In this episode of Digital Hammurabi, host Megan Lewis welcomes Dr. Amanda Podany, a renowned expert in ancient history, particularly focusing on Assyria and Mesopotamia during the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Together, they delve into the challenges of uncovering the lives of non-elite individuals in the ancient past, a topic Dr.  Podany explores in her acclaimed book, "Weavers, Scribes and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East." Dr.  Podany discusses how many historical sources have been predominantly created by or for the wealthy ruling classes, yet emphasizes that it is indeed possible to gain insights into the experiences of everyday people. Tune in for an engaging conversation that bridges scholarly insights with accessible discussions on ancient history.

Timestamps:

[00:02:28] Interest in ancient Near East.

[00:09:46] Ancient letters and personal lives.

[00:11:21] Scribes and the non-elite lives.

[00:15:51] Evidence of daily life.

[00:22:18] Average life trajectories in history.

[00:23:00] Family dynamics in Mesopotamian life.

[00:27:58] Careers beyond agriculture.

[00:30:51] Professions in ancient societies.

[00:35:13] Favorite character in research.

[00:38:20] Audience questions

In this episode of Digital Hammurabi, host Megan Lewis welcomes back writer and journalist Emily Wilson to discuss her latest book, "Gilgamesh," the second installment in her epic trilogy about the Sumerians. Emily shares insights into the continuation of the story, which follows the goddess Inanna, her attendant Ninshubur, and the hero Gilgamesh, while introducing new characters and voices. Megan and Emily also touch on the thematic elements of the series, including a brief discussion of the myth of Enlil and Ninlil, with a trigger warning regarding sensitive content. This episode provides fascinating insights into how Wilson approaches Mesopotamian mythology, particularly the complexities of weaving various myths into a cohesive narrative. Listeners are encouraged to catch up on the first book in the trilogy before the third installment is released in August 2025. Tune in for an engaging conversation about ancient history and storytelling!

In this episode of Digital Hammurabi, host Megan Lewis welcomes Dr. Mark Goodacre, a Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University, to discuss the Synoptic Gospels. Dr. Goodacre, who has an extensive academic background including degrees from the University of Oxford and several published works, shares insights into his upcoming university-level course on the Synoptic Gospels through Bart Ehrman's Biblical Studies Academy. Designed for non-academics, the course reflects Dr. Goodacre's teaching approach, which does not require prior knowledge in biblical studies. The conversation explores the significance of the Gospels, the historical Jesus, and the resources available for understanding Christian origins. Tune in to learn more about this fascinating topic and Dr. Goodacre's contributions to the field.

Affiliate link for The Mysteries of the Synoptics course: https://digitalhammurabi--ehrman.thrivecart.com/synoptic-gospels-course/ 
Affiliate link for the Biblical Studies Academy: https://digitalhammurabi--ehrman.thrivecart.com/biblical-studies-academy/ 
Dr. Goodacre's homepage: https://markgoodacre.org/ 

Join us in this exciting episode of Digital Hammurabi as host Megan Lewis sits down with Dr. Tate Paulette, an Associate Professor at North Carolina State University and an expert in Near Eastern Archaeology. Dr. Paulette shares insights from his upcoming book, In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia, set to be released on August 28th in the US and November 24th elsewhere. 

In this episode, we explore Dr. Paulette's journey into the world of ancient food and drink, the fascinating process of experimental brewing and its connection to ancient Mesopotamian practices, and the role of beer in social and political contexts in ancient societies. 

Whether you're a history buff, an archaeology enthusiast, or just curious about ancient food systems, this episode is packed with engaging discussions and intriguing insights. Don't miss out on this deep dive into the history of beer in one of the world's earliest civilizations! 

Book Release Date: August 28th (US) / November 24th (Elsewhere) 

Thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode! 

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free copy of the book for review purposes, however, all opinions shared are honestly held.

