Šumma ālu explained

Šumma ālu ina mēlê šakin is the title for a series of a collected number of cuneiform texts of ancient Mesopotamia amounting to one hundred and twenty clay tablets.^[1]

The title translates as If a City is Situated on a Height, and it lists over ten thousand omens.^[1]

Many of the omens listed in this group begin with the words "Šumma ina āli ma'du (kind of people)," as in, "if there are too many kinds of people," and the omens in this group then proceed with a description of misfortune or negative occurrence.^[2]

Similarities are recognised within the nature of the series and in other types of works that are concerned with hemerology and menology.^[3]

Homosexuality omens

The text contains some omens related to homosexuality.Out of the 38 omens,five of them are related to homosexuality and two of them are positive omens.^[4] One of the positive omens states, "If a man copulates with his equal from the rear, he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers".^{[5] [6]}

External links

• http://ccp.yale.edu/omen-series-summa-alu
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/23503257?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
• http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=1490125001&objectid=279109
• http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/2147.html

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Nils P. Heeßel . The Encyclopedia of Ancient History . John Wiley & Sons . 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah21308 . 1999–2015 . 9781444338386 . Šumma ālu.
2. Jonathan Stökl - Prophecy in the Ancient Near East: A Philological and Sociological Comparison BRILL, 18 Apr 2012, 297 pages, Volume 56 of Culture and History of the Ancient Near East [Retrieved 2015-06-10]
3. Erlend Gehlken (editor) - Weather Omens of Enūma Anu Enlil: Thunderstorms, Wind and Rain (Tablets 44–49) (p.5) BRILL, 3 Aug 2012, 338 pages, Volume 43 of Cuneiform Monographs [Retrieved 2015-06-10]
4. Book: Gagnon, Robert A. J.. The Bible and Homosexual Practice. 2001. Abingdon Press. 978-0-687-02279-3 .
5. Book: Greenberg, David F.. The Construction of Homosexuality. August 15, 1990. University of Chicago Press. 9780226306285. Google Books.
6. Web site: Homosexuality in the Ancient Near East, beyond Egypt by Bruce Gerig in the Ancient Near East, beyond Egypt. epistle.us.