A Lively Study of Dead Languages

Joshua Jacobs first took Ancient Greek on a whim, thinking that the class might be an interesting change of pace from his intended political science major. While the class itself was fascinating, it introduced Jacobs to a broader passion for exploring ancient languages and cultures.

“I realized I wanted to spend a lot more time with this ancient stuff,” he recalled. Jacobs switched to a classical studies major and kept studying Ancient Greek. He soon developed an interest in the Ancient Near East, particularly the societies of ancient Israel and Judah. Jacobs sought out training in biblical Hebrew, which is not regularly offered at the University of Arkansas. Fully determined, he went about creating his own Near Eastern studies curriculum.

“It’s wild that he has been able to accomplish this on a campus that doesn’t formally offer courses in his area of interest,” noted Spencer L. Allen, Jacobs’s honors thesis advisor and an instructor in international relations. He guided Jacobs through four semesters of independent study in biblical Hebrew, as well as additional studies of biblical Aramaic, Sumerian and Akkadian. Allen emphasized that Jacobs’s self-directed assignments often constituted graduate-level coursework. “Josh is a driven student, one who pursues ideas of interest until he has mastered the material or is ready to research a little further and advance what we know,” he added.

Jacobs’s unique academic path did not go unnoticed by the Honors College faculty. Honors College Dean Lynda Coon was particularly impressed by how he designed an independent academic trajectory to complete his work in Near Eastern studies.

“I have been at the University of Arkansas for over thirty years, and I have never had one honors scholar (or any undergraduate) purposely and undeterredly tackle the languages, history, and archaeology necessary to prepare for a graduate-level experience in Ancient Near Eastern studies,” she observed. In combining global studies, classical studies, Jewish studies and religious studies, Jacobs had a unique undergraduate path that made him well-versed across disciplines. “His career indicates that our top undergraduate scholars remain committed to the humanities, and that they are comfortable taking intellectual risks in a world in which mainstream rhetoric teaches them they should not,” said Dean Coon.

Starting this fall, Jacobs is pursuing a Ph.D. in Assyriology at Yale University, one of the world’s premier programs for Near Eastern studies. As a competitive applicant, Jacob’s three-year residency at Yale was fully funded. The program houses the Babylonian Collection, a catalogue of more than 40,000 Mesopotamian artifacts and documents dating back to the 4th Millennium BCE. It is a unique resource that Jacobs is excited to use.

“The classroom for grad students is right nearby it, so you can just go in and read materials,” he detailed. During his tour of Yale, Jacobs was able to see an original cuneiform tablet containing the Epic of Gilgamesh dated from ca. 1800 BCE.

Since ancient texts were written on clay tablets, extensive records remain from across the social classes of Mesopotamian societies. Personal letters between family members, bills of sale and royal edicts all survive today. While completing his Ph.D., Jacobs plans to focus his research on uncovering the patterns of daily life for everyday residents of ancient Mesopotamia: What was an average person doing for work? What did their social interactions look like?

Jacobs pointed to questions guiding his future studies. He noted one archive of tablets details the financial records of date palm and beer businesses one family ran in 500 BCE.

As Jacobs looks toward a future steeped in the ancient past, he recalled that several key experiences opened him up to the possibility of studying Assyriology — in particular, an A-Week seminar he took with Dean Coon that examined the Gospel of Mark.

“That was my first introduction to studying the Bible in this literary and historical way,” he said. “It was my first inkling into the world which has now turned into my thesis.” Additionally, Jacobs credited his experience as a Bodenhamer fellow with providing him with a solid support network.

“Having people right off the bat that I knew and was able to connect with and grow along with since freshman year — it’s been good to have them as we get through it all,” he emphasized. Additionally, he pointed to the fellowship for providing him an opportunity to pursue an academic interest in the Ancient Near East. “Being a Bodenhamer Fellow has really allowed me the freedom to study what I wanted to in a very real sense.”

As Jacobs moves from the Hill to the campus in New Haven, he encouraged incoming honors students to explore their academic interests early on, regardless of their potential majors.

“I think if you have an interest in something else, take a class or two just to see what it’s like. Try new things academically,” he advised. Too, he reminded students to take their journey at their own pace. “You’re going to do really cool things regardless of what you’re interested in, so take your time figuring out those interests. Be confident that by the end you’ll have done something you’re really proud of,” he said.

This story also appeared in the U of A Honors College’s A+ publication.