Choice 评论

A new translation by Dalley (Oxford and Somerville College) of the most important Akkadian myths and epics (Atrahasis, Gilgamesh, the Descent of Ishtar, Nergal and Ereshkigal, Adapa, Etana, Anzu, the Enuma Elish, the Dunnu Theogony, and Erra and Ishum). Both early and late recensions are translated when preserved. Intended for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students rather than specialists, the volume includes a general introduction, introductions and brief sections of notes for each document, and a glossary of names and key terms. It is somewhat disappointing in that it shows little advance over previous translations, even in places where recent scholarship has reached a better understanding of the texts. Also the work shows carelessness in fields outside of Assyriology; the comments on west Semitic material (Hebrew Bible, Ugaritic, and Phoenician) are riddled with errors. Nevertheless, this edition is basically useful and is the largest recent collection of Akkadian myths and epics available. It does for Akkadian literature what The Harps That Once--Sumerian Poetry in Translation, ed. and tr. by Thorkild Jacobsen (1987), but falls short of Jacobsen's high quality. -J. R. Davila, Tulane University