The Kramer Institute of Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
The Kramer Institute of Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies was founded at Bar-Ilan University in 1980 by Pinchas Artzi, Jacob Klein, Aharon Skaist and Amnon Altman.
The Institute operates under the aegis of the Department of Hebrew and Ancient Semitic Languages in the Faculty of Jewish Studies. Its present members are associated with various departments: Hebrew & Semitic Languages, Bible Studies, Land of Israel Studies & Archaeology and Jewish History, and are engaged in research on a wide range of topics pertaining to the ancient Near East.
The Institute is comprised of the Samuel Noah Kramer (z”l) Research Library (building 410, rooms 021-022), where Assyriology classes and lectures are held, and the Institute Office (building 410, room 211), where the Institute's cuneiform tablet collection is held
The primary aim of the Institute is to promote research activity in the area of Assyriology and ancient Near Eastern cultures and languages, with a particular focus on Sumerian, Akkadian, Ugaritic and Aramaic. Special emphasis is placed on exploring the interrelationships between the ancient Near Eastern societies, including ancient Israel.
Further objectives of the Institute include encouraging academic training and research activities of graduate students in Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, fostering scholarly cooperation between colleagues in Israel and abroad in these areas, and increasing interest in the study of Assyriology and the cultural heritage of the Levant among wider intellectual circles in Israel.
The Institute, in collaboration with Assyriology departments of other Israeli Universities, initiates activities of the Israel Society for Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies (ISAANES), such as the Annual Meeting, and the series of Zoom meetings known as AssyrioLab.
The Institute also sponsors a series of scholarly publications, called "Publications of the Bar-Ilan University Institute of Assyriology," which are part of the series "Bar-Ilan Studies in Near Eastern Languages and Culture".
Head: Prof. Noga Ayali-Darshan
Coordinator: Mrs. Shira Reches-Guberman
Department of Hebrew and Semitic Languages: 972-3-5318226
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