#487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths

Irving Finkel provides an in-depth exploration of how cuneiform writing, the ancient script emerging from Mesopotamia, not only captured language but also ensured its survival across millennia.

Cuneiform Emerged In Mesopotamia Around 3500 BC As Symbols For Sounds and Ideas

Initially, cuneiform consisted of a root system with prefixes, written using signs to denote frequently used sounds, as explained by Irving Finkel. This system transitioned into a robust means of recording spoken language, complete with grammar and literature.

Cuneiform Evolved to Record Language, Grammar, and Literature

As Mesopotamians gradually developed symbols, they realized that images could stand for both the objects they depicted and the sounds of the words that represented those objects. A depiction of a foot, for instance, signified both the literal object and the sound of the word for "foot." The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest literary works, provides evidence of the written word's enormous capacity to convey complex narratives, preserved in cuneiform script.

Development of Cuneiform: Gradual Innovation and Standardization

Cuneiform's creators engineered a comprehensive system that ensured the script's survival and understanding over vast periods.

Cuneiform Scribes Created Organized Lexicographic Systems

Finkel delves into how Sumerian writing involved affixing additional elements to a root word to alter meanings, an approach reflected in their writing system. Over time, as scribes learned the values assigned to each sign, the script became increasingly standardized. This standardization allowed for a diverse linguistic application wherein trained scribes could accura ...

Irving Finkel reveals the challenges and breakthroughs in understanding the ancient script of cuneiform, which was once indecipherable to the modern world.

Decipherment of Cuneiform Achieved Via Trilingual Behistun Inscription

Scholars Used Persian to Decode Babylonian and Elamite, Unlocking Cuneiform Understanding

The first inscriptions discovered in cuneiform script baffled scholars until the Behistun inscription provided a crucial lead. Written by King Darius, this trilingual inscription included Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian. With Old Persian still partly understood and its script simpler, researchers deciphered this part first. They then used this knowledge to interpret the Babylonian and Elamite sections. By identifying the names of Darius and phrases repeated across the three languages, and recognizing words with similar sounds to Arabic and Aramaic, like "river," scholars unraveled the cuneiform mystery.

Finkel delves into the story of Edward Hinks, a clergyman from Northern Ireland who made significant strides in deciphering cuneiform. He grasped the complexity of wedge-shaped characters, realizing one symbol could have multiple sound and meaning values. Hinks also laid much of the groundwork for cuneiform's decipherment while researching hieroglyphics.

Cuneiform Interpretation Needs Sumerian, Akkadian, and Historical Context Understanding

Cuneiform Tablets Hold Literary, Religious, and Administrative Texts Needing Detailed Translation and Analysis For Comprehension

Finkel asserts that to interpret cuneiform writings accurately, one must understand Sumerian and Akkadian, the primary languages of cuneiform texts. Understanding the Semitic nature of Akkadian contributed to the decipherment, while the isolated nature of Sumerian posed additional difficulties. Scholars often relied on Arabic and Hebrew dictionaries to contextualize words found in cuneiform.

In ancient times, students learning to be scribes were required to master both Sumerian and Akkadian, encompassing all their vocabulary and grammar. This dual-language knowledge was indispensable for professions that depended on writing and archival work, like medicine or law.

Cuneiform Tablet Volume Highlights Deciphering Challenge

The varied content of cuneiform tablets—from day-to-day letters and business documents to literary works and spells—demonstrate the wide bread ...

Irving Finkel discusses the ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform corpus, emphasizing its vast contribution to our understanding of one of history's earliest civilizations.

Cuneiform Corpus Reveals Ancient Mesopotamian Culture, Intellect, and Society

Cuneiform Tablets Reveal Literary, Religious, and Administrative Texts, Illuminating the Region's Beliefs, Practices, and Daily Life

King Ashurbanipal's library in Ninivee, a comprehensive collection of tablets, encapsules an array of ancient knowledge, from everyday life—such as letters and business contracts—to literary, philosophical, and religious beliefs. The destruction of Ashurbanipal's library by conquerors underscores the strategic importance of these texts in running a world empire, while the survival of any texts indicates the work of the scribal class and provides insights only into the literate elite's thoughts and governance.

The library held texts across multiple genres, revealing the role of professional scribes who both served society's daily needs and preserved its intellectual legacy. Astrology, astronomy, and theoretical grammar writings convey the intellectual vigor of the time. Literary masterpieces like the Epic of Gilgamesh illustrate a rich literary heritage, while professional scribes maintained order with contracts and letters for everyday activities.

Finkel's accounts point out that power once resided with those who were literate in cuneiform due to the general public's illiteracy. This literacy barrier meant knowledge, understanding, and control over philosophical inquiry were limited to a small fraction—a specialized intellect class.

Cuneiform's Longevity and Distribution as a Foundational Element of Civilization

Cuneiform's Adoption and Adaptation in the Ancient Near East

As times changed, cuneiform's use expanded. The diversity of tablets, from administrative accounts to elaborate literary and religious texts, reflects the beliefs, practices, and daily life in the region. The Babylonian language displayed through these texts has been praised for its rich vocabulary and verbal subtlety.

Moreover, the large body of omens and their scholarly interpretation from animal behavior to astronomical events reveals the significant role divination played in governance. These writings also capture interpersonal and divine relationships, showcasing social issues through narratives like the street drama involving deities Marduk and Sarpanitam, where human emotions such as jealousy and love are depicted.

The ancient Mesopotamians had a nuanced pantheon of gods, structured into tiers, suggesting that personal and family deities were integral to daily life ...

Cuneiform Shares Similarities With Other Ancient Scripts Like Pictographic or Ideographic Signs

Cuneiform, an ancient script used for writing on clay tablets, shows similarities to other ancient scripts through its use of pictographic and ideographic signs. Finkel describes this transition from strictly visual representations to recognizing signs for their sound value as well. For example, the concept "hot" might be represented by a drawing of a brazier, conveying ideas through imagery. This multi-valency, where signs can convey different sounds and meanings, is a shared feature with pictographic signs.

Decipherment of Cuneiform Used Comparative Linguistic Analysis, Similar to Egyptian Hieroglyphics

The process of deciphering cuneiform, according to Finkel, involved an "ongoing competition" and comparative linguistic analysis akin to the methods used to decrypt Egyptian hieroglyphics. While Finkel does not delve into specifics about hieroglyphic decipherment, the context suggests that similar analytic methods were employed for understanding these ancient scripts.

Cultural and Historical Influences on Ancient Writing Systems

Cuneiform's Adaptability and Influence in the Ancient Near East

Cuneiform was remarkable for its adaptability and its influence across the ancient Near East. Its reach is evident in Finkel’s mention of a green stone found at Gobekli Tepe, where hieroglyphic signs suggest an interconnection between various ancient writing systems. Furthermore, the writing system and language used in the Assyrian empire were shared with southern conquerors and those from Iran, indicating a blending of cultures and linguistic practices.

Despite its complexity ...