Graduate

This course is the second quarter of the annual introductory sequence to the Babylonian language and the Cuneiform script. Students will further explore the grammar of Babylonian in its Old Babylonian dialect (19th-16th c. BCE) and read ancient inscriptions (especially the Laws of Hammu-rabi) in the Old Babylonian monumental script. They will also be introduced to the Old Babylonian cursive used in letters and the documents of everyday life.

This course is the third quarter of the annual introductory sequence to the Babylonian language and the Cuneiform script. After covering the grammar in the first two quarters, students will further their mastering of the Classical and Late Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and the associated monumental and cursive scripts by reading through a varieties of text genres: Letters, Royal Inscriptions, Legal Texts, and excerpts of Literature. 

The idea that gods curse an offender is deeply rooted in Mesopotamian society. In this course, we will explore the origin and composition of curses, their applications in different textual genres, and the consequences of living in a world of curses. We will read different text genres from different periods, including the epilogue of the Codex Hammurabi, royal inscriptions, treaties, contracts, and literary texts and rituals. An introduction to the different genres and dialects eases the participants into the material, which will be read and analyzed in detail. The participants trained in comparative textual analysis and argumentation, and they practiced translating complex Akkadian texts.

Babylonia's most important religious text is the Epic of Creation enūma eliš. In this course, we will read selected passages covering topics like the pre-existence and genesis of the gods, divine fights for supremacy, and the creation of the world and humankind. Participants gain an understanding of the historical-cultural implications of the text while learning the Standard Babylonian dialect and practicing grammar and the cuneiform script. An introduction to the advanced tools of the field, like dictionaries and databases, prepares for advanced Akkadian classes.

Introduction to the grammar of Akkadian, specifically to the Old Babylonian dialect. The class covers the first half of the Old Babylonian grammar, an introduction to the cuneiform script, and easy translation exercises.

Selected texts from the Middle Aramaic period (c. 200 BCE-200 CE) are read with special attention to the historical development of the grammar of Aramaic during this time period.

Selected letters and contracts from the Imperial Aramaic period (c. 600-200 BCE) are read with special attention to the historical development of the grammar of Aramaic during this time period.

Selected monumental inscriptions from the Old Aramaic period (c. 1000-600 BCE) are read with special attention to the dialectal differences among various subgroups of texts.

The course is aiming to enable students to reach a reasonable level of proficiency in the Armenian language. The curriculum is heavily based on real life situations. Each class session includes a healthy balance of real-life like conversations (shopping, placing an order in a restaurant, asking directions, talking with natives, getting around in the city, banking, etc.), readings (dialogues, jokes, stories, news, etc.) and writings (essays on selected topics, filling forms, etc.). The students can also communicate in Armenian well beyond basic needs about the daily life and obtain some level of fluency in their professional interests. This sequence covers a wider-range vocabulary and more complex grammatical structures in modern formal and colloquial Armenian.