Holden Marshall

Holden Marshall is a doctoral student in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Mesopotamian Civilizations (Language, History, and Culture) and is advised by Dr. Stephen J. Tinney. His research focuses on Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform literary texts centered around death, such as “Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld,” “Death of Gilgamesh,” and “Death of Ur-Namma.” His research also includes Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform texts that allude to or explicitly mention suicide. He is also interested in Hebrew Bible studies, more specifically, Hexateuchal studies, and the ancient Near Eastern influences on the development of ancient Israelite religion and the metallurgic characteristics of השם. Lastly, he is interested in death and suicide in the Hebrew Bible.

Holden received his Bachelor of Arts from Illinois State University in English and Philosophy (cum laude). Afterward, he received his Master of Theological Studies (summa cum laude) and Master of Sacred Theology (summa cum laude) from Boston University School of Theology, where he focused on Hebrew Bible studies and ancient Near Eastern languages.

Ancient Language Experience: Sumerian, Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, Imperial Aramaic, Ugaritic, Syriac, Hittite, Hieroglyphic Luwian, Koine Greek, Latin, and Middle Egyptian.