Cracking Ancient Codes: Cuneiform Writing - with Irving Finkel

The Royal Institution・2 minutes read

Ancient cuneiform tablets are not codes but a sophisticated form of writing with real language, grammar, and meaning, evolving from pictographs to recording sounds. Deciphering cuneiform required scholars like Rawlinson and Hincks to use trilingual inscriptions, Semitic languages, and extensive knowledge to understand the complex script, leading to a shift in academic perspectives.

Insights

  • Cuneiform tablets were not mere codes but a fully developed writing system with real language, grammar, and meaning, transitioning from pictographs to recording sounds, showcasing a significant evolution in ancient writing.
  • The decipherment of cuneiform required collaboration and insights from scholars like Rawlinson, Grotefend, and Hincks, who utilized various languages and clues to unlock the script's complexities, challenging traditional academic perspectives and highlighting the crucial role of decipherers in reshaping historical understanding.

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Recent questions

  • What materials were used for ancient writing?

    Ancient writing utilized clay tablets and a stylus.

  • How did cuneiform writing evolve over time?

    Cuneiform script transitioned from pictographs to recording sounds.

  • What languages were written in cuneiform?

    Cuneiform was used for Sumerian and Assyrian languages.

  • How did scribes write on cuneiform tablets?

    Scribes held the tablet in the left hand and used a stylus in the right.

  • Who played a crucial role in deciphering cuneiform inscriptions?

    Indiana Rawlinson and Reverend Edward Hincks were key figures.

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Summary

00:00

Ancient Cuneiform: Functional Writing System of Clay

  • Ancient writing is not about codes but a functional writing system like our alphabet.
  • Cuneiform tablets are not codes but proper writing with real language, grammar, and meaning.
  • Cuneiform tablets were made of clay and used a stylus to create signs made of strokes.
  • Writing began in Iraq around 3500 BC using clay tablets due to the availability of clay.
  • The script evolved from pictographs to recording sounds, marking a significant leap in writing.
  • The script transitioned from drawing pictures to recording sounds of language.
  • Cuneiform writing was used for Sumerian and Assyrian languages, unrelated but sharing the same script.
  • The process of writing on cuneiform tablets involved holding the tablet in the left hand and using a stylus in the right.
  • The vocabulary needed for cuneiform writing was minimal, similar to modern usage, challenging the notion of progress.
  • Fully developed cuneiform script was sophisticated and beautiful, written by skilled calligraphers.

12:54

Ancient Sumerian and Babylonian Writing Systems

  • Sumerian writing uses one sign for one word, originating from pictographs representing the word's meaning.
  • Learned scribes writing Babylonian tablets could use Sumerian signs for words, allowing readers to interpret in their own language.
  • Syllabic writing in Babylonian involves using short signs for sounds to spell out words, requiring about 1,000 signs to be learned.
  • Rebus writing, like modern texting, uses images to represent sounds or words, aiding in understanding and interpretation.
  • Determinatives and phonetic complements are crucial in cuneiform writing, providing clues for meanings and pronunciation.
  • Signs in Sumerian can have multiple meanings, necessitating the use of clues like phonetic complements for accurate interpretation.
  • Different signs can represent the same sound in cuneiform, with about 17 signs for the syllable "GU" alone.
  • Cuneiform lacks gaps between words, making it challenging to decipher individual words within continuous text.
  • Cuneiform writing was right-justified, leading to occasional gaps in lines when signs didn't fill the space evenly.
  • Deciphering cuneiform required the use of trilingual inscriptions like the Behistun Inscription by King Darius to provide clues for understanding the language and script.

26:06

Deciphering Cuneiform: Key Players and Discoveries

  • Indiana Rawlinson played a crucial role in deciphering inscriptions in different languages, including Babylonian, Old Persian, and Elamite.
  • Rawlinson, with the help of a Kurdish boy, climbed a rock in Behistun, made paper squeezes of inscriptions, and brought them back to England for study.
  • Grotefend was the first scholar to decipher Old Persian cuneiform in 1820, laying the foundation for Rawlinson's work.
  • Rawlinson successfully deciphered Old Persian inscriptions, revealing information about King Darius and his lineage.
  • The deciphering process involved using Semitic languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic to understand Elamite and Akkadian words.
  • Reverend Edward Hincks, a clergyman from Northern Ireland, made significant contributions to deciphering cuneiform inscriptions, particularly in Babylonian.
  • Hincks realized the polyvalent nature of cuneiform signs, leading to a better understanding of the script.
  • Hincks' work was crucial in revising Rawlinson's understanding of the Behistun Inscription, despite Rawlinson taking credit for the decipherment.
  • The decipherment of cuneiform inscriptions led to a shift in academic perspectives, challenging traditional teachings and acknowledging the importance of the decipherers like Hincks.
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