NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION
The ancient languages reproduced in transliteration have been set
in italic type, with the exception of Sumerian. There is as yet no
settled convention for the transliteration of Sumerian. For original
Sumerian texts, scholars use lower case roman type with dashes and
dots to divide the elements of a word or word chain; some also
extend the spacing between letters. Upper case is reserved for uncertain
readings. For Sumerian words in Akkadian or Hittite texts (Sumero-
grams), some scholars use upper case, divided by dots; others use
lower case, divided either by dots or by dashes, with uncertain read-
ings in upper case. Accordingly, the transliteration of Sumerian in
the individual chapters has been left in the form chosen by the
author. Akkadian words in Hittite texts (Akkadograms) are presented
in upper case and italics.xvii
WESTBROOK_F1_v-xix 8/27/03 1:39 PM Page xvii