Veysel Donbaz - Sumerologist

Veysel Donbaz was born in Denizli, Turkey, on 12 December 1939, the fifth child of a merchant. After completing his primary and the secondary education, Veysel Donbaz entered the University of Ankara to pursue studies in the faculty of Languages, History, and Geography in the Department Of Sumerology (1958-1962). Being the only student in the class, he was under the supervision of several professors: Prof. Dr. Kemal Balkan, Prof. Dr. Emin Bilgin, Prof. Dr. Mebrure Tosun, and Prof. Dr. Kadriye Yalva in the major subject of Assyriology (Sumerian and Akkadian languages) and Prof. Drs. Tahsin and Nimet, Professors of Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology. Prof. Dr. Sedat Alp was his teacher in Hittitology, which was among his minor subjects.

The place of his labours

After completing his studies at the University of Ankara in June 1962, he was appointed in July of the same year to the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. He has continued work there ever since.

Between the years 1962 to 1968, he was the assistant for the Cuneiform Tablet Archives of Istanbul. He became the curator of the department in 1972, and he was promoted to Chief Specialist and Curator in 1978. He currently holds this position.

The archives

The Cuneiform Tablet Archives of Istanbul consists of eighteen separate collections in three language groups: cuneiform Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hittite. It is the second largest collection in the world, the British Museum being the first. The collection is a website for colleagues from all over the world who have studied in Istanbul on various topics (literature, economics, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, the royal correspondence of dignitaries and celebrities, instructional writings, annuals, poetry, and other subjects).

Articles and published works

Veysel Donbaz'in Yayinlari

(Sumerolog, Istanbul Arkeoloji Museleri, Civiyazli Belgeler Arsivi Sefi)

Yayinlanis Ktaplar

• V. Donbaz, Ninurta-Tukulti-Assur Zamanna ait Orta Assur dari Belgeleri (Turke-Ingilizce (English), TTKY VI-Say 19,1976).
• V. Donbaz - B. Foster-M. Eren, Sargonic Texts from Telloh in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Occasional Publications of Babylonian Fund, 5, American Research Institute in Turkey Monographs, 2- The University Museum, Philadelphia,1982).
• V. Donbaz - A.Kirk Grayson, Royal Inscriptions of Clay Cones from Ashur, now in Istanbul (The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Supplements Volume 1, University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Buffalo, London, 1984).
• V. Donbaz - N. Yoffee, Old Babyonian Texts from Kish, Conserved in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Bibliotheca Mesopotamica, Volume Seventeen, Undena Publications, Malibu, 1986).
• V. Donbaz, Keilshrifttexte in den Atiken Museen zu Stambul II (altorientalische Studien, Beiheft 2, Stuttgart, 1989).
• V. Donbaz, Archaeology through Cartoons, (zel basim 1971).
• V. Donbaz (Metin) - Semsi Guner (fotograf) Kral Yollar (Dunya Basimevi, 1994).
• V. Donbaz - M.W. Stolper, Istanbul Murasu Texts (Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut TE Istanbul 1997).
• Liane Jakob-Rost, Karen Radner, Veysel Donbaz, Neauassyrisch Rechtsurkunden II, Saarbrcker Druckerei und Verlag. Saarbrcken (2000). Im Auftragt der Deutschen Orien-Gesellschaft und des Vorderasiatischen Museums der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin Preussicher Kulturbesitts. Herausgegeben von Helmut Freydank.
• Veysel Donbaz and Simo Parpola, Neo-Assyrian Legal Texts in Istanbul. Studien zu den assur-Texten (StAT Band 2) herausgegeben von der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft in Zuzammen arbeit mit dem Vorderasiatischen Museum Berlin und den stanbul Arkeoloji Mzeleri. Editrler: K. Deller, V. Donbaz, F.M. Fales, H. Freydank ve St. M. Maul. (2001) in Kommission bei SDV (Saarbrcker Druckerei und Verlag).

