The Story Of Writing
Eg 20
Renee
Powersficarra
Chapter
2
Cuneiform Writing
To start out on the adventure of the second chapter to be prepared for the Web Folio collection, I decided to explore the topic of Cuneiform Writing. Having heard the word "cuneiform" in the past but not really able to define it off of the top of my head, the first step was to consult Webster's College dictionary, Second Edition-1999, page 324 and it was there that the following was revealed "cuneiform, adj. 1. having the form of a wedge shape. 2. Composed of slim triangular shaped elements, as the characters used in the writing by the ancient Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and others.3. Written in cuneiform characters. 4. Of or pertaining to any wedge-shaped bone as certain tarsal bones. Noun. %. Cuneiform characters or writing. 1670-80)." After having this as a base to begin the exploration of the topic, many questions began to form of which I could hope to answer during my information-seeking journey. As a beginning, I plan to review some past history of the groups mentioned to uncover how cuneiform began and for what purposes it was used.
The ancient Sumerians were the first of the ancient societies (of Mesopotamia) to develop cuneiform writing. It began as a system to log the inventory of the food held in the storage houses of the temples. Clay tablets were the most common "back drop" used for imprints of the cuneiform style writing. However other items such as wax, stone, metals and other materials were also used to inscribe this style of writing. The drawing of curvilinear lines was not easily done, so a reed stylus was used to create short wedge shaped formations with strokes that were fairly straight. Each individual collection of linear formations resulted in its own sign, and an individual meaning of what it represented. There were about 600 signs in the cuneiform system that could be collectively written on the same tablet to form entire sentences. Beyond the realm of record keeping this written language was used for poetry, fables, (literature), the sciences, prayers, history, art work (inscription on pottery) and for use in an assortment of areas where legal documentation was necessary. For the documents to maintain a permanent quality (one example found,) was: the shapes used for this writing were pressed into the clay and then baked.
There have been findings of the Sumerian Cuneiform artifacts that date back to 18th century BC, and later to 1st century AD This represents that Ancient societies which followed the Sumerians continued to use this form as their means for written communication. These were discovered in the beginning of the 20th Century, and starting in the 1940's, the meaning of the findings began to be studied in depth. (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia)
In conclusion, this was a very interesting learning experience. I found it amazing to learn that people of a time so long ago, and so distant from the technology we are surrounded by today, were so resourceful and able to develop this system of 600 symbols used in cuneiform writing. It does seem as if it would be extremely time consuming to learn all of the word equivalents to the symbols within this system. With so many word symbols to commit to memory, it does seem as if people would need to possess superior intellectual skills in order to accomplish this. I would suspect that those who were limited in this area (learning disabled) would have experienced difficulty learning and implementing this system of communication. After exploring many web sites with examples displayed, I realized that it was not easy to decipher the words that each marking symbolized. I actually thought that the symbols would be more picture like when viewed. Instead, they resembled a collection of multiple arrow headed, spear shaped imprints. Despite my opinion, evidence reveals that cuneiform system was implemented by the people of the ancient times. During the time span of its existence, Cuneiform was as commonly used as our alphabet and language is today.
Bibliography:
Books:
-Allen, Agnes.The Story of the Book.New York:Roy Publishers, Inc.1970
-Rogers, Frances. Painted Rock to Printed Page. Philadelphia,J.B. Lippincott Company,1960
Web sites:
-"Writing Implements" Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001
http:// encarta.msn.com (20 June.2001)
-"Sumerian Literature" Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001
http:// encarta.msn.com (08 July.2001)
-"Cuneiform" Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001
http:// encarta.msn.com (08 July.2001)
There is a web site that allows you to experiment with cuneiform by writing words in our current alphabet, and it will translate it in to Ugaritic Cuneiform. Standard Cuneiform before it evolved to Ugaritic did not have the ability to be translated in a letter-by-letter format, to then form words. It consisted of signs (a mixture of logograms and syllables) that stood for certain words. Once it did reach the point of Ugaritic, each sign represented a sound. The following is listed on the Internet for users to experiment with this type of writing (see below for description of the site offered and its location:)
http://www.7cs.com/sumer/cuni.htm
Write Like a
Babylonian
University of Pennsylvania provides a unique opportunity for the user to experiment
with cuneiform. Create a monogram or ask the scribe.
http://home.korax.net/~websiter/cgi-bin/cuneiform.cgi
And……. at the following site actual cuneiform artifacts are being sold, with pictures of the pieces available for viewing (which I have pasted below as well as the location of the site it originated from:
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