introduction 3
assyria, and Babylonia has survived, its importance should not be under-
estimated.18
the aramaic inscriptions, which are primarily royal inscriptions, first
occur in the 10th or 9th century B.c. their genres include construction,
votive, victory, dedicatory, and treaty inscriptions. additionally, there is a
collection of proverbs written on papyri from north Syria or upper Meso-
potamia and an associated didactic narrative. Both were known by the
name of the wise aḥiqar in a 5th-century B.c. copy from elephantine,
based in the Syrian tradition from the 7th or 6th century B.c.19
although proving a mythology of the aramaeans of Syria is more than
difficult its existence is assumed. however, because papyrus was the main
writing material in Syria during the 1st millennium B.c. no traces of any
written mythological texts survive. there are occasional references to ara-
maeans writing mythological texts or showing knowledge of anatolian or
Mesopotamian mythology and passing that knowledge on.
For example, the motif of the fight between the weather god and the
snake was known in tell ašara and the motif of the weather god’s weapon
was known in Samʾal.20 Furthermore, several reliefs from tell halaf pro-
vide insight into no longer extant mythological or epic narratives. this is
especially true of the representation of an animal orchestra.21 the pro-
verbs of the aḥiqar novel also exhibit mythical elements, for example,
the Labbu myth from Mesopotamia. they also refer to plant and animal
fables.22
Likewise, it is known that the aramaeans imported the Mesopotamian
epic of Gilgamesh to the West by way of the Greeks.23 the entablature of
the temple of Bel in palmyra shows signs of knowledge of the Babylonian
enuma elish epic; it is an adaptation of the akītu myth that was recited
during the new Year’s feast.24
archaeological sources25 show new developments in art and archi-
tecture after the aramaeans gained dominion over Syria, although it is
18 See esp. oelsner 1986: 245–250 and the considerations in George 2003: 59 and par-
pola 2005: 111f.
19 cf. the contribution of p. Merlo in this volume.
20 See the contributions of d. Bonatz on art and of h. niehr on religion in this volume.
21 cf. orthmann 1971: 398, 408–412.
22 cf. niehr 2007: 17 n. 49.
23 cf. George 2003: 54–70.
24 cf. tubach 1995; dirven 1997; ead. 1999: 147–156.
25 cf. the contributions of d. Bonatz and M. novák in this volume.