Dr. Céline Debourse

Biography

Céline Debourse is an Assyriologist specializing in the languages, history, and religion of Babylonia from the millennium BCE. Her work draws on a broad spectrum of methods and disciplines, including rigorous philological analysis, historical criticism, and literary studies, as well as the application of sociological and anthropological theories. Debourse aims to embed Babylonia within a wider Near Eastern history to foster dialogues between Assyriology and other disciplines. Her research encompasses broad themes, especially focusing on the final stages of cuneiform history and the reactions and interactions with foreign imperial rule. Her book, 'Priests and Kings: The Babylonian New Year Festival in the Age of Cuneiform Culture' (Brill, 2022), investigates cuneiform priestly writings created during Persian, Hellenistic, and Parthian rule, demonstrating how Late Babylonian Priestly Literature helped strengthen group internal bonds and foster a strong priestly identity during periods of foreign domination. Her ongoing book project, tentatively titled 'Babylon in Cuneiform: Reimagining the End of Culture (331 BCE–224 CE),' seeks to analyze the latest history of the city of Babylon from a comparative perspective, addressing challenges presented by the dwindling and eventual disappearance of the cuneiform record. Debourse is also examining Mesopotamian ritual texts in her preliminary monograph, 'Rethinking Ritual: Mesopotamian Ritual Text in Context,' with a strong focus on historical and religious change.

Research Interests