Cuneiform writing was one of the earliest forms of writing, developed in the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. Babylonian society was a complex social structure and had a need, as we do today, to record such things as temple acquisitions, land transactions, financial loans, as well as their epic stories and personal letters. They would write these documents and letters on a wet clay tablet, which was then dried, retaining the inscriptions. Cuneiform is instantly recognisable by the wedge-shaped marks, usually pressed into clay tablets. Indeed, the name ‘cuneiform’ literally means “wedge-shaped”. The text would have been written using a blunt reed.
Old Babylonian Clay Tablet
$4,005.16
Sassanian Agate Stamp Seal with an Incised Male Profile
$400.52
Old Babylonian Clay Cuneiform Tablet
$1,289.80
A complete Old Babylonian pillow-shaped clay tablet carved onto the obverse, sides and reverse with cuneiform scripts. The tablet displays the cuneiform sign ‘ki’ or ‘e2’, indicative of a place or house respectively. The repetition of the sign, which appears on the left side of the tablet, suggests that this piece could have been used as a practice tool for writing.
Out of stock
Additional information
| Weight | 78 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.1 × 6.3 cm |
| Culture | Near Eastern |
| Region | Near East (Western Asiatic) |
| Pottery porcelain | Terracotta |
| Pottery and Porcelain | Terracotta |
