Students

AHIS345 – Ancient Near Eastern Documents

2014 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Stephen Llewelyn
Contact via stephen.llewelyn@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Boyo Ockinga
Contact via boyo.ockinga@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission of Executive Dean of Faculty
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Students can choose between an option in West Semitic languages or Egyptian religious texts (Session 1) or in Late Egyptian (Session 2) West Semitic languages: In the past decade literacy has become a key issue in the debate over state formation and the historical reliability of the biblical record. Documentary texts in West Semitic languages have been important pieces of evidence in the debate. This unit is an extension unit to AHIS259 for those interested in reading documentary texts in Hebrew, Moabite and Aramaic. This unit is of particular interest to students who wish to study in greater detail the history of Ancient Israel and Judah. Texts are translated from their original languages with a focus on palaeography, grammar and historical context. The convenor and contact person is Dr Stephen Llewelyn. Egyptian Religious Documents: Original sources in the hieroglyphic script dealing with Egyptian religion will be studied. Selections from the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead will be read as well as a number of hymns and prayers from the Middle and New Kingdoms. As well as considering their religious content, the grammar, genre and literary structure of the texts will also be analysed. The convenor and contact person is Associate Professor Boyo Ockinga.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Examination 40% July 8, 2014
Major essay 40% May 16, 2014
Participation and presentation 20% Continuous

Examination

Due: July 8, 2014
Weighting: 40%

Egyptology

The exam will be held in the first week of the recess. There will be two texts (one
seen and one unseen) to transliterate and translate, with comments on grammar and
historical / religious content. Students will be allowed to use an Egyptian grammar
and dictionary.

Ancient Near East

The exam will be held in the first week of the recess. There will be two texts (one
seen and one unseen) to translate, with questions on their grammar and
historical content. The examination will be open-book.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Major essay

Due: May 16, 2014
Weighting: 40%

Egyptology

Students will write an essay of ca. 3000 words on a given ancient Egyptian religious
text. The essay will require the transliteration and translation of the hieroglyphic
text, a commentary on given points of grammar and a commentary on the text's
theological content, literary structure and literary tradition.

Ancient Near East

Students will write an essay of ca. 3000 words on any topic drawn from the weekly schedule of readings. The essay will require a translation of the selected text, a commentary on given points of grammar and a commentary on (a) the text's literary structure and tradition/genre, and (b) its significance for modern historical investigation.



On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Participation and presentation

Due: Continuous
Weighting: 20%

Egyptology

Students will be required to prepare translations of the texts to be studied in class, to attend all classes, participate in the translation, analysis and interpretation of the texts and to read all required secondary literature,.

Ancient Near East

Students will be required to prepare translations of the texts to be studied in class, to attend all classes and to read all required, secondary literature. Students will also be assessed on a 30 minute presentation given on one of the topics in the unit schedule.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Delivery and Resources

 Egyptology and Ancient Near East

Classes will be held on campus, North Ryde, at the arranged time. The unit has an iLearn site and relevant texts and readings will be placed on it for students.

 

 

Unit Schedule

Egyptology

Each class will involve the transliteration, translation and discussion of an ancient Egyptian religious text. The following texts will be read:

Pyramid Texts Spell 264

Pyramid Texts Spell 270

Coffin Texts  Spell 1130

Book of the Dead Chapter 30

Louvre C 286 Stele of Amenmose with hymn to Osiris

Hymn to Aton from tomb of Ay

Berlin 20377 Stele of Nebre

Background readings from the secondary literature will also be set for the various texts

 

Ancient Near East

Week 1 - Introduction to archaic script

Week 2: Numbers 22 + abecedaries and writing

Week 3: Numbers 23 + Moabite stone  

Week 4: Numbers 24 + Kuntillet Ajrud

Week 5: Numbers 25 + Tel Dan inscription

Week 6: Balaam tradition elsewhere in Bible + Siloam inscription

Week 7: Deir 'Alla - the archaeology

Week 8: No class 

Week 9: Deir 'Alla - Combination I

Week 10 Deir 'Alla - Combination II

Weeks 11-13 - To be determined by class interests.

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

EXTENSIONS

Extensions for assignments can only be granted for medical reasons or on compassionate grounds. Without documentation (medical or counselling certificates) or prior staff approval, a penalty of 2% a day, including weekends, will be applied. If required, applications for extensions should be made before the assignment's due date.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments can be submitted in hard copy through the Arts Student Centre on Level 1, W6A, or electronically through the iLearn site.

COMPLETION OF UNIT

A student is required to achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily and to submit all pieces of written work

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Recognize and memorize advanced vocabulary of relevant language
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and recall grammatical structures of relevant language at advanced level
  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Evaluate and use textual and archaeological evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Examination
  • Major essay
  • Participation and presentation

Changes since First Published

Date Description
29/01/2014 The Description and Prerequisites were updated.
28/01/2014 The Description was updated.