Dr. Eric Cline, Professor of Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, discusses his new book "After 1177 BCE: The Survival of Civilization" and the graphic novel adaptation with host, Megan Lewis. They delve into the collapse of major civilizations in the late Bronze Age and the intriguing sequel to his award-winning work. Dr. Cline shares insights on biblical archaeology and international connections during this pivotal historical period.

Dr. Tero Alstola, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, discusses his work on ancient Near Eastern cultures and the social history of Babylonia in the first millennium BCE. He talks about his research on ancient immigrants, network approaches to historical data sets, and the use of computer-aided study of the Akkadian language. The conversation delves into his involvement in the 69th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale and his interest in the ancient world, starting with ancient Egypt.

 Dr. Alstola's research: https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/tero-alstola Information on RAI: http://helsinki.fi/rencontre More information on migration and immigrants: The Ancient Near East Today has blog posts on migration: https://www.asor.org/anetoday How Bad Was the Babylonian Exile? https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/how-bad-was-the-babylonian-exile/ 

00:00:30 - Introduction to Dr. Teodoro Alstola
00:01:43 - Dr. Alstola's Background and Interest in Ancient Studies
00:03:22 - Dr. Alstola's Specialization and Research Focus
00:04:01 - Origins of Dr. Alstola's Interest in Migration
00:05:34 - Sources for Studying Ancient Migration
00:06:56 - Comparing Ancient and Modern Migration
00:09:19 - Legal Aspects of Ancient Migration
00:10:54 - Perceptions of Immigrants in the Ancient Near East
00:14:26 - Digital Humanities and Computer-Aided Research
00:22:19 - AI in Academic Research
00:24:31 - The 69th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale
00:30:47 - Assyrian Deportation Policy
00:33:28 - Artifacts Documenting Ancient Migration
00:35:04 - Cultural Assimilation of Migrants

In this episode of Digital Hammurabi, Dr. Daniel Schwemer, an expert in magic and witchcraft in the Ancient Near East, joins the host to discuss the recent excavation at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Boğazköy-Hattuša. The focus of the conversation is on a tablet written in a previously unknown language that was discovered during the excavation. Dr. Schwemer shares his journey into the study of the Ancient Near East and how he became involved in the excavations at Boğazköy-Hattuša. Tune in to learn more about this fascinating discovery and its implications for our understanding of the ancient world.

Timestamps:
[00:00:46] Previously unknown language
[00:07:01] Hittite Old Kingdom and Empire
[00:09:38] Ancient East and excavation process
[00:17:12] Identifying and reuniting fragments
[00:22:18] Administrative texts and society
[00:26:18] Political history and religious practice
[00:29:33] Understanding ancient tablet inscriptions
[00:34:05] Hittite adoption of foreign traditions
[00:39:01] Syncretization and types of deities
[00:44:48] Location of Kalashma

 Many people want to own a piece of the past, but eBay really the answer? Definitely not, and Dr. Erin Thompson, the nation's only full-time professor of art-crime, tells us why! 

With the Museum of the Bible rarely out of the news due to their stolen, smuggled, or faked artifacts, the antiquities market is getting more attention than ever. Dr. Patty Gerstenblith, research professor of law at DePaul University, founding president of the Lawyers Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation, and former chair of the President's Cultural Property Advisory Committee in the U.S. Department of State is not only an expert in this area of law, but consulted with the founders of the Museum of the Bible at the beginning of their venture. She very kindly agreed to join us to talk about the legalities of buying antiquities, and why the Museum of the Bible just keeps getting it wrong. 

Dr Gerstenblith on Twitter: @PGerstenblith
Further reading: https://displayatyourownrisk.org/gerstenblith/

The Museum of the Bible has a reputation for housing fakes and looted objects; most recently, the institution was in the news for their forged Dead Sea Scrolls, the arrest of their consultant, Dr. Dirk Obbink, and the revelation that the famous "Gilgamesh Dream Tablet" housed in the museum was removed from Iraq illegally. 

Dr. Joel Baden, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale Divinity School, joins Megan to talk about these many and varied events.

Recorded May 28th 2020