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Question
World History
Posted about 1 year ago
How did they decipher the Cuneiform?
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Answer from Sia
Posted about 1 year ago
Answer
The decipherment of cuneiform, one of the earliest systems of writing, was a complex process that involved the efforts of several scholars over many years. The breakthrough came in the 19th century, primarily through the work of Henry Rawlinson, an English army officer and scholar. Rawlinson's study of the Behistun Inscription, a multilingual inscription on a cliff in Iran, was crucial. The inscription contained the same text in three different languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian (a form of Akkadian). By comparing these texts, Rawlinson and other scholars were able to decode the cuneiform script.
Key Concept
The decipherment of cuneiform was a significant achievement in the field of archaeology and ancient history.
Explanation
The Behistun Inscription played a similar role to the Rosetta Stone in the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs. By having the same text in multiple languages, scholars could use their knowledge of one language to unlock the others. This process involved meticulous comparison and analysis, leading to a greater understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations and their languages.

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