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What were the main uses of Mesopotamian cuneiform in ancient times?

Julia Tathacott

In ancient times, the main use of Mesopotamian cuneiform was for writing. Mesopotamian cuneiform was one of the earliest forms of writing in the world. It was used in ancient Mesopotamia, which is now the region of Iraq.

Cuneiform was used for various purposes, such as writing letters, recording laws, keeping track of trade transactions, and documenting historical events. Scribes and priests were the main people who used cuneiform. They were highly respected in society because they were the ones who knew how to read and write.

Cuneiform was written using a stylus, which was a pointed instrument made of reed or bone. Scribes wrote on clay tablets with the stylus. The writing consisted of wedges and lines that formed different shapes and symbols.

One of the most famous uses of cuneiform was for writing stories and myths. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest stories in the world and was written in cuneiform. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, a king who goes on a quest to find the secret of eternal life.

Cuneiform was also important for documenting scientific and mathematical knowledge. Mesopotamian mathematicians used cuneiform to come up with the concept of the circle and to calculate the area and volume of different shapes.

In conclusion, Mesopotamian cuneiform was used for writing, documenting laws and trade transactions, recording historical events, writing stories and myths, and documenting scientific and mathematical knowledge. It was a complex form of writing that was highly respected in ancient Mesopotamia.