Yayinlamis Makaleler

• V. Donbaz, “Orta Asur Devrinde yazilim kadin dokumacilara ait bir Liste/ A List of Female Weavers,written in the Middle Assyrian Period” (Istanbul Arkeoloji Mseleri Yll IAMY 15-16, 1969, 221-229).
• V. Donbaz - “The Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta” (Journal of Cuneiform Studies JCS 24, No: 1-2, 1971, 24-28).
• V. Donbaz - J. A. Brinkman, “A Cylinder Fragment of Adad-apl-iddina” (JCS 26, No: 3, 1974, 157).
• V. Donbaz - “Four Old Assyrian Tablets from the City of Aur” (JCS 26, No: 2, 1974, 81-87).
• V. Donbaz - V. Donbaz – J. A. Brinkman, “Notes Breves” (revue d’ Assyriologie RA 66, 1972).
• V. Donbaz - J. A. Brinkman, “Nuzi Type Tidennutu- Tablet Involving real estate” (Oriens Antiqvs OA 16, 1974, 99-104).
• V. Donbaz - E. Horasanl, “Bursa Arkeoloji Msesinde Bulunan KltepeTabletleri” (Belleten 41-Say 158, 1976, 176-183).
• V. Donbaz - “Another Old Assyrian Tablet from the City of Aur” (Florilegium Anatolocum, 1979, 103-106).
• V. Donbaz - W.W. Hallo, “Monumental Texts from Pre-Sargonic Lagash” (AO 15, 1976, 2-9).
• V. Donbaz - “Notes on an Assyrian ‘Shadow King’” (JCS 30, No: 4, 1980, 211-228).
• V. Donbaz - F. Joannés, “Nouvelles Lectures de Textes Cappadociennes” (Memorial Atatürk, 1982, 27-41).
• V. Donbaz - M. Kalaç, “Two Tablets from Nuzi Housed in Istanbul” (Zeitschrift fr Assyriologie ZA 71, 1981, 205-210).
• V. Donbaz - “A Middle Babylonian Legal Document Raising Problems in Kassite Chronology” (Journal of Near Eastern Studies JNES 41, 1982, 207-212).
• V. Donbaz - “New Evidence on the Reading of the Old Assyrian Month Name Kanwarta” (Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux JEOL 28, 1983-1984, 2-9).
• V. Donbaz - K.R. Veenhof, “New Evidence for Some Old Assyrian Terms” (Anatolica 12, 1985, 131-155).
• V. Donbaz - G. Frame, “The Building Activities of Shalmaneser I in Northern Mesoptamia” (Annual Review of the Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Project ARRIM 1, 1983, 1, 5).
• V. Donbaz - “A Kultepe Text from the Museum at Adana” (Archiv fr Orientforschung AfO 31, 1984, 15-24).
• V. Donbaz - D. Frayne, “Hammurabi and the Wall of Cloister” (ARRIM 2, 1984, 27-30).
• V. Donbaz - H. Galter, “Zwei Inschriften Sanheribs im Istanbuler Museum” (ARRIM 3, 1985, 3-8).
• V. Donbaz - J.A. Brinkman, “Two Middle Assyrian Texts from Assur” (ZA 75, 1985, 78-86).
• V. Donbaz - “Publication of the Kultepe Tablets Housed in Ankara” (Keilschriftliche Literaturen 1985, 149-153).
• V. Donbaz - “Two Documents from the Diverse Collections in Istanbul” (In Honour of Ernest R. Lecheman on His Seventy fifth Birthday, 1986, 69-75).
• V. Donbaz - “More Old Assyrian Tablets from Aur” (Akkadica 42, 1985, 1-23).
• V. Donbaz - K. Deller, “Sanheribs Zababa-Temple in Aur” (Baghdader Mitteilungen BM Band 18, 1987, 221-228).
• V. Donbaz - “Deux Nouvellas Inscriptions de Nabonide Roi de Babylone” Anatolia Antiqua (Eski Anadolu 1987, 15-21).
• V. Donbaz - H. Hirsch, “Interpretationsversuche I KTS 4b” (AfO 32, 82-88).
