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Sumerian · Book

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Sumerian · Book

The first cities. The first stories. Still here, written in clay.

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Tablet imagery credited per item.

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The corpus

All tablets.

Every tablet in the corpus — sortable by date, title or period; filterable by theme and period. Find a name, follow a period, or explore a subject through the records it left behind.

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Theme

Religion & Myth Law Economy Astronomy & Mathematics Daily Life Writing & Literature

Period

Ubaid Uruk Period Early Dynastic Akkadian Empire Ur III · Neo-Sumerian Old Babylonian Old Assyrian Middle Babylonian Middle Assyrian Neo-Assyrian Neo-Babylonian Achaemenid Persian

Source

Editorial Sumerian literature Sumerian royal Assyrian royal Assyrian archives

35 of 102,257 tablets · 6 filters activeClear filters

1–35 of 35

~3300 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

Clay tablet, late Uruk period, 3300-3100 BCE. Proto-cuneiform signs, food issue list " rations" written by combining a human head and a bowl. Purchased via Christie's in 1989, with contribution from the British Museum Friends

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Clay tablet, late Uruk period, 3300-3100 BCE. Proto-cuneiform signs, food issue list " rations" written by combining a human head and a bowl (the triangular object…

·Daily Life

~3200 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

Proto-Cuneiform Account Tablet (VAT 15211)

An early example of administrative writing from Uruk. Its fragmentary numerical entries and commodity signs document record-keeping during the formative period of writing.

Writing & Literature·Economy

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 183

[1] [...] 1 [...] KAB 1 NAM2 DI 1 NAM2 NAM2 1 [...] 1 NAM2 PA RAD 1 AB ME 1 GAL N58.BAD 1 EN [...] 1 [...] 1 [...] 1 [...] 41, X [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 184

Obverse [1] [...] envoy 1 chief of the milk [1] [...] 1 chief of the storehouse 1 chief of the cattle-pen 1 [chief of] UMUN2 1 chief of [...] 1 IM TUR [N] [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 188

Obverse 1 NAMEŠDA (the chief official) 1 NAM2 KAB (leader of KAB?) 1 NAM2 DI (leader of DI) 1 NAM2 NAM2 (leader of leaders) 1 NAM2 URU? (leader of the city?) 1 PA ŠE NAM2 (leader of barley / grain overseer) 1 NAM2 RAD (leader of RAD) 1 AB ME 1 GAL X (chief of ...) 1 EN? [...] 1 X [...] 1 X [...] 1 [...] 1 [...] Reverse [N] 1(N14) EN 2(N57) [E2 ...]

Writing & Literature·Daily Life

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 194

1 (entry): NAM2 DI (an official title) 1 (entry): NAM2 NAM2 (an official title) 1 (entry): NAM2 URU (official of the settlement?) [1 (entry)]: [...] NAM2 1 (entry): ŠE NAM2 (official of the barley?) 1 (entry): NAM2 RAD PA (an official title) 1 (entry): [...] 1 (entry): KINGAL (leader of the assembly) 1 (entry): GAL TE (chief TE-official) 1 (entry): SUKKAL (messenger) [...] 41+[n]: ... [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000022, ex. 032

Obverse 1. [1] (entry): GIŠ ḪI GIŠ TUN3a — wooden (item) of the TUN3-implement(?) 2. [1] (entry): [GIŠ] ADa — [wooden] AD-object(?) 3. [1] (entry): [...] 4. 1 (entry): SI TAG GIŠ — horn(?)/SI-TAG wooden (item) 5. [1] (entry): [...] 6. [N] (entry): [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 098

(Beginning destroyed) [1] [......] [1] DUG~b-vessel [with] an (unidentified) inscribed sign [1] DUG~b-vessel with NAGA~a inscribed(?) 1 DUG~b-vessel with an (unidentified) inscribed sign 1 [......] 1 GAN~c(?) [......] 1 GAN~c(?) [......] [N] [......] (rest destroyed)

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000026, ex. 055

Obverse(?) 1 [...] 1 URI 1 MUD3~a(?) 1 MUD3@g (gunû form of MUD3) 1 MIR~b 1 [...] 1 [...] Reverse(?) 1(N34) 2(N14) [...]: [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodOur engine

CDLI Lexical 000026, ex. 056

1, X 1, SZAKIR (churn) 1, [...] 1, [...] 1, [...] 1, [...] 1, [...] 1, ŠU2 GU 1, ŠU2 GU [...] 1, large TUN3-implement(?) 1, 2(N57) ŠU TUN3-implement(?) 1, 1(N57)? ŠU TUN3-implement(?) 1, AL(?) [...] 1, [...] 1(N34) 4(N01), [...]

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

Kish Tablet

An early witness to systematic administrative notation at Kish. Its signs and numerals can be catalogued, but that does not establish a full translation or prove that it is the world's first writing.

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 176

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 176. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 182

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 182. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 185

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 185. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 186

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 186. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000022, ex. 031

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000022, ex. 031. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 097

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 097. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical Archaic Unidentified, ex. 127

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical Archaic Unidentified, ex. 127. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical Archaic Unidentified, ex. 128

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical Archaic Unidentified, ex. 128. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

MS 2900/04

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — MS 2900/04. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

Trudy Otdela Vostoka 3 p. 27ff.:2

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — Trudy Otdela Vostoka 3 p. 27ff.:2. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Religion & Myth·Daily Life

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 177

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 177. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 178

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 178. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 179

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 179. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 180

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 180. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 181

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 181. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 187

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 187. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 189

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 189. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 190

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 190. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 192

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000002, ex. 192. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 001

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 001. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 095

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 095. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 096

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000023, ex. 096. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

CDLI Lexical 000265, ex. 011

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — CDLI Lexical 000265, ex. 011. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature

~3100 BCE·Uruk PeriodEditorial

MSVO 1, 243

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Uruk III (ca. 3200-3000 BC)) — MSVO 1, 243. This record has no stored scholarly English translation; the existence of published translations has not been checked; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Writing & Literature