Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:140 (Oct 1878)
Article: On Assyriology, —A Criticism
Author: Anonymous

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 696

On Assyriology, —A Criticism

[with editorial note and reply.]

In the Bibliotheca Sacra for July 1877 there appears an Article “On Assyriology,” which is translated from the German of Professor de Lagarde, and published in this country at his own suggestion. The author, we are told, is “one of the leading Semitic scholars of the world, one whose knowledge of Syriac especially, and whose work in applying to the Semitic family of languages the same principles as Grimm and others have successfully followed in Indo-European comparative philology, has already given rich promise and rich fruit.” With such ample qualifications for Assyrian studies, it is to be regretted that we have not his active co-operation, instead of his discouragement, in constructing the foundations of cuneiform science; but the tendency of the Article referred to, if not also its intent, is to discredit the results of cuneiform research, and to create doubts respecting their reliability. Already in Germany, as it appears, these attempts to discredit Assyriology are receiving the notice of Dr. E. Schrader; and we can safely trust the defence to his hands, so far as Germany is concerned. But why should Professor de Lagarde seek to forestall public opinion in America, where cuneiform studies have so few defenders, and need most of all encouragement, instead of detraction? Whatever might be the reply to such an inquiry, there are certain points in the “review” to which allusion is made that merit a particular notice; and it is proposed to submit a few remarks upon them.

1st. Upon the necessary qualifications for a successful study of the cuneiform texts. This is not the first time it ha^ been claimed, or at least strongly implied, that a thorough ac-

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 697

quaintance with the entire circle of Semitic congues is indispensable to success in the treatment of these texts, doubt being thus thrown by implication upon the results of those investigators who have not such knowledge. The simple facts in relation to this point may be briefly stated. For the ordinary study of the inscriptions, with a view to obtain the essential facts, or to translate correctly the great mass of texts, such extensive preparations are not required, although they would afford the student some advantage, and would be, of course, quite convenient. But for the higher purposes of linguistic criticism, and for dealing with many difficult passages, the qualifications before stated would be necessary. It would be very much the same with Hebrew, Syriac, or Arabic texts, with the exception that the Assyrian has not been so thoroughly studied, and thus the difficulties would oftener occur. I might illustrate here by the legend of the “Descent of Ishtar into Hades.” This was at f...