Dr. Jana Matuszak, a professor of Sumerology at the University of Chicago, joins Lexie to discuss the need to advocate for and provide accessible translations of ancient works, diving into Sumerian royal epics beyond Gilgamesh, examining Enheduanna as the oldest named poet, and talks about love songs, hymns, erotic poetry, and humorous “contest” texts. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!
Originally recorded January 21, 2026.
Learn more about Dr. Matuszak: https://mes.uchicago.edu/jana-matuszak
Find her publications on Academia: https://chicago.academia.edu/JanaMatuszak
Check out the game House of Ashes: https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/1281590/
Check out Stan Against Evil & the Old Persian grimoire: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5722214/
Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.
Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.
Ancient Office Hours is a proud member of Mnemosyne: The Memory Collective, a podcast network and creator collective for historians, archaeologists, artists, and other creators and educators dedicated to sharing content about and featuring the ancient world that is accurate, accessible, and inclusive. To learn more about the collective and its contributors, check out collectivemem.com.
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