{"product_id":"the-harps-that-once-thorkild-jacobsen-9780300072785","title":"The Harps that Once | Thorkild Jacobsen","description":"\u003csection class=\"product-description\" style=\"color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 2px solid #2c3e50; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eThe Harps That Once...: Sumerian Poetry in Translation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Harps That Once...: Sumerian Poetry in Translation\u003c\/em\u003e provides a breathtaking collection of ancient Sumerian poems written near the end of the third millennium BCE. Brought to life by eminent Assyriologist Thorkild Jacobsen, this volume offers a direct window into the literary expressions and inner lives of the earliest urban civilization in Mesopotamia. The comprehensive collection includes hymns, love songs, laments, myths, and epics, providing a profound look at the cultural foundations of human history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eNotably, the collection includes a number of compositions that have never before been published in translation. These works—quite possibly the earliest poems extant—explore universal themes that have fascinated humanity since the time people first began to spin stories. From the longings of young lovers and raw courage in battle to the joy at the birth of a child and the simple pleasures of drink and song, this anthology captures the enduring essence of the human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThorkild Jacobsen\u003c\/strong\u003e was an eminent Assyriologist and a foremost authority on ancient Mesopotamian culture and literature. Also the acclaimed author of \u003cem\u003eThe Treasures of Darkness\u003c\/em\u003e, Jacobsen dedicated his career to translating and interpreting ancient texts, bringing the intricate poetry, mythology, and spiritual life of the Sumerian world to modern readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eScholars, students, and historians of ancient Near Eastern and Mesopotamian civilizations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eEnthusiasts of classical and ancient poetry seeking the earliest known literary works.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eReaders fascinated by mythology, early urban cultures, and the evolution of human storytelling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Awards\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eCelebrated for its meticulous scholarship and inclusion of previously unpublished translations, this volume is recognized as a vital contribution to Assyriology and the broader study of ancient world literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eBibliographic \u0026amp; Physical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"overflow-x: auto; max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; min-width: 650px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0.95em; table-layout: fixed;\"\u003e\n      \u003cthead\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"background-color: #f8f9fa; border-bottom: 2px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 12px 10px; color: #2c3e50; width: 30%; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 12px 10px; color: #2c3e50; width: 70%; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/thead\u003e\n      \u003ctbody\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e9780300072785\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePublisher\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eYale University Press\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eSeptember 23, 1997\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eEdition\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eRevised Edition\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eFormat\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eTrade Paperback (Issued without dust jacket)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePage Count\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e528\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eBISAC \/ BIC\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePOETRY \/ Ancient \u0026amp; Classical; LITERARY COLLECTIONS; HISTORY \/ Ancient \/ General; Poetry anthologies (DCF); Ancient history: to c 500 CE (NHCD)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches \/ 26.17 oz\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat types of writings are included in this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe volume features a diverse array of ancient Sumerian literature, including hymns, love songs, laments, myths, and epics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre these texts well-known to the general public?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile some are foundational to ancient history, this collection also includes a number of compositions that have never before been published in English translation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat themes do these ancient poems explore?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite their age, the poems explore deeply relatable, universal human experiences: the longings of young lovers, courage in battle, joy at the birth of a child, and the pleasures of drink and song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": [\"Book\", \"Product\"],\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/the-harps-that-once-thorkild-jacobsen-9780300072785#book\",\n        \"name\": \"The Harps That Once...: Sumerian Poetry in Translation\",\n        \"author\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Person\",\n          \"name\": \"Thorkild Jacobsen\"\n        },\n        \"description\": \"Discover The Harps That Once... by Thorkild Jacobsen. 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