A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology

Since the spectacular discovery of Nineveh 150 years ago, countless excavators have been searching for the lost civilizations of the ancient Near East. We now know the names of thousands of gods and goddesses as well as a growing number of mythological tales. However, a substantial number of these sources of information--originating from the archives of such ancient cities as Ninevah, Ur, and Babylon--are inaccessible to most students. Gwendolyn Leick has devised a scholarly guide to this little-known world of ancient mythology. Although this collection of easy-to-read entries will be invaluable to the novice, Leick also provides enough detail and cross-referencing for the specialist reader. Its wide-ranging bibliography makes use of an interesting and possibly unfamiliar collection of sources, and includes an extensive index for ease of reference. The result is a volume which will be of particular interest to students and lecturers in archaeology, religious studies and anthopology.