Note 416 — Chapter II · (continued 4)

M. J. Halévy disputes this reading of the word. As we are unable to discuss the question, we must refer our readers to his observations (Les Monuments Chaldéens et la Question de Sumir et d'Accad) in the Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions, 1882, p. 107. M. Halévy believes it should be read as the name of the prince Nabou or Nebo. The question is only of secondary importance, but M. Halévy enlarges its scope by reopening the whole matter of debate between himself and M. Oppert as to the true character of what Assyriologists call the Sumerian language and written character. The Comptes rendus only gives a summary of the paper. The same volume contains a résumé of M. Oppert's reply (1882, p. 123: Inscriptions de Gudéa, et seq).