{"id":89,"date":"2016-09-20T21:16:42","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T21:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/navertise.net\/inkandblood\/?post_type=project&p=89"},"modified":"2016-09-29T20:45:23","modified_gmt":"2016-09-29T20:45:23","slug":"origins-of-writing","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/index.php\/project\/origins-of-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Origins of Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” admin_label=”Section”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”Origins of Writing” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” background_url=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/section-bkg.jpg” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_letter_spacing=”0″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_letter_spacing=”0″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″]<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_01.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet<\/div>\n
3200-3000 B.C.<\/div>\n
Ancient Sumer (Iraq)<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_02.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet
\n3200-3000 B.C.
\nAncient Sumer (Iraq)<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_03h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet
\n3200-3000 B.C.
\nAncient Sumer (Iraq)<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_04.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet
\n3200-3000 B.C.
\nAncient Sumer (Iraq)<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Pottery Ink Well” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Pottery Ink Well” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_14h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Pottery Inkwell<\/div>\n
c.1800 B.C.<\/div>\n
Middle Bronze Age<\/div>\n
Israel<\/div>\n
This inkwell actually contains residue of ancient ink.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Pottery Ink Well” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Pottery Ink Well” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_15.jpg”]<\/p>\n

\n
Pottery Inkwell<\/div>\n
Eighth to seventh century B.C.<\/div>\n
Israel<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Brown Marble Cylinder Seal” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Brown Marble Cylinder Seal” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_13h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

\n
Brown Marble Cylinder Seal<\/div>\n
2300-2100 B.C.<\/div>\n
Akkadian<\/div>\n
Mesopotanian Empire (Iraq)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From the earliest times to modern days, individuals have used seals to secure and protect valuable personal items.\u00a0 To make this seal, a waxy substance was applied over a closed container and then impressed with the owner’s private seal (stamped with a stamp seal and rolled with a cylinder seal).\u00a0 Now the container could not be opened without breaking the owner’s seal.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Cuneiform Administrative Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Cuneiform Administrative Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_05h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Cuneiform Clay Tablet<\/div>\n
\n
2000-1600 B.C.<\/div>\n
\n

Old Babylonian Empire (Iraq)<\/p>\n

Administrative \u201cdocument\u201d concerning a land survey<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

The tablet was restored from several fragments with some loss of text.\u00a0 Yet, most of the writing remains intact and easily read.\u00a0 Administrative in nature, the document contains surveys of two plots of arable land.\u00a0 The plots are in strips and described with detailed measurements.\u00a0 Following the descriptions, the area of each plot is summarized.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
The first summary occurs at the lower portion of the obverse side:<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [Total] 60……….iku……..
\nField: […]mahgisdi[b…..]
\nAdjacent to the A’urina canal.
\nFrom it:<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40……….iku, Mr. Qur..[….]
\n10 iku, Mr. Shemash-um[……..]
\n10 iku, Mr. Lugal-zimu<\/div>\n
\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0the two; soldiers to the king<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
The second summary occurs on the reverse and is placed sideways:<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Total: 22 3\/4 iku.
\nFrom it:<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10 iku, Mr. ………………soldier of the king
\n12 3\/4 iku, Mr. Diri<\/div>\n
\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Field: Sagkidu<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
At the end of the table and at the bottom of the reverse side a line repeats the canal name:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 [Canal A] ‘urina<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
The iku represents the Babylonian\u2019s measurement of the land area, about 37,600 square feet (slightly less than an acre).\u00a0 It is evident the land was fertile and valuable because it was irrigated for crops, especially barley, the staple.\u00a0 The use of the two plots was apparently given in payment for services to the state.\u00a0 The two individuals recorded here who farmed the land were likely soldiers under the king.\u00a0 Note that every “soldier of the king” receives 10 iku.\u00a0 Each soldier was expected to live off his plot and would be exempt from his military duties to the king during the necessary agricultural times of the year.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Cuneiform Round School Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Cuneiform Round School Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_06h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Babylonian Round School Tablet<\/div>\n
Cuneiform Clay Tablet<\/div>\n
2000-1500 B.C.<\/div>\n
Old Babylonian Empire (Iraq)<\/div>\n
Standard multiplication table<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Cuneiform School Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Cuneiform School Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_07h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Cuneiform Clay Tablet<\/div>\n
2000-1500 B.C.<\/div>\n
Old Babylonian Empire (Iraq)<\/div>\n
Unfinished school tablet<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Cuneiform Barrel” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Cuneiform Barrel” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_09.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Cuneiform Clay Barrel<\/div>\n
1850-1600 B.C.<\/div>\n
Old Babylonian Empire (Iraq)<\/div>\n
Barrel of Sin-Iddinam<\/div>\n
Sin-Iddinam king of Larsa from 1849-1842 B.C.<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Cuneiform Ritual Tablet” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Cuneiform Ritual Tablet” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_08h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Cuneiform Clay Tablet
\n1900-1700 B.C.
\nOld Babylonian Empire (Iraq)
\nContains a ritual for the Goddess Ishtar
\n(ancient goddess associated with Mother Earth)<\/p>\n

