Subject / Contents / Objectives Hundreds of thousands of clay tablets, including works like the Epic of Gilgamesh or songs of the earliest known authors of the world (23rd Century BC) have been created in ancient Mesopotamia between the Euphrates and Tigris between 3000 BC and the birth of Christ. The musings reflected in these tablets, on the subject of human existence, the ways of life and the world itself have had a marked influence on cultures such as those of Greece and Israel and even continue to challenge current thinking. Ancient Oriental Studies investigate these civilizations, in which cuneiform writing was invented around 3200 BC, and continued to be used until the 1st Century AD. It is the ancient oriental Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian traditions in particular which still impact the cultures of East and West and thus constitute an important, common bridge between them. Ongoing excavations provide a constant flow of new material. The subject in Göttingen, specialist areas and research foci This degree programme offered at Göttingen University focuses on humanistic, cultural anthropological aspects, mainly covering the areas of language, history, literature and religion; a research focus on mythology is also integrated into the curriculum. Anyone who has the requisite interest and skills can make an early contribution to this research or apply journalistic or artistic means to turn ancient oriental themes into fruitful and topical subjects. Degree programme structure The course of studies contains elements that contribute to the acquisition of linguistic and technical skills, i.e. language and reading courses as well as elements that impart specialised and methodological expertise. Both areas are covered in parallel and complement each other perfectly. Potential language requirements to be fulfilled within the degree programme The course of study includes an introduction to the Sumerian and Babylonian-Assyrian languages and their texts, as a result of which insights into the cultures are linked to the acquisition of language skills right from the beginning. Professional fields Journalism, publishing, libraries, tourism, museums, foundations, information technology, science management, science and various arts.

Hundreds of thousands of clay tablets originated in ancient Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates between 3000 BC and the birth of Christ. The reflections concerning mankind, its life and its world mirrored therein have radiated outwards to cultures such as those of Greece and Israel and even continue to challenge current thinking. Ancient Oriental Studies investigates these advanced civilisations and in particular those of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. This degree programme offered at Göttingen University focuses on philological and cultural anthropological aspects, mainly covering the areas of language, history, literature and religion.