Key Features of Cuneiform:
* Wedge-shaped marks: Cuneiform script is characterized by its wedge-shaped marks made by pressing a stylus into clay tablets. These marks were then arranged in different combinations to represent syllables, words, and even entire concepts.
* Logographic and syllabic: Cuneiform writing was both logographic and syllabic. This means that some signs represented entire words, while others represented syllables.
* Evolution over time: The cuneiform script evolved over thousands of years, with different styles and signs developing in different periods and regions.
* Multiple languages: Cuneiform was used to write a variety of languages, including Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Elamite, and Hittite.
* Wide range of uses: Cuneiform was used for a wide range of purposes, including:
* Recording administrative documents (e.g., tax records, contracts, inventories)
* Literary works (e.g., epics, myths, hymns)
* Scientific and mathematical texts
* Personal letters
* Legal documents
History:
* Originated in Sumer around 3200 BCE.
* Used for over 3,000 years, until the 1st century CE.
* Deciphered in the 19th century by Henry Rawlinson.
Significance:
* Provides valuable insights into ancient Mesopotamian culture, history, and literature.
* One of the earliest writing systems known to humanity.
* Laid the foundation for later writing systems, including the alphabet.
Examples:
* The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest surviving works of literature, was written in cuneiform.
* The Code of Hammurabi, a famous legal document, was written in cuneiform.
* Thousands of clay tablets with cuneiform inscriptions have been discovered, providing a wealth of information about ancient Mesopotamia.