Review too The Assyrian Dictionary of the University of Chicago, Vol. 20: U/W. Martha T. Roth (editor-in-charge), with the assistance of Timothy J. Collins, Hermann Hunger, Remigius Jas, Jennie Myers, Erica Reiner†, and Joan Goodnick Westenholz; Manuscript Editor: Linda McLarnan. Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 2010. xxxii, 411 pp. Preis: $ 105,00. ISBN 1-885923-43-0.

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Modern Varieties of Judaeo-Arabic Author: Anna Morávková Abstract The thesis deals with modern variants of Judeo-Arabic. The theoretical part puts the Judeo-Arabic into a broader historical, social and linguistic context and emphasizes its significance with respect to the Arabic dialectology. The practical part compares the phonological and morphological features of the individual variants of Judeo-Arabic that occur in two dialectal areas (Mesopotamian and North Africa). It is aimed at pointing out the differences between these variants and also their divergence from the major Muslim dialects and, concerning Mesopotamia, also other communal dialects.

Analysant les « "mythes" de "royauté" », de combat », de jugement », d’"organisation" du "cosmos" » et/ou "fondation" du "royaume" » – nous entendons ces textes « littéraires » à thème « mythologique », centrés sur les activités de divinités appartenant à la typologie du « dieu de l’Orage » dans la perspective « historiographique » de « création » du « cosmos » –, dans l’« aire culturelle » syro-mésopotamienne, indo-européenne et méditerranéenne antique, le présent travail interroge l’existence possible d’une « aire culturelle » « mythologique » – « mythopoïétique » –, indo-méditerranéenne. La proximité reconnue, tant sur les plans « structurel », que « narratif », de ce type particulier de « mythes » pose en effet, que l’on considère, sur un plan « folklorique » et « généalogique », leur possible identité « génétique » – qu’elle soit « préhistorique » ou « horizontale » –, ou, sur un plan « mythopoïétique » et « analogique », leur intégration à une même perspective interprétative, la question de leur comparaison. Quand chacun véhicule un « modèle »/« système » « idéologique » spécifique, en ce qu’il apparaît, dans le cadre donné des « "mythes" de "royauté" », l’expression paradigmatique d’un système « symbolique » particulier, leurs différences précisément non seulement interrogent leur identité « épistémologique », mais invitent également à une contextualisation précise. / Analysing « "myths" of "kingship" », conflict », judgement », cosmos "organisation" » and/or "kingdom" "foundation" » – meaning these « literary » texts with « mythological » themes, focused on the activities of deities belonging to the « Storm-god’s » typology in view of historiographical « "cosmos" "creation" » –, in the syro-mesopotamian, indo-european and ancient mediterranean cultural area, the present work questions the possible existence of a « mythological » – « mythopoieic » –, indo-mediterranean « cultural area ». The recognised proximity, both « structurally » and « narratively », of those particular types of « myths » raises, considering, on a « folkloric » and « genealogical » level, their potential « genetic » identity – whether it is « prehistoric » or « horizontal » –, or, on a « mythopoieic » and « analogical » level, their integration in a common interpretative perspective, the issue of their comparison. When each conveys a specific and « ideological » « model »/« system », as it appears, within the « "myths" of "kingship" », the paradigmatic expression of a particular « symbolic » system, their differences not only ask about their « epistemological » identity, but also beckon a precise contextualisation as well.

In most cases in a deceased person’s estate, there are problems with co-ownership where more than one family member inherits the deceased family estate assets. To escape the perils of co-ownership the beneficiaries consensually agree to divide the inherited communallyshared asset/s. This agreement can take place immediately after the death of the family estate owner or some time later regarding some or all of the said assets. On the conclusion of the division agreement, the contractual party who receives the awarded assets enjoys sole ownership and the other contractual parties by agreement retract their ownership. In a jurisprudential content analysis of forty-six recorded family deceased division agreements from Old Babylonian Larsa and Nippur, essential elements are identified which are the framework and qualification requirements for a family deceased division agreement. Within this framework the concepts, terms and elements of the agreement are categorised as natural and incidental elements, which reflect the specific law traditions and choices of contractual parties and show the unique scribal traditions in the different Old Babylonian city-states of Larsa, Nippur and Sippar. The aim of the study is to shed a more focused light on the interpretation of recorded Old Babylonian division agreements and to show that the division agreement was a successful, timeless, estate administration mechanism and tool to obviate any undesirable consequences of co-ownership of the bequeathed property. / Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

