From Distant Days: Myths, Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia

by Benjamin R. Foster

A selection and abridgment of Benjamin Foster's comprehensive, two-volume work on Babylonian and Assyrian literature, Before the Muses. This paperback edition is well-suited for college courses in Biblical Studies, Classical Studies, Religious Thought, Mythology, or Comparative Literature. Among the many compositions included Epic of Creation; Story of the Flood; When Ishtar Went to the Netherworld; How Nergal Became King of the Netherworld; How Adapa Lost Immortality; Etana; the King without an Heir; Anzu the Bird Who Stole Destiny; How Erra Wrecked the World; Legends of Sargon of Akkad; Legend of Naram-Sin; Tukulti-Ninurta Epic; Nebuchadnezzar and Marduk; Tiglath-Pileser and the Beasts; The King of Justice; Letters from Gods; Marduk Prophecy; Oracles to Assyrian Kings; Prayers to the Gods; Coronation Prayer for Assyrian Kings; Sargon II for His New City; Assurbanipal Pious Scholar; Nebuchadnezzar II for His Public Works; Diviners' Prayers; Dialogue between a Man and His God; Poem of the Righteous Sufferer; A Sufferer's Salvation; The Babylonian Theodicy; Who Has Not Sinned?; The Piteous Sufferer; Elegy for a Woman Dead in Childbirth; Love Charms; Love Lyrics; Ishtar at the Tavern; The Faithful Lover; At the Cleaners; The Poor Man of Nippur; Why Do You Curse Me?; The Jester; The Gilgamesh Letter; The Dialogue of Pessimism; Land for the Birds; Counsels of Wisdom.

Genres: Poetry, History, Mythology, Literature, Ancient History, Religion, Biblical Studies

446 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Benjamin R. Foster is Laffan Professor of Assyriology and Babylonian Literature. His research interests focus on cuneiform literature and the social and economic history of Mesopotamia.

Reviews

[Seph · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to Assyro-Babylonian literature, featuring a wide array of narrative myths, prayers, wisdom literature, comedic texts, magical spells, and much more.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The wind between turd and urine" such beauty

[Abbey Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for your personal library. Well, I guess, if you're into ancient near eastern history

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of Akkadian-language literature from the first and second millennia BCE is an abridgement of an earlier book by the same editor and translator titled called Before the Muses. Not only does it contain well-known works such as “Gilgamesh,” and stories of kings such as “The Legend of Sargon of Akkad,” but also it also contains lesser known wisdom literature, hymns, prayers and humor. The proverbs and especially the humor add a particularly human touch.

Please read the rest of the review here.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Babylonian history, including the Enuma Elish (creation story) and Atra-Hasis (the flood). I like history, especially anything from the time period of the Old Testament, and there are actually lots of interesting parallels between the Biblical tradition and Babylonian myths found in this book. Check out 'The Righteous Sufferer' and 'Theodicy' for an almost exact account of Job. Pretty crazy...