The Epic of Era - Studies in Ancient Iraqi Literature

The Epic of Erra is considered a classic of ancient Iraqi literature and became part of the oral folklore of ancient Mesopotamia and neighboring regions. It appears to have garnered considerable attention and appreciation at the time, to the point that the educated elite (mostly priests) recited it regularly and took care to record it. Scattered tablets containing its text have been found throughout Iraq and the Near East, along with some tablets and amulets used as talismans to ward off evil. This unique literary work left its distinct intellectual mark on some Greek epics and Old Testament texts. Nothing demonstrates this better than the description given to the poem by the British Assyriologist Wilfred Lambert, who called it "one of the epic masterpieces of Akkadian literature." It is a remarkable creative work that embodies reality and life through its use of vibrant religious symbols, which are brought to life through a text imbued with the spirit of a historical period characterized by its own social and political specificities. It stands proudly alongside the great Iraqi epics:

Gilgamesh, Atrahasis (The Rich of Senses), and Enuma Elish (When on High). It is no less rich in literary and rhetorical merit, and as a profound poetic-dramatic work, we hope it will one day find its way to the Iraqi stage. The epic was recorded in its nearly complete form on five clay tablets in the Akkadian language.

It was translated from Akkadian into German and Italian by the Italian Assyriologist Luigi Canni (1969-1970). We are pleased to present the Arabic translation of the English version of this epic (Undena edition, 1977) by Dr. Mu'ayyad Sa'id Basim al-Damirji and Ms. Suha Ahmad, along with a comprehensive introduction, supported by important analyses and commentaries. This translation constitutes a complete study in itself, published for the first time, enriching the Arabic library with another valuable contribution from Iraq and its people to human thought.

Specifications:

- Author: Translated from the Akkadian text by Luigi Cani

- Translators: Mu'ayyad Sa'id al-Damirji and Suha Ahmad

- Number of pages: 195

- Cover: Softcover