Susa Funerary Texts

A re-examination of the Susa Funerary Texts (SFT), a group of seven late Old Babylonian Akkadian texts discovered in a grave at Susa, reveals that their unusual find spot may be linked to a magical function. The study provides improved readings and translations of these texts, long studied since their 1916 publication by Jean-Vincent Scheil. It also refutes the claim that these texts reflect Mesopotamian belief in psychostasia (the weighing of souls), demonstrating instead their affiliation with personal prayers and reports of oracular visions. The research employs philological analysis to challenge previous interpretations, offering new insights into the cultural and religious context of ancient Mesopotamia.

Wasserman, N. (2021). Susa Funerary Texts. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 139(4). https://doi.org/10.7817/jameroriesoci.139.4.0859