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Reading Neo-Babylonian Names

  • Cornell Thissen*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The proper transcription of logograms used for verbs in Neo-Babylonian names is not always clear for modern readers: as logograms are polyvalent, it is often possible to interpret written Neo-Babylonian names in multiple ways. This chapter shows that Babylonian scribes followed a consistent orthographic system. They used logograms very carefully and avoided confusion by resorting to syllabic spellings, phonetic complements, or unique name elements. The chapter explains, step by step, how this system worked, and it offers practical tools for determining the correct reading of logographically spelled Babylonian names.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPersonal Names in Cuneiform Texts from Babylonia (c. 750–100 BCE)
Subtitle of host publicationAn Introduction
EditorsCaroline Waerzeggers, Melanie M. Groß
PublisherCambridge University Press
Chapter6
Pages93-106
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9781009291071
ISBN (Print)9781009291088
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024.

Keywords

  • Cuneiform spelling of Babylonian names
  • Orthographic rules
  • Phonetic complements
  • Verbal logograms

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