilulaeos (Ululayu)
  5. Mardokempados (Marduk-apal-iddina II) 12
  6. Arkeanos (Sargon II)
  7. Interregnum
  8. Hagisa 1 month
  9. Belibos (702 BC) 3 years (Bel-ibni)
  10. Assaranadios (Ashur-nadin-shumi)
  11. Regebelos- (Nergal-ushezib) ..year
  12. Mesesimordakos (Mushezib-Marduk), 4 years
  13. Interregnum
  14. Asaridinos (Esarhaddon), 13 years
  15. Saosdukhinos (Samash-shum-ukin), 20 years
  16. Sineladanos (Kandalanu), 22 years

Roman era

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mesopotamia, history of — ▪ historical region, Asia Introduction  history of the region in southwestern Asia where the world s earliest civilization developed. The name comes from a Greek word meaning “between rivers,” referring to the land between the Tigris and… …   Universalium

  • Classical antiquity — Classical era redirects here. For the Classical period in music, see Classical period (music). The works of Homer mark the beginning of classical antiquity and were revered throughout the period …   Wikipedia

  • Classical Arabic — Spoken in Historically in the Middle East, now used as a liturgical language of Islam Language family Afro Asiatic Semitic Central Semitic …   Wikipedia

  • MESOPOTAMIA — The original article in the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica traced Mesopotamian history to its earliest beginnings and provided a detailed survey of Mesopotamian literature and institutions. With the availability of such tools as J.… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Mesopotamia — For other uses, see Mesopotamia (disambiguation). Ancient Mesopotamia Euphrates · …   Wikipedia

  • Western literature — Introduction       history of literatures in the languages of the Indo European family, along with a small number of other languages whose cultures became closely associated with the West, from ancient times to the present.       Diverse as they… …   Universalium

  • Pederastic relationships in classical antiquity — for other times and places In classical antiquity there were many known pederastic relationships between adult men and adolescent boys. In some of these cases both members became well known historical figures, while in others, only one of the two …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

  • Ancient literature — History of Literature Bronze Age literature …   Wikipedia

  • Art of Mesopotamia — Ancient art history series Middle East …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”