• V. Donbaz - “Some Neo-Assyrian Contracts from Girnavaz and Vicinity” (State Archives of Assyrian Bulletin, SAAB 2/1, 1988, 2-30).
• V. Donbaz - “Complementary Data on Some Assyrian Terms” (JCS 40 No. 1, 1988, 69-80).
• V. Donbaz, “The Business of Ad, an Anatolian Merchant” (AfO 35, 1988, 48-63).
• V. Donbaz - “B.Kienast’n Das altassyrische Kaufvertraftsrecht 1984 baskl kitabnn tenkidi” (AfO 35, 1988, 190-191).
• V. Donbaz - “Old Assyrian Terms for Bread (akalu, kirrum)” (A. Sjberg Festschrift/dumu.é.dub.ba.a, 1989, 91-97).
• V. Donbaz - “Some Remarkable Contracts of I-B Period Kultepe Texts I” (T. z-g’e Armaan-Anatolia and the Ancient Near East, Studies of Tahsin zgç, Ankara 1989, 76-102).
• V. Donbaz, “Fragments of the Annals of Tiglath-pileser I” (ARRIM 8, 1990, 2-3).
• V. Donbaz - “Two Neo-Assyrian Stelae in the Antakya and Kahramanmaras Museums” (ARRIM 8, 1990, 4-24).
• V. Donbaz - “The Date of the Eponym Nabû-bla-usur” (Mélanges Paul Garelli, 1992, 1-6).
• V. Donbaz - “A Small Archive of Innya -an Assyrian Merchant” (RA 85, 1991, 101-107).
• V. Donbaz - “I-B Tabletlerine Genel Bak” (X. Trk Tarih Kurumu Kongresi TTKK cilt II, 1990, 433-451).
• V. Donbaz - “A Brick Inscription of Nabonidus from Harran” (ARRIM 9, 1991, 11-12).
• V. Donbaz - H. Sauren, “Ni.2553+2565, A Missing Link of the Hammurabi Law Code” (Orientalia Lovaniensa Periodica 22, 1991, 5-28).
• V. Donbaz - A. Harrak, “The Middle Assyrian Eponym of Kidin-Aur” (JCS 41/2, 1989, 217-225).
• V. Donbaz - “The ‘House of Kings’ in the city of Aur” (Sedat Alp’a Armaan/Festschrift fr Sedat Alp – Hittite and Other Anatolian and Near Eastern Studies in Honour of Sedat Alp, Ankara, 1992, 119-125).
• V. Donbaz - “Some Remarkable Contracts of I-B Period Kltepe Tablets II” (Nimet zg’e Armaan, Aspects of Art and Iconography: Anatolia and its Neighbours, Studies in Honor of Nimet zgç, Ankara, 1993, 132-154, Plts. 26-29.
• V. Donbaz - “Some Observations on the Treaty Documents of Qadesh” (Istanbuler Mitteilungen Band 43, 1993, 27-37, Tafeln 3-5).
• V. Donbaz - “New Attestation of Artexerxes I 39th Regnal Year” (Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitairs N.A.B.U. 1987, 2).
• V. Donbaz - “kum, a designation of gold and amtum (KÙ. AN)” (N.A.B.U. 1988-4).
• V. Donbaz - “An unusual Chagar-Bazar Tablet Excavated at Aur” (N.A.B.U. 1989-3).
• V. Donbaz - A. Harrak, “The Question of the Maras-Texts dated at Susa” (N.A.B.U. 1989/4-86).
• V. Donbaz - “One Muras Document from Lagash” (N.A.B.U. 1989/4-87).
• V. Donbaz - “New Evidence for the Expression mr’a attun” (N.A.B.U. 1991/1-10)
• V. Donbaz - “One Old Assyrian Inventory List” (N.A.B.U. 1990/4-130).
• V. Donbaz - “Old Assyrian idnum” (N.A.B.U. 1992/1-9).
• V. Donbaz - “A Note on Self-sale Contract” (N.A.B.U. 1992/3-93).
• V. Donbaz - “Writing of SUEN in OA” (N.A.B.U. 1993/1-5).
• V. Donbaz - “About the reading PN Il-lum” (N.A.B.U. 1993/1-6).
• V. Donbaz - Matthew W. Stolper, “Gleanings from Murasû-Texts in the Collections of the stanbul Archaeological Museums” (N.A.B.U. 1993/4-102).
