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Archives in the Ancient World
Hardcover with dust jacket. G/VG. Slight foxing
- GenresHistoryNonfictionEgypt
300 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
5 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Ernst Posner
6 books3 followersHe conducted the first systematic survey and analysis of state archives and records management program in the United States during the early 1960s. He traveled across the country, visiting every state archives in person, conducting interviews with staff, and collected substantial data on holdings, financial and staffing resources, reference use, storage capacity and conditions, and legal authority. He presents his findings state-by state and includes a description of programs and services for local government records when they existed.
In 1972, Ernst Posner published "Archives in the Ancient World". Posner's work emphasized that archives were not new inventions, but had existed in many different societies throughout recorded history.
In 1972, Ernst Posner published "Archives in the Ancient World". Posner's work emphasized that archives were not new inventions, but had existed in many different societies throughout recorded history.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 4, 2018
Interesting subject matter and informative. This book can be dry but that is to be expected and I was impressed at how detailed of a study the writer delved into. He could have given more effort into the development of non Mediterranean societies, but he at least mentioned that they existed and hadn't been thoroughly studied at the time his book was written.
In the chapter titled, "Persia, Alexander, and the Seleucid Empire" I enjoyed this quote from Posner: "The treasury archivists seemed to have been unable to keep intruders out of the archival premises, for Room 33 and the subsidiary chamber 34 were also used for storing military equipment, furniture, and royal tableware. Erich F. Schmidt, famous excavator of the Persepolis Palace, found it "absurd to store administrative records, martial equipment, and tableware in the same rooms"; apparently he was not aware that empty shelves in archival repositories have always attracted unwelcome tenants" (Posner, 122). In an otherwise humorless text this sentence was quite amusing.
As far as suggested readings from the ACA handbook go, this was an interesting book without a doubt.
In the chapter titled, "Persia, Alexander, and the Seleucid Empire" I enjoyed this quote from Posner: "The treasury archivists seemed to have been unable to keep intruders out of the archival premises, for Room 33 and the subsidiary chamber 34 were also used for storing military equipment, furniture, and royal tableware. Erich F. Schmidt, famous excavator of the Persepolis Palace, found it "absurd to store administrative records, martial equipment, and tableware in the same rooms"; apparently he was not aware that empty shelves in archival repositories have always attracted unwelcome tenants" (Posner, 122). In an otherwise humorless text this sentence was quite amusing.
As far as suggested readings from the ACA handbook go, this was an interesting book without a doubt.
May 31, 2019
Archives in the Ancient World is one of the most intriguing text books I have ever read. This is a survey about archives and records in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Near East. I understand most people would not enjoy this volume as much as me. Many might consider this book unnecessary, boring, or both. However, I am an Archivist, and I love history and linguistics-it's like this text was made for me.
I will admit that I found the exact layout of the ancient archival and record rooms to be a bit dry. Knowing how records were stored wasn’t as interesting to me as the discussion of the types of records and their creators. I realize the importance of whether they were housed in baskets or jars in a wall niche or on a shelving unit is important in the history of the records. That being said, listing how something was stored does not make for an engaging read. Posner also admits that much of the storage is speculation since the few repositories uncovered were ruins and the few scraps of papyri that mention records don’t say how they were stored.
My favorite part was the terminology of the various periods. Languages have always been near to heart, and I learned French and German for this exact reason. Seeing how archival terms originated and evolved, how they formed the base of modern languages, and when the terms changed completely was utterly fascinating. From Republican Rome to Imperial Rome, the Latin for archives shifted from Tablinum to Tabularium. I do prefer Tabularium. Another interesting one is the Roman Egypt word for container, Bibliothêkê, since in German the word for library is Bibliothek. Many terms are still in use today albeit the spelling and pronunciation might differ.
I might never have picked up Archives in the Ancient World had it not been given to me. This is sad to think since I enjoyed this text so much. I am really happy that I had the opportunity to read this, and if you have the same interests as me I think would find it just as great as I do. If I were ever to get into teaching archives or museum studies, I would make this part of required reading for the class. To understand the present, you must study the past. This is true for any profession you choose. Art history starts with cave paintings. American history begins with Columbus and world exploration. Why wouldn’t archives start in Mesopotamia? It's also nice to know that since the beginning of the profession repositories and archives have never really been planned and they have just had to make due with what they are given. You would think at some point institutions would learn.
One last food for thought: I propose changing the profession back to its ancient terminology starting with Archivists. It would be way cooler to say I am a Bibliophylax preparing a Diastrômata rather than I am an archivist preparing a finding aid.
I will admit that I found the exact layout of the ancient archival and record rooms to be a bit dry. Knowing how records were stored wasn’t as interesting to me as the discussion of the types of records and their creators. I realize the importance of whether they were housed in baskets or jars in a wall niche or on a shelving unit is important in the history of the records. That being said, listing how something was stored does not make for an engaging read. Posner also admits that much of the storage is speculation since the few repositories uncovered were ruins and the few scraps of papyri that mention records don’t say how they were stored.
My favorite part was the terminology of the various periods. Languages have always been near to heart, and I learned French and German for this exact reason. Seeing how archival terms originated and evolved, how they formed the base of modern languages, and when the terms changed completely was utterly fascinating. From Republican Rome to Imperial Rome, the Latin for archives shifted from Tablinum to Tabularium. I do prefer Tabularium. Another interesting one is the Roman Egypt word for container, Bibliothêkê, since in German the word for library is Bibliothek. Many terms are still in use today albeit the spelling and pronunciation might differ.
I might never have picked up Archives in the Ancient World had it not been given to me. This is sad to think since I enjoyed this text so much. I am really happy that I had the opportunity to read this, and if you have the same interests as me I think would find it just as great as I do. If I were ever to get into teaching archives or museum studies, I would make this part of required reading for the class. To understand the present, you must study the past. This is true for any profession you choose. Art history starts with cave paintings. American history begins with Columbus and world exploration. Why wouldn’t archives start in Mesopotamia? It's also nice to know that since the beginning of the profession repositories and archives have never really been planned and they have just had to make due with what they are given. You would think at some point institutions would learn.
One last food for thought: I propose changing the profession back to its ancient terminology starting with Archivists. It would be way cooler to say I am a Bibliophylax preparing a Diastrômata rather than I am an archivist preparing a finding aid.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews