Cuneiform: meaning, definitions and examples
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cuneiform
[ ˈkjuːnɪfɔːm ]
ancient writing system
Cuneiform is an ancient writing system that was used in Mesopotamia. It consisted of wedge-shaped characters impressed on clay tablets and was one of the earliest forms of writing in the world. Cuneiform was primarily used for administrative and record-keeping purposes.
Synonyms
clay tablet script, wedge-shaped writing
Examples of usage
- Scholars have deciphered thousands of cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia.
- The scribes in ancient Babylon were trained to write in cuneiform.
Translations
Translations of the word "cuneiform" in other languages:
🇵🇹 cuneiforme
🇮🇳 क्यूनिफॉर्म
🇩🇪 Keilschrift
🇮🇩 kuniform
🇺🇦 клинопис
🇵🇱 pismo klinowe
🇯🇵 楔形文字
🇫🇷 écriture cunéiforme
🇪🇸 cuneiforme
🇹🇷 çivi yazısı
🇰🇷 설형 문자
🇸🇦 الكتابة المسمارية
🇨🇿 klinové písmo
🇸🇰 klinové písmo
🇨🇳 楔形文字
🇸🇮 klinasto pismo
🇮🇸 kínaletur
🇰🇿 бұрыштық жазу
🇬🇪 კუნიფორმი
🇦🇿 küniform yazı
🇲🇽 cuneiforme
Word origin
The word 'cuneiform' comes from the Latin term cuneus, which means 'wedge'. The cuneiform writing system was developed by the Sumerians around 3500 BCE and later adopted by other Mesopotamian civilizations. It was used for over three millennia before eventually being replaced by other writing systems. The decipherment of cuneiform was a major breakthrough in understanding ancient Mesopotamian culture and history.