• V. Donbaz - “Chez les marchands assyriens d’anatolie” (Les hittites: Civilisation indo-européenne à fleur de roche, Dijon, Editions Faton, 1994, 20-25).
• V. Donbaz - “Anadolu’nun en eski ulam a: Kral Yollar” (ATLAS 18, 20-34).
• Ankara Kltepe Tabletleri/Ankaraner Kltepe Tafeln (review) TTK VI. Dizi-Sa. 33, 1990 (Anadolu Aratrmalar XIII, 1994).
• Review of I Trattati Nel Mondo Antico, Forma, deologia, Funzione (Instituto Gramsci, Seminario di Antihistica 1990)-Archivum Anatolicum/Anadolu Arivleri say 1, 1995, 175-180).
• Old Assyrian Texts in Anatolia: The Archaeology of Anatolia, an Encyclopedia. (Currently published, North Carolina).
• Old Assyrian Influence on the Hittite Onomasticon and Toponyms (Anadolu Aratir-malari XIV, Edebiyat Fakltesi Basmevi stanbul-1996, 229-241).
• Kltepe Tabletleri Inda ..2000-1760 Yllarnda Anadolu’nun Sosyal Yaps (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Mzesi Konferanslar 1995, 177-196).
• Veysel Donbaz – Matthew M. Stolper, Gleanings from Murasû Texts in the Collections of the stanbul Archaeological Museums (NABU 1993/4-102).
• Veysel Donbaz, Sleyman zkan, demi Arkeoloji Mzesinde Bulunan ki Yazitl naat Tulas ve bir kabartma paras/Two Inscribed Bricks and a Relief Fragment at demi Archaeological Museum (Belleten C,LVIII, 1994, Say 223, TTK 1995, 553-563 with three plates).
• Niau (nû/nûm/nitu,nua’u/nuwau in OA (NABU 1995/4-113).
• The NA Eponym sarru-mtu-uballit (NABU 1995/4-114).
• A Median (?) Votive Inscription on a Silver Vessel (NABU 1996/2-43).
• Johannes Koch – Veysel Donbaz, Ein Astrolab der Dritten Generation: Nv 10 (JCS 47, 1995, 63-84).
• An Inscribed Dagger Blade from Lagash (NABU 1997/2-52).
• Remainder, to the Author of “An Old Assyrian Marriage Contract” ([?] NABU 1997/3-106). [The terms “remainder” and “ANABU” and the plural “Contracts” were possibly errors in the original list entry.]
• A Late Babylonian Text from Assur (NABU 1998/1-9).
• Once again Fi.16 (+Samaria 1825) (NABU 1998/1-22).
• One Old Babylonian Text in the Vicinity of Nusaybin (NABU 1999/3-58).
• One Neo-Assyrian Text from Kasane Hyk (NABU 1999/4-84).
• Obituary: Dr. Galip çargan (1941-1990) (Anadolu Aratrmlar XIII-stanbul, 1994, 265).
• Veysel Donbaz – Hannes D. Galter, Assurnasirpal II und die Subnatquelle (MDOG 129, Berlin 1997, 173-186).
• Eski Anadolu Koloni çanda Anadolu Ticaret Hayat/Business Life in Anatolia during the Early Anatolian Trade Colony Period (PALMET 1997, 57-88).
• Bbu-aha-iddina’s Archive in Istanbul (Archivum Anatolicum 3, Ankara, 1997, 101-109).
• Mezopotamya’daki Hastalk Belirtileri (History of Medicine Studies No.6 1997, 97-100).
• Inscribed Spear Heads and Some Tablets at the Gaziantepe Archaeological Museum (Altorientalische Forschungen 25/1998-1, 173-185).
• Veysel Donbaz-Gernot Wilhelm, Eine Stele des urartäischen Knig Minua fr die Gotheit Sebitu (Studies on the Civilization and Culture of Nuzi and the Hurrians 8, 1996, 269-272).
• Assur Collection Housed in Istanbul: General Outlines (Acts of the IIIrd International Congress of Hittitology, Ankara 1998, 177-188).
