In this paper I discuss the motif of the "righteous sufferer" in ancient Mesopotamia. I take the four literary compositions directly related to this theme, namely the Sumerian A Man and His God, the Akkadian Old- and Middle-Babylonian "righteous...
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In this paper I discuss the motif of the "righteous sufferer" in ancient Mesopotamia. I take the four literary compositions directly related to this theme, namely the Sumerian A Man and His God, the Akkadian Old- and Middle-Babylonian "righteous sufferer", and the First Millennium Ludlul bēl nēmeqi as a starting point. For each one of the compositions, I analyse the general structure and thematic focus, and bring them into relation with the other texts of the group so as to identify common patterns and distinctive innovations. The way the "righteous sufferer" motif is used reflects changes in the society and religion over time. In the specific, I discuss the figure of the sufferer, the holistic perception of sufferance, and the shift in the cause of the sufferer's distress from the desertion of the personal god to the wrath of Marduk. I deal with specific topics as well such as the role of female member of the family and the motif of the "righteous sufferer" in letters. In the conclusion, I wrap up the relationship between the four compositions and advance further considerations on the diffusion of the "righteous sufferer" literary motif in the Ancient Near East. (English)
