• DOI:10.2307/1355474
• Corpus ID: 163898367

The Oldest Literary Catalogue: A Sumerian List of Literary Compositions Compiled about 2000 B. C.

@article{Kramer1942TheOL,
  title={The Oldest Literary Catalogue: A Sumerian List of Literary Compositions Compiled about 2000 B. C.},
  author={Samuel Noah Kramer},
  journal={Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research},
  year={1942},
  volume={88},
  pages={10 - 19}
}

• S. N. Kramer
• Published 1 December 1942
• History
• Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research

Sumerian literature consists of epics and myths, hymns and lamentations, proverbs and "wisdom " compositions. The extant epic tales of Sumer deal largely with the feats and exploits of the heroes Enmerkar, Lugalbanda, and Gilgamesh, and with those of the god Ninurta and of the goddess Inanna. Of the extant Sumerian myths, several deal with the organization of the universe and the establishment of civilization, and involve the creation of numerous cultural deities as well as the creation of man. Other myths are concerned with the Nether World and with such varied subjects as the journeys of Enki and Sin to Nippur to obtain from Enlil blessings for their city; the marriage of the god Martu to the daughter of Numushda of Kazallu; several "Tammuz " myths whose basic significance still eludes us. Sumerian hymns may be divided into two classes, royal and divine. To judge from the available material, the majority of the divine hymns are those addressed to the gods Enlil, Enki, Sin, Utu and Ninurta, and to the goddesses Inanna and Bau. But occasional hymns are addressed to other male deities such as An, Ishkur, Martu, Nusku, and the underworld deities Nergal, Ninazu and Ningishzida, as well as to such female deities as Ninmah, Nanshe, Nidaba, Ninmar and Ninkasi. Perhaps to be included among the divine hymns are the " temple " hymns; two such compositions are now available. One is concerned with Ninhursag's temple at Kesh. The other is a collection of temple hymns: a long composition of more than 450 lines consisting of 41 brief hymns varying in length from 7 to ?3 lines dedicated to all the more important temples and shrines of Suiner and Accad. As for the royal hymns, a large part of the extant material is devoted to Shulgi; already large portions of at least four different Shulgi hymns can be restored. Ur-Nammu, Shu-Sin and Ibi-Sin, all of the Third Dynasty of Ur, are also represented. The remaining royal hymns are primarily those of the Isin Dynasty; represented are largely Ishbi-Irra, Shu-ilishu, Idin-Dagan, Ishme-Dagan, Libit-Ishtar, and Ur-Ninurta." Turning to the lamentations, one large composition lamenting the destruction of Ur has already been almost completely restored and published (Assyriological Studies No. 12 of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago) and another, dealing with the destruction of Nippur and its restoration, is in the process of being reconstructed. In addition it is now possible to reconstruct large parts of a lamentation over the destruction of Sumer and Accad. and of one that may at present be best described as belonging to the type of " the weeping mother"; also part of a second lamentation over the destruction of Ur. Finally [According to my chronology (see below in this number) Ur-Ninurta reigned 1864-1837 B. c.--W. F. A.]