In creating Inanna’s Bargain, I wondered if the folklore stories that inspired the Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend of Sargon might have originated during Sargon’s own lifetime. Here’s a short excerpt from Chapter 12. “There are many interesting stories circulating about the king,” Etti commented. “One story claims that the king’s mother was a priestess who offered…
The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend of Sargon of Akkad, known since the mid-19th century, was loosely interpreted for popular audiences in an early serial publication, The Story of the Greatest Nations (1913). The authors elaborated on the famous legend with a rather fanciful description of Sargon’s encounter with the goddess: “A legend grew around him, telling…
Sargon of Akkad was a great Mesopotamian king and conqueror, reigning c. 2334-2279 BCE. Though his origins and early life remain obscure, he has long been associated with gardening. The Sumerian King List, dating from the Ur III period (c. 2100 BCE), described Sargon’s father as a gardener or, more precisely, a ‘date grower.’ This…
The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend expanded on the literature about Sargon of Akkad’s humble origins, drawing from biographical traditions as well as folklore themes including the infant exposure motif. In this ‘pseudo-autobiographical’ text, likely composed during the reign of Sargon II (722-706 BCE), Sargon described his early life as foundling raised by a gardener, who became…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Claire Sulos is an art historian who has worked in the museum profession for many years. A dedicated writer, she has published both creative work and scholarship under various names. She enjoys fine art, gardens, and great fantasy fiction.
© 2020, 2021 Claire Sulos
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
CLAIRE SULOS