Nuzi Temple Texts
Open accessAbstract
Brigitte Lion and Diana Stein have, in The Tablets from the Temple Precinct at Nuzi, joined forces to edit the texts of the sixty-nine Nuzi texts found in temples (Lion) and to publish and edit their 282 seal impressions (Stein). This masterful collaboration excels in many areas, including in-depth prosopographical analysis and thorough integration of the local seal practice into the orbit of textual analysis. This volume sets a standard of text edition and analysis that dwarfs the achievements of the students of Nuzi from the first two-thirds of the twentieth century and even since. Nevertheless, the raison d'ětre of this heterogeneous group of texts in the context of their storage in temples remains enigmatic.
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Claims the paper makes
0 of 6 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingnone given
Some of the temple texts are total isolates.
“On the other hand, some of the texts are total isolates.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingnone given
The temple tablets consist mostly of private contracts and other documents similar to those in private Nuzi archives from private dwellings.
“They are mostly private contracts and other documents, similar to the contents of private Nuzi archives from private dwellings.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The case of PN son of PN2 referring to two separate individuals is rare in these texts.
“This is a rare instance in these texts where PN son of PN 2 refers to two separate individuals.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
There were two separate individuals named Šurki-tilla son of Teḫip-tilla in the Nuzi texts.
“These lines establish explicitly that Nuzi had a second Šurki-tilla son of Teḫip-tilla over and above the more famous one.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
Some principal parties in the temple texts can be linked to non-temple archives.
“Some of the principal parties can be linked to non-temple archives.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Premisenone given
Before this volume, the temple texts had not been extensively studied and analyzed as a group.
“These documents have never before been extensively studied and analyzed as a group. 1”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [1]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationreasoning
No solution to the major dilemma posed by the Nuzi temple tablets is found in the volume.
“In this volume, no solution is found to the major dilemma posed by the Nuzi temple tablets: Lion herself reaches this conclusion, and Stein's proposed solutions fail to persuade.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationcitation
The implication that the ilku ought to be performed in one place only is contradicted by other Nuzi evidence.
“However, the implication that the ilku ought to be performed in one place only is belied by other Nuzi evidence.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Maidman 2010: 171-73
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Maidman 2010: 174-75
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Maidman 2010: 175-76
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 13
- May combine two claims. 5
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingnone givenThe volume also publishes and edits the 282 seal impressions found on those sixty-nine artifacts.
“In addition, publication and edition of the seal impressions contained on these sixty-nine artifacts are presented.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe reviewed volume includes editions and analyses of sixty-nine tablets from Nuzi's main temple precinct, along with seven additional related texts.
“The volume under review contains analyses and editions of the texts of sixty-nine tablets (as well as seven other, related texts) originating in the major temple precinct of Nuzi.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
FindingcitationURU LUGAL is clearly attested as a term.
“Regarding the presence of URU LUGAL, convincingly argued by Lion (p. 213), its attestation as a term is clear.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
FindingcitationTexts from the same archive are found both within a temple and outside in clearly private archives.
“Lion renders it more troubling still, noting that texts of the same archive are found both within a temple and outside, in clearly private archives.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataOverwhelmingly, each PN son of PN2 in the Nuzi texts represents a unique individual, but this is not absolutely always the case.
“That is overwhelmingly still the case (and therefore remains a useful prosopographical tool) but not absolutely so.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingnone givenSome of the temple texts are administrative texts, such as inventories and other lists.
“There are some administrative texts (inventories and other lists).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
FindingreasoningDocuments dealing with the same matter are found both within a temple and outside in private archives.
“This includes documents dealing with the same matter (see chap. 9).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown dataStein notes the presence of documents of Šilwa-tešup son of the king among the temple texts.
“She notes (p.236) the presence of documents here of Šilwa-tešup son of the king.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingnone givenThe temple tablets are mundane and heterogeneous, with no indication of cultic content or function.
