Mesopotamia Cuneiform Writing Photos

Writing was invented in Mesopotamia about 3300 BCE. Their cuneiform alphabet involved making rows of indentions in clay tablet with a stylus. Mesopotamians also used stylus & clay for numerical calculations after 3000 BCE. Over time they carried on trade by sealing clay tablets in clay envelopes; to alert of forgeries if writing on the two did not agree. Moving beyond clay, cuneiform was also carved on stone artwork to enhance their memorial functions.

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History of writing relief showing Neolithic cave paintings, Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, & Hebrew carved above portal of Sterling Memorial Library. New Haven, CT.Collection of ancient cuneiform clay tablets from Mesopotamia at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. San Jose, CA.Cuneiform tablet concerning sale of a field & house at the Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Cuneiform tablet with accounting of offerings made to divinities at temple of Lagash at the Louvre Museum. Paris, France.
History of writing relief showing Neolithic cave paintings, Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, & Hebrew carved above portal of Sterling Memorial Library. New Haven, CT.Collection of ancient cuneiform clay tablets from Mesopotamia at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. San Jose, CA.Cuneiform tablet concerning sale of a field & house (2600 BC) at the Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Cuneiform tablet with accounting of offerings made to divinities at temple of Lagash (2370 BC) at the Louvre Museum. Paris, France.
Ancient cuneiform clay tablet from Mesopotamia at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. San Jose, CA.Cuneiform clay tablet calculating new moon for years 118-119 from Uruk at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Cuneiform manuscript describing ritual from Iraq at Chester Beatty Library. Dublin, Ireland.Cuneiform inscription wall by King Nebuchadnezzar II describing why he built Ishtar Gate & processional way at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Ancient cuneiform clay tablet from Mesopotamia at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. San Jose, CA.Cuneiform clay tablet calculating new moon for years 118-119 (written on Jan. 7, 194 BCE) from Uruk (Iraq) at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Cuneiform manuscript describing ritual (626-539 BCE) from Iraq at Chester Beatty Library. Dublin, Ireland.Cuneiform inscription wall by King Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BCE) describing why he built Ishtar Gate & processional way at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Details of cuneiform inscription by King Nebuchadnezzar II using reassembled brick shards from near Ishtar Gate at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Assyrian two winged genie from Nimrud NW Palace of Kings at Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. Munich, Germany.Cuneiform detail of Assyrian two winged genie from Nimrud NW Palace of Kings at Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. Munich, Germany.Iran: alabaster reliefs details of cuneiform writing from palace of Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II at LACMA. Los Angeles, CA.
Details of cuneiform inscription by King Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BCE) using reassembled brick shards from near Ishtar Gate at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Assyrian two winged genie (c870 BCE) from Nimrud NW Palace of Kings at Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. Munich, Germany.Cuneiform detail of Assyrian two winged genie (c870 BCE) from Nimrud NW Palace of Kings at Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. Munich, Germany.Iran: alabaster reliefs details of cuneiform writing from palace of Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (883-858 BCE) at LACMA. Los Angeles, CA.
Detail of cuneiform on Alabaster Assyrian relief from Nimrud Palace in Yale Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.


Detail of cuneiform on Alabaster Assyrian relief (883-859 B.C.) from Nimrud Palace in Yale Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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