Proceedings of the XLVe Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale. Two Volumes. Part I: Historiography in the Cuneiform World, Part II: Seals and Seal Impressions.

• Author: Yoffee, Norman
• Position: Book Review

Edited by TZVI ABUSCH, PAUL-ALAIN BEAULIEU, JOHN HUEHNERGARD, PETER MACHINIST, PIOTR STEINKELLER, WILLIAM W. HALLO, and IRENE WINTER; with the assistance of CAROL NOYES. Bethesda, Md.: CDL PRESS, 2001. Pp. x + 482; vi + 254. $65 (paper).

Proceedings of the annual Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale (RAI) and Festschriften have always been significant publications in Assyriology and ancient Near Eastern Studies. Expansive and even speculative essays, often considered less a appropriate for journals, are just what is wanted in these volumes. RAI volumes, which are organized in themes, have, not unusually, become canvasses of knowledge of particular subjects. These two volumes are no exception.

Since volume 1, on historiography, presents its thirty-two chapters in alphabetical order of authors, I discuss the essays here first according to time periods, and then according to topics in historiography.

There are seven chapters that treat the history and texts of the third millennium. G. Magid posits a "quota economy" in the ration texts from the [e.sub.2]-[mi.sub.2] temple at Lagash (for which see also A. Cohen, this volume). G. Visicato considers the sources and reasons for the progress of Akkadian kings to Assur and Gasur. T. Potts seeks to find a middle road in the consideration of literary texts concerning the historicity of the great revolt of Naram-Sin, a road between skepticism and faith in the texts. This subject is also taken up by Hallo and Glassner in this volume. J. Ross assembles the data for use of gold and silver in the Old Akkadian period, from royal inscriptions and also economic texts of private people, for example, in bride-prices. A. Archi discusses king lists from Ebla, rituals for dead kings, and relations between Mari and Ebla, mainly a contest for control of territory and trade routes. J. Klein writes about the "genealogy of Naram-Sin" and other literary texts as mechanisms of legitimacy for Ur III kings. A. Cohen argues that legitimacy of rulers was advanced by "dehistoricizing strategies," that is, by kings attempting to picture themselves beyond time and thus subject to "cosmic forces."

Six essays treat materials dating to the second millennium. W. Bodine discusses model contracts. M. Tanret considers the use of year-lists and proclamation tablets by Ur-Utu in Sippar-Amnanum. M. Liverani resumes his well-known analysis (in his Prestige and Interest, 1990) of inside and outside audiences for royal documents (here...