Full Description
Unearthed is a rich collection of poems from history that were unearthed through archaeology, accompanied by compelling stories of how they survived.
The poems in this book nearly didn't get into print - every one of them was lost to history at some point in time. But, due to the efforts of archaeologists and historical researchers, they were all rediscovered. Spanning 35 centuries from the very earliest times to the advent of the printing press, this beautiful anthology presents 70 poems, ranging from lengthy epics to mere fragments and snippets, that have survived against the odds and live to speak to us today.
You'll meet a Sumerian priestess writing about war in 2200 BCE (possibly the earliest poem in existence), a grief-stricken Greek girl remembering her childhood friend, an Arab princess from 12th-century Spain embroidering verses on her robes, a lonely Irish monk addressing his cat, and a Byzantine court official complaining about mice. The poems encompass passionate love lyrics, laments for vanished youth, elegies for deceased friends and lovers, epics about death and destruction, and odes to fresh fruit and vegetables.
Alongside the poems are fascinating stories of how they were rediscovered: written on scraps of papyrus found in rubbish heaps, on sherds of pottery, inscribed on 60-foot statues or 1-inch finger rings, poems on fragments of paper used to wrap mummies or repair Bibles. Arranged chronologically throughout the centuries, this book is a captivating exploration of how words endure.
Contents
Textual Apparatus
Preface
Introduction
On Translation
Timeline
Map
1 Three Rivers (2300-800 BCE)
The Priestess
Love Song for Shu-Sin
Close Encounters
Sweet Perfume
The Gods Are Sleeping
A Heavy Heart
Song of Release
The Red Fish
He Who Saw the Deep
The Secret Canal
The Fig Tree's Song
Enuma Elish
2 Hellas (800-200 BCE)
Singing with Partridges
The Woman from Mytilene
The Good Life
Texts from the Tomb
Cucumbers in Summer
Euthylla's Tears
Diamonds
The Thief Desire
The Great Mother
The Mummy's Secret
3 Empire (200 BCE-400 CE)
The Dream of Ilia
Under the Volcano
Anacreontic Society
The Being of Things
The Poet and the Barrel
Cancel Culture
Love at Last
The Jealous Wall
Tourists, eh!
The Singing Statue
The Song of Seikilos
Love, Love Me Do
The Thunder
The Rites of Spring
Prophets
4 Change (400-800)
Going Home
The Bard of the White Knees
The Poet and the Vandals
Shadows of Youth
The Keepers of Silence
Bewitched
The Battlefield of Books
Dinogad's Smock
Lord of the Rings
On Tauba's Death
The Cowherd's Song
A Rood Tale
A German Story
The Works of Giants
5 New Dominions (800-1100)
The Beacon of Europe
Pangur the White
The Qayna of Baghdad
The Caliph's Daughter
Wolf
Last Stand
Apparition
Let's Get It On!
Stargazing
Courtly Love
Mice
For the Birds (and the Bees)
Homesick
6 Fin' amors (1100-1300)
The Vagabond
The Two-Blood Prince
Trobairitz
Goliard
The Word-Smith
Long Nights
The Mystic of Antwerp
The Sea, the Sea
The Sicilian Project
The Exile
Early Bird
Sweet New Style
Notes
Glossary
List of poets/first lines
Sources/translations
Bibliography
Index
