A new reconstruction and interpretation of a Sumerian literary debate between apprentice scribes

What is it about?

Building on the work of the two editors, J.C. Johnson and M.J. Geller, I offer a new text reconstruction of the Sumerian literary debate between two apprentice scribes entitled Dialogue 1, using new textual sources, On the basis of my text revised text reconstruction, which adds four lines to the text, I conduct a rhetorical analysis of the debate. This rhetorical analysis allows for a characterisation of the two anonymous interlocutors and a new interpretation of the text as a verbal contest between a highly accomplished speaker and his hapless rival. I argue that the contrasting presentation of a rhetorically skilled speaker and his less-than-eloquent opponent is didactically motivated.

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Why is it important?

My study offers a revised text reconstruction as well as a new perspective on the only Sumerian literary debate between (male) apprentices that has been edited so far. The text itself provides valuable information about Mesopotamian scribal education.

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