Ancient Near East Literature

Ancient Near East literature encompasses the written works from early civilizations like Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia, dating back to around 3000 BCE. These texts include epic poems, myths, religious hymns, laws, and wisdom writings that reveal insights into their culture, beliefs, and history. Notable examples are the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's earliest stories about heroism and mortality, and the Code of Hammurabi, one of the first legal codes. This literature provides valuable understanding of early human civilization, its spiritual beliefs, societal structure, and worldview.