Selena Wisnom, "The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Mar 13, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Selena Wisnom, an Assyriologist and lecturer at the University of Leicester, unearths the wonders of ancient Mesopotamian libraries. She reveals how the burning of Ashurbanipal's library preserved vital knowledge, showcasing a culture rich in mathematics, astronomy, and literature. Wisnom dives into Mesopotamian mythology, focusing on the complexities of goddess Ishtar, and contrasts ancient magic practices with modern interpretations. Finally, she highlights the human side of ancient scholars and the enduring legacy of Babylonian literature.
The library of Ashurbanipal not only preserved a vast array of knowledge, including advanced sciences, but also reflected the sophisticated cultural and intellectual aspirations of ancient Mesopotamia.
The interplay of medicine and magic in Mesopotamian society highlights a complex understanding of health, where physical treatments and spiritual beliefs were intricately linked.
Deep dives
The Significance of the Library in Ancient Mesopotamia
The library in ancient Mesopotamia, particularly in the city of Nineveh, served as a critical repository of knowledge that spanned over a millennium. This collection, gathered in the 7th century BC, included not only administrative documents but also intellectual works that encompassed magic, medicine, and astronomy. Scholars at the time sought to compile all available wisdom, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of different disciplines and a desire for comprehensive knowledge preservation. The library aimed to bridge various epochs of Mesopotamian history and intellectual traditions, acting as both an archive and a teaching resource for future scholars.
Discovery and Rediscovery of Cuneiform Tablets
The discovery of cuneiform tablets in the 19th century transformed our understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilization, as archaeologists unearthed vast collections that had been lost for millennia. British excavator Austin Henry Layard uncovered these tablets while exploring the palace of King Sennacherib, revealing the extensive nature of the library that once thrived there. Early scholars faced the significant challenge of deciphering cuneiform, a complex writing system that had long been forgotten, yet this effort led to a rich scholarly pursuit to unlock these ancient texts. The initial excitement of uncovering such a substantial cache of tablets set the stage for further explorations of Assyrian literature and culture.
The Role of Magic and Medicine in Mesopotamian Society
In ancient Mesopotamia, the practice of medicine was intricately linked to magical beliefs, with specialized practitioners addressing both physical ailments and spiritual causes. Physicians utilized herbs and physical treatments while exorcists employed rituals and prayers to alleviate ailments thought to originate from displeased deities. This dual approach highlighted a sophisticated understanding of health and illness, where the physical and mystical realms were seen as intertwined. The broad spectrum of medical knowledge encompassed in the library illustrates the advanced scholarly practices that defined Mesopotamian civilization.
Religious Beliefs and Cosmology in Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Mesopotamian religion was characterized by a complex pantheon of gods, each linked to natural and societal phenomena, influencing various aspects of daily life and governance. The mythology reflected a belief in the gods' direct involvement in human affairs, with rituals and divination practices employed to interpret divine messages. Astrological observations and omens served as critical tools for Assyrian kings, allowing them to make informed decisions about governance and military campaigns based on celestial influences. This deep-rooted connection between religion, power, and everyday life indicated the sophisticated worldview prevalent among the Mesopotamians.
When a team of Victorian archaeologists dug into a grassy hill in Iraq, they chanced upon one of the oldest and greatest stores of knowledge ever seen: the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, seventh century BCE ruler of a huge swathe of the ancient Middle East known as Mesopotamia. After his death, vengeful rivals burned Ashurbanipal’s library to the ground - yet the texts, carved on clay tablets, were baked and preserved by the heat. Buried for millennia, the tablets were written in cuneiform: the first written language in the world.
More than half of human history is written in cuneiform, but only a few hundred people on earth can read it. In The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History (U Chicago Press, 2025), Assyriologist Dr. Selena Wisnom takes us on an immersive tour of this extraordinary library, bringing ancient Mesopotamia and its people to life. Through it, we encounter a world of astonishing richness, complexity and sophistication. Mesopotamia, she shows, was home to advanced mathematics, astronomy and banking, law and literature. This was a culture absorbed and developed by the ancient Greeks, and whose myths were precursors to Bible stories - in short, a culture without which our lives today would be unrecognizable.
The Library of Ancient Wisdom unearths a civilization at once strange and strangely familiar: a land of capricious gods, exorcisms and professional lamenters, whose citizens wrote of jealous rivalries, profound friendships and petty grievances. Through these pages we come face to face with humanity’s first civilization: their startling achievements, their daily life, and their struggle to understand our place in the universe.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.