{"product_id":"treasures-of-darkness-thorkild-jacobsen-9780300022919","title":"The Treasures of Darkness | 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 Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion\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 Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion\u003c\/em\u003e is a classic, authoritative study of the spiritual and religious life of ancient Mesopotamia. Drawing on a lifetime of scholarly research, Thorkild Jacobsen masterfully recreates the worldview and religious consciousness of the ancient Near East, demonstrating that the deeply embedded roots of Western civilization lie within these ancient traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eBacked at every point by persistent adherence to original textual evidence, the book explores the evolution of religious metaphors, rituals, and theological concepts across millennia. Rather than focusing solely on archaeological grit, Jacobsen devotes his work to the direct translations of cuneiform texts, bringing to life Sumerian and Akkadian poetry—including the Dumuzi-Inanna cycle. Jacobsen accepts the premise that early religion sprang from humanity's experience of a mysterious and numinous power, effectively bridging the gap between ancient thought and modern understanding in a work that is both highly readable and profoundly revelatory.\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 a world-renowned authority on Sumerian life and society and a philologist of rare sensibility. Culminating a lifetime of diligent work and careful research, his translations and sympathetic commentary have made the ancient texts and early Mesopotamian mind accessible to modern specialists and general readers alike.\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;\"\u003eHistorians, archaeologists, and university students of ancient Near Eastern religions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eSpecialists and general laymen fascinated by early Mesopotamian culture and spiritual life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eReaders seeking direct, scholarly translations of ancient Sumerian and Akkadian poetry.\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;\"\u003eHailed as \"a classic in its field\" by the \u003cem\u003eReligious Studies Review\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eThe London Sunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e described it as a literary work combining sensibility, imagination, and scholarship that is \"near perfection,\" while the \u003cem\u003eTimes Literary Supplement\u003c\/em\u003e praised its fascinating and abundant translated passages of Sumerian poetry.\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;\"\u003e9780300022919\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 10, 1978\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;\"\u003ePaperback 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;\"\u003e273\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;\"\u003eRELIGION \/ Antiquities \u0026amp; Archaeology; HISTORY \/ Ancient \/ General; Archaeology (HRA); 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 0.5 inches \/ 14.9 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 is the main focus of this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book provides an authoritative history of Mesopotamian religion, recreating the spiritual life of the ancient Near East primarily through the direct translation and study of original cuneiform texts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book include original poetry?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it features vivid translations of ancient Sumerian and Akkadian poetry, including the well-known Dumuzi-Inanna cycle of courtship, wedding, and lament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book accessible to general readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbsolutely. While it is backed by meticulous scholarship, the compelling commentary and translations make it a fascinating read for specialists, university students, and complete laymen alike.\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\/treasures-of-darkness-thorkild-jacobsen-9780300022919#book\",\n        \"name\": \"The Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion\",\n        \"author\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Person\",\n          \"name\": \"Thorkild Jacobsen\"\n        },\n        \"description\": \"Discover The Treasures of Darkness by Thorkild Jacobsen. 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While it is backed by meticulous scholarship, the compelling commentary and translations make it a fascinating read for specialists, university students, and complete laymen alike.\"\n            }\n          }\n        ]\n      }\n    ]\n  }\n  \u003c\/script\u003e\n\n  \u003chr style=\"border: 0; height: 1px; background: #2c3e50; margin: 30px 0;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.1em; letter-spacing: 0.5px;\"\u003eBust-Down Books: More Than a Bookstore\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51498945052987,"sku":"0300022913","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780300022919.jpg?v=1784741917","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/treasures-of-darkness-thorkild-jacobsen-9780300022919","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}