George Smith (1840-1876) was an English Assyrologist, apprentice
engraver, but self-taught in cuneiform
in the corridors of the British Museum.
Eventually he was hired by Sir Henry Rawlinson, prominent
archaeologist.
Smith achieved world-wide attention when he discovered an account
of the flood with obvious Biblical parallels in 1872, related in
The Chaldean Account of the Deluge.
This book expands on the previous work, and presents numerous
translations of tablets, including
the first print appearance of the Gilgamesh (Idzubar) cycle.
Some of the most important texts, such as the Descent of Ishtar
and the account of the Flood are fairly intact, while others
are in pieces.--J.B. Hare, Dec. 15th, 2009.
