The oldest known written language, cuneiform, first
used by the ancient peoples of the Near East over
5000 years ago, is composed of a series of wedge-
shaped incisions made with a sharpened reed stylus.
This script was adopted by all the major civilizations
of Mesopotamia for recording their distinct
languages, including the Sumerians, Akkadians,
Assyrians, and Babylonians. Clay tablets were the
preferred media for everyday writing because they
could either be easily recycled or, if a permanent
record was required, fired in a kiln and preserved.
The earliest recorded inscriptions are not myths of
histories, but rather banal economic transactions and
accounting documents. Later, one of the most
famous written works of the ancient world,
Hammurabi’s code, was recorded in the cuneiform
script. While these marks may appear obscure and
mysterious to our eyes, scholars have made much
progress in deciphering cuneiform after discovering
inscriptions on the Behistun Rock, a cliff in western
Iran. Much like the Rosetta Stone, the Behistun
Inscription contained the same text written in three
different languages (Persian, Babylonian, and
Elamite), all of which utilized the cuneiform system of
writing. Due to the resemblance of these languages
to modern ones, scholars were able to crack to code.
This impressive terracotta tablet reveals just how
intricate a system of writing cuneiform was. In the
hands of a talented scribe, a remarkable amount of
information could be squeezed into a relatively small
space and yet still remain legible. Both the front and
back of this tablet have been written on, containing a
total of sixty-six lines of text. Like most tablets that
survive, the text records everyday matters, here
concerning the details of an arranged marriage and
accompanying events. Dated to 1281 B.C., the first
year of the reign of Kadashman-Turgu, the Kassite
King of Babylon, this fascinating tablet may have
been little more than an invoice or contract during its
own time. However, today, this work provides
valuable insight into the daily affairs of the Ancient
Babylonians while also serving as an astounding
example of how refined the cuneiform script was.
- (X.0125)
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