Article

Kettledrums in ancient Mesopotamia: Three lexicographical studies and the edition of a new Seleucid ritual text about the lilissu

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Abstract

This paper is organized as a group of four brief studies of the Mesopotamian lilissu-kettledrum. The first three discuss little-explored expressions about its accessories or physical aspect: lit lilissi ('stool of the lilissu'), (( u r u d u ) )s en- h u r- s a g- g a 2 (a Sumerian translation of lilissu), and Ab-gal-gungunu (A b 2- gal- gun 3- gun 3- n u 'Large, Multicolored Cow'), the proper name of a lilissu. The fourth note is an edition of BM 32979, a previously unpublished Seleucid cuneiform fragment that describes a procession involving a lilissu passing by some gates of the Esagil temple in Babylon.

How to Cite:

Sánchez Munoz, D., (2023) “Kettledrums in ancient Mesopotamia: Three lexicographical studies and the edition of a new Seleucid ritual text about the lilissu”, Akkadica 144(2), 151–169. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/akkadica.99692

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