The Old Babylonian clay tablet has text in four columns, each with fifteen to eighteen lines of cuneiform. Three corners are broken off, but the tablet is essentially complete. The cuneiform script is very well preserved on one side, less so on the other, and contains a ritual text about the goddess Ishtar.<\/p>\n

One section reads:<\/p>\n

“…for the bath of the Daughter-of-An; 1 sila of oil for the throne’s anointment; 1 ram, 1 measure of bread, 1 measure of beer: the divine banquet.”<\/p>\n

Tablets addressing Old Babylonian rituals are rare, and thus the text displayed here is important historically.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=” Chinese Oracle Bone” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=” Chinese Oracle Bone” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_11h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Chinese Oracle Bone
\n1300-1100 B.C.
\nLate Shang Dynasty of Anyang
\n<\/em>China<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

This bone was owned by the Philosophical Research Society and was in private ownership before the 1950’s.\u00a0 Since that time no further bones have been permitted to leave China.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Hieroglyphic Writing on Papyrus” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”Hieroglyphic Writing on Papyrus” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_10.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Hieroglyphic Writing on Papyrus<\/div>\n
c.1200 B.C.<\/div>\n
New Kingdom, Egypt<\/div>\n
\n

Fragment of the Book of the Dead.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
The Book of the Dead is the name given by Egyptologists to a group of mortuary spells written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts and accompanying illustrations called vignettes.\u00a0 These were placed with the dead body during the burial or entombment.\u00a0 The spells were thought to help the deceased pass through the dangers of the underworld and attain an afterlife of bliss in the Field of Reeds.\u00a0 Texts and vignettes are also present on the walls of Egyptian tombs as well as on sarcophaguses and coffins.\u00a0 Later examples were written on linen or vellum.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”White Marble Stamp Seal” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#7EBEC5″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#7EBEC5″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”top” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title=”White Marble Stamp Seal” image=”https:\/\/inkandblood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ow_12h.jpg”]<\/p>\n

White Marble Stamp Seal<\/div>\n
3300-2900 B.C.<\/div>\n
Late Uruk\/Jemdet Nasr<\/div>\n
Ancient Sumer (Iraq)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From the earliest times to modern days, individuals have used seals to secure and protect valuable personal items.\u00a0 To make this seal, a waxy substance was applied over a closed container and then impressed with the owner’s private seal (stamped with a stamp seal and rolled with a cylinder seal).\u00a0 Now the container could not be opened without breaking the owner’s seal.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet 3200-3000 B.C. Ancient Sumer (Iraq) Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet 3200-3000 B.C. Ancient Sumer (Iraq) Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet 3200-3000 B.C. Ancient Sumer (Iraq) Proto-Cuneiform Clay Tablet 3200-3000 B.C. Ancient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

The Collection<\/a>\u00a0:\u00a0Origins of Writing<\/h1>

Select an artifact below to view detailed information.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>