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Learn about the history, features and symbols of the Sumerian cuneiform, the earliest known writing system. See examples of Sumerian texts, videos and links to resources.
Cuneiform scripts are marked by and named for the characteristic wedge-shaped impressions (Latin: cuneus) which form their signs. Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system and was originally developed to write the Sumerian language of southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq).
Nov 17, 2022 · Cuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500 BCE. It is considered the most significant among the many cultural contributions of the Sumerians and the greatest among those of the Sumerian city of Uruk, which advanced the writing of cuneiform c. 3200 BCE and allowed for the creation of literature.
- Joshua J. Mark
- Yes. Cuneiform predates any other written language including Egyptian hieroglyphics or Chinese script. It is possible that the script of the Indus...
- The word cuneiform comes from the Latin "cuneus", meaning "wedge", and was coined in reference to the wedge-like shapes of the characters of the wr...
- Cuneiform was first deciphered c. 1823.
- Cuneiform is important because it opened up ancient Mesopotamian history for the modern age in the same way the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyph...
Cuneiform, system of writing used in the ancient Middle East. The name, a coinage from Latin and Middle French roots meaning ‘wedge-shaped,’ has been the modern designation from the early 18th century onward. Learn more about cuneiform’s development and influence.
- Jaan Puhvel
The cuneiform script (kjuːˈniːəfɔrm) is the earliest known form of written expression. As such, those writings that remain are communications from peoples long gone from the earth. Created by the Sumerians in approximately 3000 B.C.E., cuneiform writing began as a system of pictographs.
Bibliography. Further reading. External links. Sumerian language. Sumerian (Sumerian: 𒅴𒂠, romanized: Emeg̃ir, lit. '' native language '') was the language of ancient Sumer. It is one of the oldest attested languages, dating back to at least 2900 BC.
