The Biblical Book of Lamentations and the Sumerian Laments
The mourning for destroyed cities in the ancient near east
Keywords:
Laments; Communal mourning; Ancient Near East; Bible.Abstract
This article is a comparative study between the Sumerian laments and the Biblical book of Lamentations. In the first part, it will be placed the basis for this study, identifying the fundamental features of the literary genre of city lament. Next, it will be highlighted how the Sumerian lamentations were linked with the celebration of mourning in front of destroyed cities and temples, but with an opening for reconstruction and for a new reigning dynasty, taking as an example the Lamentation over Sumer and Ur. In the third part, the biblical book of Lamentations will be presented, also noting its connection with a celebration of communal mourning, but with no hope of reconstruction and a new ruling king.
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