Records of the Past, 2nd Series, Volume II

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Records of the Past, 2nd Series, Volume II

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

This scholarly volume presents authoritative English translations of ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian texts, including royal inscriptions, diplomatic correspondence, hymns, and king lists. Edited by A. H. Sayce with assistance from Professor Maspero, it features the Tel El-Amarna letters, the Inscription of Assur-natsir-pal, the Moabite Stone, and the Adventures of Sinuhit, offering deep insight into early Near Eastern history and culture.

Summary up to 500 words

Records of the Past, 2nd Series, Volume II, edited by A. H. Sayce, serves as a significant anthology of translated ancient Near Eastern texts, preserving the final literary work of the esteemed scholar M. Arthur Amiaud. The volume opens with a preface mourning Amiaud's sudden death, noting his unparalleled mastery of the non-Semitic language of ancient Chaldea. Sayce highlights the loss of Amiaud's knowledge as an irreparable blow to science, particularly regarding the inscriptions of Tel-loh. The collection features diverse historical and literary treasures. It includes the Inscription of Uni, translated by Professor Maspero, which details the rise of a nobleman under Egyptian kings Unas, Teti, and Pepi. Uni's biography recounts his military campaigns against the Hirushau and Nubian territories, his administrative roles as superintendent of irrigated lands, and his receipt of a magnificent sarcophagus and stele from the king. The volume also presents The Adventures of Sinuhit, a narrative of a nobleman's exile and return, alongside The Legend of the Expulsion of the Hyksos and the Stele of Thothmes IV. Diplomatic history is illuminated through the Tel El-Amarna tablets, which reveal correspondence from the 14th century BCE relating to Palestine. Assyrian history is chronicled via the Assyrian Chronological Canon and the Standard Inscription of Assur-natsir-pal, providing timelines and accounts of conquests in Zamua, Nairi, and beyond. The text includes specimens of Assyrian correspondence and an Akkadian hymn to the setting sun, reflecting religious practices. A major component is the analysis of the Moabite Stone, accompanied by scholarly notes discussing its historical context and textual variants. The volume further contributes to the understanding of ancient civilizations through a table of Egyptian dynasties, a list of Assyrian kings, and an Egyptian calendar. Throughout, the work maintains a scholarly tone, correcting previous misreadings and offering detailed transliterations and translations that serve as an essential resource for researchers of Mesopotamian and Egyptian history.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• History
• Ancient Egypt
• Archaeology
• Ancient Near East