Cracking Ancient Codes: Cuneiform Writing - with Irving Finkel
TLDRThe speaker humorously dispels the myth that ancient writing systems like cuneiform were codes, explaining their evolution from pictographs to a language-recording tool. He highlights the significance of the discovery and decipherment of the Behistun Inscription, which provided crucial insight into the three languages inscribed thereon. The talk underscores the achievements of scholars like Edward Hincks, who played a pivotal role in deciphering cuneiform, despite often being overlooked in history.
Takeaways
- 📜 The concept of ancient writing being a code is a misnomer; it's a functional system with a purpose similar to our alphabetic system.
- 🏺 Cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs were not codes but genuine writing systems, contrary to popular misconceptions.
- 🖋️ The cuneiform system originated around 3500 BC in Mesopotamia, predating the Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- 🌾 Clay was the primary medium for writing in ancient Mesopotamia due to its availability and suitability for creating durable tablets.
- 🌿 The writing tool was a reed stylus, which was used to inscribe signs onto clay tablets.
- 🎨 The evolution of cuneiform script went from pictographs to abstract signs, facilitating the transition from logographic to syllabic writing.
- 🔤 Cuneiform writing allowed for the expression of complex ideas and the recording of history, not just simple or mundane information.
- 🗣️ The decipherment of cuneiform was a monumental achievement, made possible by the discovery of a trilingual inscription at Behistun.
- 🏛️ The contributions of scholars like Edward Hincks and Henry Rawlinson were crucial to the field of Assyriology and the understanding of ancient languages.
- 📚 The process of deciphering ancient scripts like cuneiform involved polyvalent signs, which could represent multiple sounds or words.
- 🌐 The study of ancient writing systems challenges the notion of linear progress, showing that even modern communication has roots in ancient practices.
Q & A
What is the primary misconception about ancient writing systems mentioned in the transcript?
-The primary misconception is that ancient writing systems are often mistakenly referred to as codes, when in fact they are full functional writing systems with the same purpose as our modern alphabetic system.
What is the significance of the cuneiform writing system in the context of the transcript?
-The cuneiform writing system is significant as it is one of the oldest known writing systems, originating in ancient Mesopotamia around 3500 BC. It evolved from pictographs to a system that could record sound and was used for over 3,000 years.
How did the speaker describe the process of creating a cuneiform tablet?
-The speaker described the process as using a stylus like a chopstick to press into the surface of the clay, making strokes that form signs. These signs are made up of one or two or three designs, and once learned, allowed for the writing of anything.
What is the importance of the clay material used for the ancient Mesopotamian tablets?
-Clay was important because it was readily available and perfect for forming writing tablets. It would take sharp impressions and dry perfectly in the sun, ensuring the longevity of the records, even outlasting books and papers in the British Library.
What was the original purpose of the writing systems like cuneiform?
-The original purpose of writing systems like cuneiform was to document financial and administrative matters, such as measuring wages and keeping records for taxation purposes.
How did the evolution of the script from pictographs to abstract forms affect its functionality?
-The evolution from pictographs to abstract forms allowed the script to move from being purely representational to a system that could record the sounds of a language, which is the essence of writing. This enabled the expression of more complex ideas and the creation of literature.
What is the significance of the trilingual inscription at Behistun in the decipherment of cuneiform?
-The trilingual inscription at Behistun, which included Old Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite texts, was crucial for the decipherment of cuneiform because it provided scholars with a comparative basis to understand the languages and scripts involved, ultimately leading to the unlocking of the writing system.
Who is credited with the initial decipherment of the Old Persian part of the Behistun inscription?
-The initial decipherment of the Old Persian part of the Behistun inscription is credited to Grotefend, who used a rational basis focusing on names to crack the script.
What was the contribution of Reverend Edward Hincks to the field of Assyriology?
-Reverend Edward Hincks made a significant contribution to Assyriology by deciphering the Babylonian cuneiform. He was the first to realize that the signs were polyvalent, meaning they could have multiple values, which was a key insight for understanding the script.
How did the academic community initially react to the decipherment of cuneiform?
-The academic community, particularly the classical scholars at institutions like Oxford and Cambridge, initially resisted the decipherment of cuneiform. They were reluctant to credit the new findings and the changes they brought to long-held teachings.
What was the outcome of the Royal Asiatic Society's decision to resolve the controversy over cuneiform decipherment?
-The Royal Asiatic Society decided to end the controversy by organizing a test of the decipherment. They distributed a cuneiform text to Edward Hincks and Jules Oppert, who independently provided their translations. The translations were then appraised by a panel, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it was concluded that the decipherment was successful, leading to a reevaluation of traditional academic approaches.