• Tablets from the Palace of Warsuma (XXXIV, Uluslararas Assiriyoloji Kongresi/XXXIVeme Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, TTK 1999, 413-419).
• Mezopotamya ve Anadolu’da Eski Tp (III. Trk Tp Kongresi, stanbul 20-23 Eyll 1993, TTK 1999, 319-336).
• Review of: Ankara Kltepe Tabletleri II, VI, Dizi-Sa.33.(TTK 1995 Anadolu Aratrmalar XV, Edebiyat Fakltesi Basmevi, stanbul 1999, 475-482).
• One 1-B Kltepe Text Concerning Onions (Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient Band 18. “Landwirtschaft im Alten Orient” (Dietrich Reime Verlag, Berlin, 1999, 150-153).
• Some Selected Neo-Assyrian Texts from stanbul and Elsewhere (State Archives of Assyria Bulletin Volume XII, Issue 2, 1998, 64-88).
• Mahar patrim sa Assur, A New Interpretation (Publications de l’Institut historique-archéologique néerlandis de Stamboul (PIHANS Festschrift fr Prof. Dr. K.R. Veenhof).
• V. Donbaz, “A Middle Assyrian Private Letter”, Studi Sul Vicino Oriente Antico, dedicati alla memoria di Luigi Cagni-Istituto Universitario Orientale Dipartimento di Studi Astiatici. Series Minor LVI (Napoli, 2000), 237-241.
• J.G. Dercksen-V. Donbaz, “Merchants in Distress-An Old Assyrian Text Mentioning habbtu”, Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux. JEOL No.35-36 (1997- 2000), 103-110.
• V. Donbaz, “Some recently Discovered krum 1-b Tablets and Related Observations”, Akten des IV Internationalen Kongresses fr Hethitologie- StBoT 45, Harrasowitz Verlag (2001), 106-114.
• V. Donbaz, “Ninive Koleksiyonunda Bulunan Astronomi ile lgili Tablet”, stanbul Arkeoloji Mzeleri Yll IAMY 17 (2001), 251-269.
• V. Donbaz, “Some Late Babylonian Text Gleaned from the Assur Collection”, Historiography in the Cuneiform World-Proceedings of the XLVe Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale (eds.) Tzvi Abusch, Paul-Alain Beaulieu, John Hueh Nergard, Peter Machinist, Piotr Steinkeller. CDL Press, Bethesda, Maryland (2001), 163-179.
• V. Donbaz, “Yazl Belgeler Inda Mezoptamya ve Anadolu’da Tp / Medicine in Mesopotamia and Anatolia in Light of Written Documents”, 38. Uluslararasi Tp Tarihi Kongresi-stanbul Arkeoloji Mzeleri Gemiten Gnmze Tp Sergisi (2002), 22-37.
• V. Donbaz, “The Eponymy of Urad-era son of Aur-bni”, NABU 2001/3-55.
• V. Donbaz, “Inventory No. 1439”, NABU 2001/3-56.
• V. Donbaz, “More heat on A.21826” (OIP XXVII No.1) NABU 2001/3-57.
• V. Donbaz, “lamni ula ezibi”, Festschrift fr Burkhart Kienast AOAT Band 274 (Ugarit-Verlag Mnster 2003), 45-50.
• V. Donbaz, “Some Remarkable Contracts of 1-B Period Kltepe Tablets III. Hethitologische Studien zum Gedanken an Emil Orgetorix Forrer” Dresner Beitrge zur Hethitologie (2003), 271-284.
• V. Donbaz, “One Neo-Assyrian Text of Unknown Provenance”, N.A.B.U (2003)
• V. Donbaz, “iviyazl Kaynaklar Inda At/ Horses in Written Sources” Partnership of Power Man and Horse (2003), 17-19 and 101.
• V. Donbaz, “Two Brick Inscriptions Belonging to Sennacherib, the Assyrian King” N.A.B.U (2003/4-107)

