Cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform (/kjuːˈniːfɔːrəm/ or /kjuːˈniːfərəm/) is one of the earliest systems of writing, invented by the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia around 3200 BC. The term "cuneiform" comes from the Latin cuneus, meaning "wedge", and forma, meaning "shape". It refers to the wedge-shaped marks made by a reed stylus on clay tablets.
Etymology
The term "cuneiform" was first used in Latin by Johannes de Spire in 1440, who noted the wedge-shaped (cuneus) form of the letters. The term was later adopted into English in the 19th century, during the early days of Assyriology, the study of the history, archaeology, and culture of ancient Mesopotamia.
Pronunciation
The word "cuneiform" is pronounced as /kjuːˈniːfɔːrəm/ or /kjuːˈniːfərəm/.
Related Terms
- Sumerians: The ancient civilization that invented cuneiform.
- Mesopotamia: The region in the Eastern Mediterranean where cuneiform was first used.
- Assyriology: The study of the history, archaeology, and culture of ancient Mesopotamia.
- Clay tablet: The medium on which cuneiform was typically written.
- Reed stylus: The tool used to write in cuneiform.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cuneiform
- Wikipedia's article - Cuneiform
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