1. Texts:
* The Epic of Gilgamesh: One of the oldest works of literature, this epic poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, a king of Uruk, and his search for immortality.
* The Code of Hammurabi: This legal code, written around 1750 BCE, established a set of laws for the Babylonian Empire.
* The Enuma Elish: This creation myth, which dates back to the 17th century BCE, describes the creation of the universe and the gods.
* The Sumerian King List: This list, which dates back to the 3rd millennium BCE, records a genealogy of kings who ruled in Mesopotamia.
2. Inscriptions:
* Clay tablets: Cuneiform was primarily written on clay tablets, which were then baked in the sun or a kiln to preserve the writing. These tablets contain a wide variety of texts, including letters, contracts, administrative documents, and literature.
* Cylinder seals: These small cylinders were carved with images and cuneiform inscriptions. They were used to create seals on clay documents, similar to a modern-day stamp.
* Stone monuments: Cuneiform inscriptions were also found on stone monuments, such as stelae (standing stones) and ziggurats (temple towers).
3. Specific Characters:
* 𒀀 (A): This character represents the sound "a."
* 𒁀 (I): This character represents the sound "i."
* 𒌋 (U): This character represents the sound "u."
* 𒂊 (BE): This character represents the sound "be."
* 𒐫 (EN): This character represents the sound "en."
4. Examples of Cuneiform script can be found:
* The British Museum in London: Has a vast collection of cuneiform tablets.
* The Louvre Museum in Paris: Also houses a significant collection of cuneiform artifacts.
* The Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin: Specializes in ancient Near Eastern art and artifacts, including cuneiform inscriptions.
These are just a few examples of the many ways that cuneiform was used in ancient Mesopotamia. It was a complex system of writing that played a vital role in the development of Mesopotamian culture.