“The tablets are mundane and heterogeneous, with no hint of cultic content or function.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe temple-text sub-corpus is anomalous and especially important among Nuzi documents because its heterogeneity is unique among Nuzi tablet collections.
“This sub-corpus is anomalous and, thus, especially important among the Nuzi documents: the heterogeneity of the documents is unique among Nuzi tablet collections.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationnone givenThe reason why a variety of non-temple-related tablets were stored in the temples is the great conundrum of these texts.
“Both authors recognize that the issue of the function of the temples as repositories for a variety of non-temple-related tablets (over twenty genres in Lion's classification [pp.12-14]) constitutes the great conundrum of these texts.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationcitationThe traditional interpretation of paiḫu as unbuilt land may require reconsideration in light of JEN 816.
“This position may require reconsideration in light of JEN 816.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites JEN 816
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Maidman 2015: 91-94
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenStein's proposed solutions to the temple-text problem fail to persuade and are ad hoc.
“Stein's proposed solutions fail to persuade.They are mere ad hoc attempts.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
InterpretationreasoningIf the capital was no longer considered safe, then Nuzi would have been considered even less safe.
“If “the capital was no longer considered safe” (p.236), then a fortiori Nuzi would have been considered even less safe.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
InterpretationreasoningLion correctly refrains from calling these temple texts an archive at all.
“Thus, Lion correctly abstains from calling these temple texts an archive at all.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationnone givenWhat the toponym URU LUGAL represents is unknown.
“What this shadowy toponym (if it be indeed such) represents is not.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
The authors state this as an assumption.
The documents of Šilwa-tešup son of the king found in the temple would originally have been stored at the family's main residence in the capital, Arrapḫa City.
“These documents, one may assume, would originally have been stored at the family's main residence in the capital [i.e., in Arrapḫa City]”
The paper relies on this without support.
Assyria attacked from the west, bypassed Nuzi in a southern thrust to Arrapḫa's southeastern border, then doubled back to attack Nuzi, and after destroying Nuzi continued north to take Arrapḫa City.
“According to this depiction, Assyria attacked from the west, bypassing Nuzi in a southern thrust to Arrapḫa's southeastern border, then doubled back to attack Nuzi, and, having achieved Nuzi's destruction, continued north to take the final prize, Arrapḫa City.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Nuzi most likely fell to Assyria before Arrapḫa City did.
“And, in fact, Nuzi most likely fell to Assyria before Arrapḫa City did.”
Cites
Nuzi Texts and Their Uses as Historical Evidence
(2012) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The Teḫip-tilla Family of Nuzi: A Genealogical Reconstruction
Maidman, M. P. (1976) · Journal of Cuneiform Studies · doi:10.2307/1359758
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Jass, R. 2000. Old and New Archives from Nuzi. In Interdependency of Institutions and Private Entre- preneurs, ed. A. C. V. M. Bongenaar. Pp. 213-28. Leiden: NINO.
- Lion, B., and D. Stein. 2001. L'archive de Pašši-Tilla fils de Pula-ḫali: Une famille de financiers du royaume d'Arrapḫa au XIV e s. av. J.C. Bethesda, MD: CDL Press.
- ---. 1994. Two Hundred Nuzi Texts from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, Part 1. Bethesda, MD: CDL Press.
- ---. 2018. Mittanni Royalty and Empire: How Far Back? Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies Journal 11 & 12: 15-28.
- Authors
- Maidman, M. P.
- Corresponding author
- Maidman, M. P.
- Venue
- Journal of the American Oriental Society
- Publisher
- American Oriental Society
- Published
- 2021-09-19
- Volume
- 140
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 0003-0279 (ISSN-L)
- 2169-2289
- OpenAlex
- W3041140140
- Semantic Scholar
- 54a1e69799df65fb7a8cf45699b34a2c39bccf42
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of the American Oriental Society (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › African history and culture analysis
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Near East History
- Keywords
- Nuzi, temple precincts, clay tablets, seal impressions, prosopography, textual edition, Hattusa, Hittite texts
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