Admission requirements
This course is open to Master and Research Master students in Classics and Ancient Civilisations (track Assyriology, or students from other tracks with a good command of Akkadian and cuneiform script)
Description
How did Babylonian religion work in practice? In this course we will study the role of priests and priestesses in Babylonian religion, society and politics. What did it take to become and remain a priest in a Babylonian temple? We will investigate a wide variety of sources (archival, legal, ritual, literary, architectural, pictorial) in order to study the ideological underpinnings of the priesthood, the various obligations and privileges that came with the job, the social and economic position of priests, their role in the production of knowledge, and their changing relationships to the state. We will focus on Babylonia in the period from 600 to c. 150 BC, when the area went through dramatic political changes. Against this background, we will investigate long-term continuities and punctual as well as slow-moving changes affecting the priesthood at various levels: in the cult, in society, and in politics.
Course objectives
Students who attend this class will
gain understanding of the nature of the textual and archaeological sources concerning the Babylonian priesthood and temple ritual;
reflect on theories of ritual and their applicability on ancient Babylonian corpora;
broaden their knowledge of the social and political history of Babylonia in a globalizing world, 750 BCE – 75 CE;
develop their philological skills, practice their ability to process, discuss and evaluate primary and secondary Assyriological evidence;
have developed their skills in using online databases and text corpora, relevant for doing research on (un)published cuneiform tablets;
be trained to participate in discussions on complex topics;
be trained to conduct original research and to report results clearly and timely, in oral and written form;
gain experience in giving peer feedback.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
60% research paper (c. 5000-6000 words). The requirements for MA and ResMA students are differentiated: ResMA students are expected to write an original research paper; MA students may write an overview of the history and state of scholarship on a given question.
10% oral presentation. This will be a presentation of each student’s proposed paper topic for development with the group.
10% midterm paper (c. 1500 words)
20% participation in and preparation for seminar meetings
The requirements for MA and ResMA students Classics and Ancient Civilizations are differentiated: ResMA students are expected to identify their own original research topic, find literature, and write a scholarly report; MA students may expect more help in choosing their topic and their papers may consist of a critical assessment of the status quaestionis on a given question.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) the additional requirement that the research paper needs to be concluded with at least 5.5.
Resit
If the overall mark is unsatisfactory, the research paper can be repeated after consultation with the lecturer. The marks for the oral presentation, the midterm essay, and the class participation will still count in such a case.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
To be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal
Remarks
Not applicable.