Cuneiform script
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
Cuneiform script
Cuneiform script. Diagram showing the development of pictographs into stylised Cuneiform characters. Cuneiform, the first written language, was invented by the Sumerians who inhabited Mesopotamia (now south-eastern Iraq) from the 4th to the 3rd millennium BC. It was written on clay tablets with a reed stylus. The language died with the civilisation upon the rise of Babylonia in the late 3rd millennium BC, but the writing system was adopted by the Babylonians, Assyrians and Persians
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Media ID 6368149
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Ancient Archaeological Archaeology Archeology Assyrian Babylonian Bird Change Character Characters Cuneiform Development Diagram Graphic Graphical Hand Heaven Language Linguistics Orthography Persian Pictogram Pictograms Pictograph Pictographs Representation Script Symbol Symbols Writing Writing System Written Mono Chrome Representational Sumerian
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the evolution of pictographs into stylized Cuneiform characters, representing a significant milestone in human history. The Cuneiform script, invented by the Sumerians who resided in Mesopotamia during the 4th to 3rd millennium BC, stands as the world's first written language. Utilizing clay tablets and reed styluses, this ancient form of communication allowed for the recording and preservation of knowledge. As we gaze upon this mesmerizing image, we are transported back in time to witness the birth of written language. Each stroke and curve on these clay tablets represents a symbol or idea that was once etched by hand thousands of years ago. It is awe-inspiring to think about how these intricate characters were meticulously crafted with purpose and meaning. Although the Sumerian civilization eventually faded away with the rise of Babylonia, their ingenious writing system endured. Adopted by subsequent civilizations such as Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians, Cuneiform became an integral part of their cultural heritage. This photograph not only serves as a testament to our ancestors' ingenuity but also highlights humanity's unyielding quest for knowledge and expression through various forms of communication. It reminds us that even though civilizations may come and go, their legacies live on through artifacts like these – tangible links connecting us to our pasts.
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