Sons and descendants : a social history of kin groups and family names in the early neo-Babylonian period, 747-626 BC / / by John P. Nielsen.

• Superior document: Culture and history of the ancient Near East, v. 43
• Author: Nielsen, John P. 1973-
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Language: English
• Series: Culture and history of the ancient Near East ; v. 43.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (356 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Sons and Descendants represents the first comprehensive study of Babylonian family names. Drawing primarily on evidence from legal documents from the early Neo-Babylonian period (747-626 B.C.), the book examines the presence of large, named kin groups at the major Babylonia cities, considering their origins and the important roles their members played as local elites in city governance and temple administration. The period of Neo-Assyrian ascendance over Babylonia marks the first for which there is adequate textual material to allow for a study of these groups, but their continued presence and prominence in Babylonia under the native Neo-Babylonian dynasty and the Persian Empire means that this work is an important contribution to Assyriological understanding of Neo-Babylonian society.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter One. Sons, Descendants, And Family Names: Problems, Sources, And Approaches / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter Two. Kin Groups In Northern Babylonia: Babylon, Borsippa, And Dilbat / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter Three. Kin Groups In Northern Babylonia: Sippar, Kish, Der, And Cutha / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter Four. Kin Groups In Central Babylonia: Nippur And Marad / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter Five. Kin Groups In Southern Babylonia: Uruk And Ur / J. P. Nielsen -- Chapter Six. Conclusions: Toward An Understanding Of Kin Groups And Family Names In Early Neo-Babylonian Society / J. P. Nielsen -- Bibliography / J. P. Nielsen -- General Index / J. P. Nielsen -- Personal Names / J. P. Nielsen -- Family Names And Possible Family Names / J. P. Nielsen.