Articles in print

• “Some Selected Middle Assyrian Private Letters”, In Honor of - A.K. Grayson (Toronto, in print)
• “One Old Assyrian Treaty from Kltepe”, Journal of Cuneiform - Studies JCS (in print)
• “Some Old Assyrian Texts with Rare Terminology” (Festschrift M. Trolle Larsen, in print)

Most recently published book

Veysel Donbaz, Sadberk Hanm Msesinde Bulunan ÇVYAZILI BELGELER/Cuneiform Texts in the Sadberk Hanm Museum (Ege Yaynlar 1999), ca. 200 pages.

Scholarly contributions and lectures

A prominent scholar, Veysel Donbaz has been an international participant in these disciplines and an invited lecturer for many departments and institutions abroad. His more than sixty such journeys have included the United States (The Oriental Institute of Chicago, University Museum of Philadelphia, Babylonian Collection New Haven, and Cambridge Boston); British Museum, London; Louvre, Paris; Toronto, Canada; Rome, Italy; the Belgian Leuven: Leiden Gronigen, Netherlands; in Germany (Mnchen, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart, Heidelberg); and Zurich, Switzerland. In these and other places he has either studied tablets, delivered lectures, or read papers.

Reading papers (with associated scholarly involvement)

He read papers at the International Assyriological Congresses held every year in one of the international centres: Mnster, 1985; stanbul, 1987 (he was the Secretary General of stanbul Roncontre Assyriologique Internationale [RAI]); Berlin, 1994; Helsinki (Assyria 95), 1995; Boston, 1998; Tbingen (First International Middle Assyrian Semposium), 1994; Berlin (Second International Middle Assyrian Workshop), 1996; Berlin (International Babylon Symposium) 1997; Corum, Turkey (Third International Hittitology Congress), 1996; Wrzburg (Fourth International Congress of Hittitology, where he chaired sessions on a number of occasions along with reading papers); Heidelberg 1992; Berlin, 1996; Venice, 1997; Berlin, 1997; Boston, 1998; Wrzburg, 1999.

He has also delivered scholarly papers at the Turkish Historical Association (Xth, XIIth, and XIIIth).

In Turkey, he has delivered about twenty five lectures: Robert College-Boazii University; Middle East Technical University at Ankara; French Archaeological Institute stanbul, stanbul Archaeological Museums, and other places.

International projects and memberships

• Editorial Board Member for “The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Project” since 1980 at Toronto. Still active.
• Permanent Advisory Committee Member for “The State Archive of Assyria Project” at Helsinki, 1988. Still active.
• Editorial Board Member (Herausgeber) for “Studien zu den Assur Texten” at Berlin, 1995. Still active.
• Member of “Deutsche Archaeological Institute” Berlin, 1994, and continuing
• Member of “Deutsche Orient Forschung” 1995, and continuing
• Secretary General of “Kltepe Publishing Committee” at Ankara, 1983, and still active.
• Member of “Institute of Archaeology” at stanbul 1993-
• Member of “Museums’ Friends Association” stanbul 1971-
• Member of “Hagia Sophia’s Friends Association” 1996-

Avocations and personal interests

Veysel Donbaz is a painter in watercolors. Thus far, he has had four exhibitions, 1983, 1984, 1996, and 1997.

He is a member of “Association of Cartoonists” stanbul since 1971. He is also a member of “Turing Automobile Club” (1971-).

Beginning in 1970, he has also contributed a series of articles (ca. 200 articles in popular aspect) for leading newspapers in stanbul as well as journals.

He is frequently interviewed by newspapers, journals, and television.

Most of his communication is in three languages:

Besides Turkish, Veysel Donbaz speaks English and German fluently, using English for scientific purposes. Nearly all of his works are published in English (90%), with the remainder in German (7%), and French (3%).

Concerning his family, his wife is a German diplomat. He has two adult children. He has one grandson and one granddaughter.