Best of the Spectator

The Book Club: Mesopotamia and the Making of History

Feb 26, 2025
Selena Wisnom, an Assyriologist and author of "The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History," dives into the enigmatic cuneiform culture. She shares insights on Ashurbanipal, the scholar-king, and his extraordinary library. Wisnom reveals the striking interplay of divine messages and human actions in Assyrian society, along with the harsh realities of ancient warfare. She explains the significance of lamentation as a cultural practice and debunks myths about Sumerian demons while exploring the evolution of ancient divine worship.
Ask episode
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes