Did cuneiform consist of symbols that can express ideas as well the names objects people or places?

That's a great question! While cuneiform was initially used to represent objects, people, and places, it evolved to express ideas as well. Here's how:

* Early cuneiform: Started as a system of pictographs, where each symbol resembled the object it represented. Think of a picture of a house to represent "house."

* Developing cuneiform: The symbols became more abstract, moving away from strict pictorial representations. They began to represent concepts like "above," "below," or "go."

* Mature cuneiform: This stage saw the development of logograms (symbols representing whole words) and syllabic signs (symbols representing syllables). This allowed for greater flexibility and the expression of complex ideas.

Examples of cuneiform expressing ideas:

* Grammatical concepts: Prepositions, verbs, and other grammatical elements were represented by specific symbols.

* Abstract concepts: Cuneiform could express ideas like "justice," "wisdom," or "love."

* Figurative language: Metaphors, similes, and other forms of figurative language were used in cuneiform writing.

So, while cuneiform began as a system for representing tangible things, it eventually evolved to express complex ideas, enriching the possibilities of written communication in ancient Mesopotamia.