Talk:Hurrians

(( The following was copied from the Talk:Hurrian page. Jorge Stolfi 14:49, 15 Apr 2004 (UTC) ))

They spoke an agglutinative language unrelated to neighboring Semitic or Indo-European languages but showing some affinity with other Subarean languages & Kiengi-Sumerian. Quite authoritative, considering all one has to build on is a handful of Hurrian names found on inscriptions at Nuzi, some lists of sacrifices and what else? http://www.lib.washington.edu/NearEast/hurrlang.html Is this built on Emmanuel Laroche, Glossaire de la Langue Hourrite? Or I.M. Diakonoff and S.A. Starostin, Hurro-Urartian as an Eastern Caucasian Language 1986?
The Encyclopedia of World History has this to say of Hurrians:

'The Hurrians had lived in Mesopotamia in small numbers from the late 3rd millennium, but the major Hurrian invasion of the region began around 1700. By 1500, they had penetrated into all of Mesopotamia, as well as Syria-Palestine and eastern Anatolia. There are indications that they had been influenced by Aryans somewhere outside the Near East. The Hurrians worshipped gods later associated with the Iranians and Indians (such as Mithra and Varuna) (See Economy, Technology, Society, and Culture)—the names of some Hurrian rulers and certain technical expressions in Hurrian texts (particularly in connection with the chariot) are Indo-European. The Hurrians adopted Mesopotamian religion and culture, utilizing Babylonian as an administrative language and cuneiform script to write the Hurrian language. Despite the large number of surviving texts, the Hurrian language remains undeciphered.' Wetman 01:29, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Hi Wetman! The info above pertains to the "Hurrian" kingdom of Mitanni who were at first thought to have been identical with the Hurrians. The real question is where the conviction that there was a substantial Hurrian common population in Mittani came from (e.g. why do we assume Herodotus was talking about Hurrians?). I have not found this source yet and so I cannot criticize it as invalid. (But just because I do not know about the details of the connection it does not mean that it cannot exist). I will put your reference into the article but your conviction about "a handful" is misleading (though I suppose it depends upon which font size you mean :-P ). Zestauferov 02:21, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Hi Zestauferov! all I know is what I read. It's always risky to build over-arching linguistic connections about languages that haven't been deciphered. Hurrian and Mitanni, Hittite, Urartu etc. all do need good clear reports on the current status of mainstream professional opinion, with some links pointing to further information. The ancient Near East is a field in flux. Wikipedia needs to offer a core of dependable information, with an idea of how it has been arrived at. Then there could be a final section of broad-ranging hypotheses, also mentioning what they are based on. Wetman 02:41, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Well there is a large Hurrian-Hittite bilingual text K Bo XXXII which has been used to expand upon the ideas of Diakonoff and is the reason behind the Uralaltaic speculations by the likes of Neu. I am not very familiar with where this sort of up-to-date info might be available on the net but will do my best to find out.Zestauferov 02:50, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)

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This entry needs an introductory section that gives the current mainstream description of Hurrians. That could be followed by some of this imaginative speculation, if any of it can be attributed to a printed or on-line source. Trying to edit the existing text, which is the product of Zestauferov's enthusiasms is not feasible. Wetman 20:10, 6 Feb 2004 (UTC)

For anyone who does not know already, Wetman's insecurity does not allow him to believe in editing anything I have contributed but is on a campaign to have anything contanimated by me re-written entirely. Zestauferov 02:20, 7 Feb 2004 (UTC)

(Pooh! perfect nonsense.) Wetman 10:46, 17 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Oh then in that case please list the articles I have made any major contributions to which you think do not need re-writing?Zestauferov 12:38, 17 Feb 2004 (UTC) _____

Hesiod's theogony seems to owe significant episodes to Hurrian paragons. Say this in the mirror three times with jelly beans in your mouth. This is self-important owlish jargon. Can some information be transmitted here, or should we drop this sentence? Wetman 10:46, 17 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Now I've seen everything. I think I am getting a clear picture of the kind of person you are now, forgive me please but if I'm right I can't believe someone like you has the gall to approach criticizing any of my contributions. The contributer means the genealogies of the gods given by Hesiod seems to have significant parralels in Hurrian mythology. Zestauferov 12:38, 17 Feb 2004 (UTC)

"Significant"— but not identifiable apparently. Hesiod's Theogony we know. But what's this Hurrian version? There is no Hurrian literature or surviving mythology. Some names of gods, are there?... and what is this "Tikunani Prism" so authoritatively being referred to here? A misprint? A paperweight? Google reveals no genuine usages. Wetman 02:10, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC)

(( End of contents from old Talk:Hurrian page. Jorge Stolfi 14:49, 15 Apr 2004 (UTC) ))

Jorge please edit back in the Tikunani reference when you have time. Thanks Zestauferov 04:47, 18 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Jeorge, why don't you want to mention the Alarodian languages? Zestauferov 03:11, 19 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Levzur what are Khurits?Zestauferov 01:49, 22 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Avestan

did Hurrians actually use the Avestan script - most of the edits by the anonymous user who put this in have been vandalism but I don't know enough about this subject to revert. User:Trödel/sig 16:46, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)