The Sages and the Sons of Nippur: An Edition of <i>LKA</i> 76 (VAT 13839) From Assur

Rubin, Zachary

doi:10.1086/719864

Cited by 2 publications

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References 20 publications

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“…At Nippur, however, there seems to have been an almost conscientious rejection of the use of family names (Nielsen 2011, 163-5, 177-80). This was in spite of textual evidence indicating the presence of the same cultural sentiments and practices relating to revered scholars (Rubin 2022) and prebendary functions (Joannès 1992, 90;Beaulieu 1995, 88-9) at Nippur that were the basis for ancestral and occupational family names elsewhere. Those few family names that are attested in documents dated at Nippur may have belonged to non-Nippureans.…”

Section: Geographic Distributionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Babylonian Family Names

Nielsen

2023

Personal Names in Cuneiform Texts From Babylonia (C. 750–100 BCE)

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A distinctive feature of Babylonian onomastics in the first millennium BCE is the use of family names at most cities by a segment of the population that can be described as the urban notable class. These family names are common and the conventions for their usage are well established in the abundant legal and administrative tablets that date from the so-called 'long sixth century': the period stretching from Nabopolassar's first regnal year in 625 to Xerxes I's suppression of the Babylonian revolts in 484 (Jursa et al. 2010, 2-5). The use of family names emerged during the preceding eighth and seventh centuries, and the antecedents of some families and family names can be traced even further back in time to the early first millennium or even the latter part of the second millennium. Furthermore, some of these families persisted into the latter half of the first millennium BCE, as demonstrated by the continued presence of family names in Seleucid-era tablets.Usage of family names at all times appears to have been restricted. Non-Babylonians never had family names, and only Babylonians of a certain social status were identified in texts with family names. Where the line of social demarcation lay is difficult to determine. Slaves and people of servile status, such as temple oblates, did not have family names, but neither did some men who had sufficient wealth to purchase land associated with the temple (Nielsen 2015b, 101), suggesting that an element of familial pedigree was involved. One could not simply adopt a family name. As a consequence, an understanding of the norms of family-name usage and an ability to identify them in Neo-Babylonian texts is essential for comprehending how individuals from the urban notable class functioned politically, economically, and socially.After a discussion of the origins of family names in Babylonian society, we will present an overview of the types of family names that were in existence and then outline the different ways in which family names were recorded in texts, before concluding with some comments on the geographical distribution of family names throughout Babylonia.

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Section: Geographic Distributionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Babylonian Family Names

Nielsen

2023

Personal Names in Cuneiform Texts From Babylonia (C. 750–100 BCE)

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Personal Names in Cuneiform Texts from Babylonia (c. 750–100 BCE)

2023

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Personal names provide fascinating testimony to Babylonia's multi-ethnic society. This volume offers a practical introduction to the repertoire of personal names recorded in cuneiform texts from Babylonia in the first millennium BCE. In this period, individuals moved freely as well as involuntarily across the ancient Middle East, leaving traces of their presence in the archives of institutions and private persons in southern Mesopotamia. The multilingual nature of this name material poses challenges for students and researchers who want to access these data as part of their exploration of the social history of the region in the period. This volume offers guidelines and tools that will help readers navigate this difficult material. The title is also available Open Access on Cambridge Core.

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The Sages and the Sons of Nippur: An Edition of LKA 76 (VAT 13839) From Assur

Cited by 2 publications

References 20 publications

Babylonian Family Names

Babylonian Family Names

Personal Names in Cuneiform Texts from Babylonia (c. 750–100 BCE)

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