In most cases in a deceased person’s estate, there are problems with co-ownership where more than one family member inherits the deceased family estate assets. To escape the perils of co-ownership the beneficiaries consensually agree to divide the inherited communallyshared asset/s. This agreement can take place immediately after the death of the family estate owner or some time later regarding some or all of the said assets. On the conclusion of the division agreement, the contractual party who receives the awarded assets enjoys sole ownership and the other contractual parties by agreement retract their ownership. In a jurisprudential content analysis of forty-six recorded family deceased division agreements from Old Babylonian Larsa and Nippur, essential elements are identified which are the framework and qualification requirements for a family deceased division agreement. Within this framework the concepts, terms and elements of the agreement are categorised as natural and incidental elements, which reflect the specific law traditions and choices of contractual parties and show the unique scribal traditions in the different Old Babylonian city-states of Larsa, Nippur and Sippar. The aim of the study is to shed a more focused light on the interpretation of recorded Old Babylonian division agreements and to show that the division agreement was a successful, timeless, estate administration mechanism and tool to obviate any undesirable consequences of co-ownership of the bequeathed property. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

The Mesopotamian inscriptions and collections in ancient Mesopotamia consist of different meanings extended over long time-periods and with social, political, economic and ethnic differences. Scholars in determining whether the texts are an authentic source for Mesopotamian law traditions developed different theories and each of these theories has different variations. In a literature study to obtain if the inscriptions and collections are an authentic source, the different theories and methodologies of the inscriptions and collections were mentioned and the inscriptions and collections were tested in accordance with the characteristics of the Mesopotamian law traditions. Until new interpretation of documents of daily activities and legal activities, which can prove, that these texts are an authentic source, the interpretation of the collections and inscriptions on the legal issues of ancient Mesopotamians must be applied with caution and studied together with the greater corpus of cuneiform texts. / Old Testament and Ancient Near East Studies / M.A. (Ancient Near East Studies)

First appearing on potsherds around 3300 BC, the Indus script was primarily in use during the Mature Harappan period (ca. 2600-1900 BC) in the Indus Valley region, centred in the north-western region of the Indian Subcontinent. It is one of the last remaining undeciphered scripts of the ancient world. A great number of Indus inscriptions, however, have been uncovered at many archaeological sites in the Persian Gulf, discoveries that corroborate the inclusion of the Indus civilization as an active participant in the Mesopotamian-dominated Gulf trade of the 3rd millennium. In addition to exploring the current state of research surrounding the Indus decipherment attempts, the thesis will examine new perspectives on ancient history, arguing in favour of various possibilities of Mesopotamian, Elamite, and/or pre-dynastic Egyptian (North East African) cultural presences or influences in the ancient Indus River basin.

The Mesopotamian inscriptions and collections in ancient Mesopotamia consist of different meanings extended over long time-periods and with social, political, economic and ethnic differences. Scholars in determining whether the texts are an authentic source for Mesopotamian law traditions developed different theories and each of these theories has different variations. In a literature study to obtain if the inscriptions and collections are an authentic source, the different theories and methodologies of the inscriptions and collections were mentioned and the inscriptions and collections were tested in accordance with the characteristics of the Mesopotamian law traditions. Until new interpretation of documents of daily activities and legal activities, which can prove, that these texts are an authentic source, the interpretation of the collections and inscriptions on the legal issues of ancient Mesopotamians must be applied with caution and studied together with the greater corpus of cuneiform texts. / Old Testament and Ancient Near East Studies / M.A. (Ancient Near East Studies)

First appearing on potsherds around 3300 BC, the Indus script was primarily in use during the Mature Harappan period (ca. 2600-1900 BC) in the Indus Valley region, centred in the north-western region of the Indian Subcontinent. It is one of the last remaining undeciphered scripts of the ancient world. A great number of Indus inscriptions, however, have been uncovered at many archaeological sites in the Persian Gulf, discoveries that corroborate the inclusion of the Indus civilization as an active participant in the Mesopotamian-dominated Gulf trade of the 3rd millennium. In addition to exploring the current state of research surrounding the Indus decipherment attempts, the thesis will examine new perspectives on ancient history, arguing in favour of various possibilities of Mesopotamian, Elamite, and/or pre-dynastic Egyptian (North East African) cultural presences or influences in the ancient Indus River basin.