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Introduction to the Elamite Language

Vak
2015-2016

Admission requirements

Open to all (research) MA students Classics and Ancient Civilizations; students in other programs should contact the teacher.

Description

The course is an introduction to the Elamite language, especially the Middle Elamite and the Achaemenid phase and may be interesting for those studying ancient Near Eastern languages and the early history of Iran. Elamite was the official language of the state of Anshan-Susa in southwestern Iran in the third, second and first millennium BC. Some scholars consider Elamite to be an early branch of the Dravidian language family. Elamite was used as the official language of the dynasties of the Anshan-Susa from ± 1500-550 BC. The Achaemenid rulers from the dynasty of Darius I also used Elamite as their primary official language. After a short introduction to the grammar of Elamite the student studies a selection of Middle Elamite royal inscriptions concerning building projects and the Elamite version of the famous Bisotun trilingual inscription of Darius I in their historical context.

Course objectives

Basic knowledge of the the Elamite language in its Middle Elamite and Achaemenid Phases and an overview of the history of the Elamite state.

Timetable

Third and fourth block of the second semester. Third block: Middle Elamite; Fourth block: Achaemenid Elamite (Bisotun-inscription).

Please consult the timetables on the Classics and Ancient Civilizations website.

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Course Load

Total course load is 280 hours, of which:

  • Lectures: 26 hours;

  • Assessment 32 hours;

  • Tutoring 4 hours;

  • Literature 80 hours;

  • Preparation lecture / assignments: 78 hours;

  • Assignment: 60 hours.

Assessment method

A paper on a Middle Elamite inscription and its historical background after the third block (50%) and a paper on a subject related to the Besitun Inscription (50%).

Blackboard

Blackboard

Reading list

  • M.W. Stolper, “Elamite” in Woodard, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World’s Ancient Languages, Cambridge (2004), 60-94.;

  • M.-J. Stève, Tchoga Zanbil (dur-untash) Vol III Textes élamites et accadiens de Tchoga Zanbil (MDAI Tome XLI), Paris (1967);

  • F. Malbran-Labat, Les inscriptions royals de Suse, Paris (1995);

  • F. Grillot-Sussini – C. Herrenschmidt, F. Malbran-Labat, “La version élamite de la trilingue de Behistun: une nouvelle lecture”, Journal Asiatique Tome CCLXXXI (1993),19-59;

  • D.T. Potts, The Archaeology of Elam, Formation and Transformation of an Ancient State, Cambridge (1998).

Preparatory reading: D.T. Potts, The Archaeology of Elam, Formation and Transformation of an Ancient State, Cambridge (1998), 43-353.

Registration

Students are required to register for this course via uSis, the course registration system of Leiden University.

Exchange and Study Abroad students: please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.

Contact

Drs. T.H.J. Krispijn

Remarks

Preparatory reading: D.T. Potts, The Archaeology of Elam, Formation and Transformation of an Ancient State, Cambridge (1998), 43-353.