Trauma 4,000 Years Ago?

The Sumerians and the Elamites, the destroyers, made of it thirty shekels.

The righteous house they break up with pickaxe; the people groan.

The city they make into ruins; the people groan.

Its lady cries: “Alas for my city,” cries: “alas for my house.” (2, verses 242–245)

In its lofty gates, where they were wont to promenade, dead bodies were lying about;

In its boulevards, where the feasts were celebrated, scattered they lay.

In all its streets, where they were wont to promenade, dead bodies were lying about;

In its places, where the festivities of the land took place, the people lay in heaps. (2, verses 214–217)

At night a bitter lament having been raised unto me,

I, although, for that night I tremble,

Fled not before that night’s violence.

The storm’s cyclone like destruction—verily its terror has filled me full.

Because of its [affliction] in my nightly sleeping place,

In my nightly sleeping place verily there is no peace for me. (2, verses 95–99)