Outlines
📜 Introduction to Ancient Writing Systems
The speaker begins by addressing the common misconception that ancient writing systems were codes, emphasizing that they were functional writing systems similar to our alphabetic system. He introduces a cuneiform tablet, highlighting its significance and the fact that it was written in a left-to-right format, using a stylus. The tablet is described as a high-quality inscription from around 1780 BC, which predates other artifacts in the British Museum. The speaker also touches on the longevity of clay tablets compared to digital media and the importance of the first writing systems in Mesopotamia.
🎓 The Evolution of Writing
This paragraph delves into the origins of writing, specifically in Iraq around 3500 BC, predating Egypt. The speaker describes the use of clay tablets and the natural resources available in the region for writing. He explains the transition from pictographs to abstract symbols and the development of a writing system that records sound, which he considers a significant leap in human history. The speaker also discusses the Sumerian and Akkadian languages and how a single writing system was used for both, despite their linguistic differences.
📖 The Symbiotic Relationship of Languages
The speaker discusses the relationship between Sumerian and Akkadian, noting that scholars had to learn Sumerian to read the classics. He humorously compares the Sumerian language's complexity to the enigmatic silence of a statue in the British Museum. The speaker then contrasts the ancient practice of writing with the modern use of digital devices, suggesting that the vocabulary used in modern communication is not much more advanced than that of the Sumerians.
🖋️ The Art and Technique of Cuneiform Writing
This section focuses on the intricacies of cuneiform writing, explaining the principles behind it. The speaker describes how a single Sumerian sign represents a word and how this system evolved to include syllabic writing and rebus writing. He also introduces the concepts of determinatives and phonetic complements, which aid in deciphering the meaning of words. The speaker emphasizes the complexity of the cuneiform system, where one sign can have multiple meanings and one sound can be represented by multiple signs.
🕵️♂️ Deciphering Cuneiform: The Trilingual Inscription
The speaker narrates the story of the trilingual inscription at Behistun, which was crucial in deciphering cuneiform. He explains how the inscription in three languages—Babylonian, Old Persian, and Elamite—allowed scholars to compare and contrast the texts. The speaker credits the decipherment to the work of Grotefend, Rawlinson, and Hincks, highlighting their contributions and the challenges they faced. He also discusses the resistance from classical scholars to accept the new findings and the ultimate acceptance of the decipherment as a fact.
🏆 Recognizing the Unsung Heroes of Decipherment
The speaker pays tribute to Edward Hincks, a clergyman who played a significant role in deciphering cuneiform but was not widely recognized for his contributions. He describes Hincks' dedication to the study of hieroglyphs and his intellectual breakthrough in understanding the polyvalent nature of cuneiform signs. The speaker also mentions the injustice done to Hincks, whose work was largely attributed to Rawlinson. He concludes by advocating for greater recognition of Hincks and other unsung geniuses in the field.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cuneiform
💡Pictographs
💡Sumerian
💡Akkadian
💡Decipherment
💡Rebus Writing
💡Determinatives
💡Phonetic Complements
💡Edward Hincks
💡Behistun Inscription
Highlights
The talk begins by dispelling the myth that ancient writing systems were codes, emphasizing that they were functional writing systems similar to our alphabetic system.
The cuneiform writing system was used in ancient Mesopotamia and is distinct from the Egyptian hieroglyphs, with the former being more interesting and complex.
A cuneiform tablet from around 1780 BC is introduced, highlighting its historical significance and the fact that it was written in ruled lines from left to right.
The process of writing on clay with a stylus is described, emphasizing the simplicity and longevity of the medium compared to modern digital storage.
The origins of writing are traced back to 3500 BC in Iraq, predating the development of hieroglyphs in Egypt.
The evolution of the script from pictographs to abstract signs is detailed, illustrating the transition from representing real-world objects to a system of recording sounds.
The use of determinatives and phonetic complements in cuneiform writing is explained as a way to aid in understanding the text.
The importance of the trilingual Behistun Inscription in deciphering cuneiform is discussed, highlighting its role in understanding ancient languages.
The contributions of Grotefend, Rawlinson, and Hincks to the decipherment of cuneiform are acknowledged, with a particular emphasis on the underappreciated work of Reverend Edward Hincks.
The process of deciphering cuneiform involved understanding that one sign could have multiple meanings and that one sound could be represented by multiple signs.
The decipherment of cuneiform was a significant achievement, requiring a deep understanding of the languages and the ability to cross-reference between different scripts.
The Royal Asiatic Society's role in validating the decipherment of cuneiform is mentioned, illustrating the scientific and scholarly process behind the acceptance of new knowledge.
The talk concludes with a call to recognize and appreciate the often-overlooked geniuses like Edward Hincks, who made significant contributions to the field of Assyriology.
The speaker humorously compares the evolution of language and communication to the modern use of emojis and text shortcuts, suggesting that human communication has not changed much over millennia.
The practical challenges of reading cuneiform, such as the lack of spaces between words and the need for contextual clues, are discussed.
The historical context and significance of the cuneiform writing system is provided, emphasizing its impact on the development of human civilization.
Transcripts
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