Writing Tools:
* Stylus: A small, wedge-shaped tool made from reed, wood, or bone. The stylus had a pointed end for making fine lines and a broader end for creating thicker wedges.
* Clay Tablet: Soft, moist clay was used to form tablets of various sizes and shapes.
Writing Process:
1. Preparing the Tablet: The clay was kneaded and shaped into a flat tablet.
2. Impressing the Marks: The stylus was used to press wedge-shaped marks into the soft clay. Each mark represented a syllable, a consonant, or a logogram (a picture-like symbol representing a word).
3. Drying and Baking: The clay tablet was left to air dry, and sometimes it was baked in an oven to harden and preserve the inscription.
Evolution of Cuneiform:
* Early Forms: Early cuneiform was primarily logographic, using pictures to represent words.
* Development of Syllabic and Phonetic Writing: Over time, cuneiform evolved to incorporate syllabic and phonetic elements, allowing for greater flexibility and expressiveness.
Characteristics of Cuneiform:
* Wedge-shaped marks: The distinctive wedge-shaped marks are what give cuneiform its name, which comes from the Latin word "cuneus," meaning "wedge."
* Linear arrangement: Cuneiform was written in lines that ran from left to right.
* Complex script: The system required extensive knowledge and training, making it a complex and challenging script.
Legacy of Cuneiform:
Cuneiform writing played a vital role in the development of ancient Mesopotamian civilization. It facilitated the recording of history, literature, law, and scientific knowledge. Its legacy continues to be studied and appreciated today.