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Transtextual stylization of Neo-Assyrian accounts of war
Bach, Johannes
2020
Abstract
This paper studies the transtextual features of accounts of war and descriptions of enemies in Assyrian royal narrative texts. It first offers a discussion of the relevant theoretical background, mainly the works of Gérard Genette, and then outlines a methodology for consistent analyses of transtextual features in the studied corpus. The main part of the paper consists of case studies, diachronically ranging from Tiglath-Pileser III to Esarhaddon. These case studies aim at analyzing the poetics and effects of transtextual arrangements. Here, the paper mainly looks at allusions to the epos of Gilgameš and the enūma eliš. The non-mytho-epical topos of the enemies’ ruler’s flight on a lone mare, attested in a few early Neo-Assyrian texts, is traced back to its pictorial origins. Finally, the paper highlights the importance of literay allusions when textually stylizing both enemies and Assyrian king engaged in acts of warfare.
Publisher
EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste
Source
Johannes Bach, "Transtextual stylization of Neo-Assyrian accounts of war", in: Katia Gavagnin, Rocco Palermo (Edited by), "Imperial Connections. Interactions and Expansion from Assyria to the Roman Period. Volume 2. Proceedings of the 5th “Broadening Horizons” Conference (Udine 5-8 June 2017)", Trieste, EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, 2020, pp. 29-41
Languages
en
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internazionale
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