Ancient scripts are writing systems used by various civilizations throughout history, each with unique characteristics that reflect their culture, language, and technological advancements. Here is an exploration of some key ancient scripts:
Cuneiform, one of the earliest known forms of written expression, emerged in Sumer around 3500-3000 BC. This script was initially used for accounting purposes but later evolved to include literature, laws, and various other texts. Cuneiform was written on clay tablets using a reed stylus, creating wedge-shaped impressions. It was adapted by other cultures in Mesopotamia, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.
Egyptian Hieroglyphs are another iconic ancient script, used by the Egyptians from around 3100 BC until the 4th century AD. Hieroglyphs were a formal script used for religious literature, monumental inscriptions, and official documents. They consisted of over 700 characters, which included phonetic signs, logograms, and determinatives. The decipherment of hieroglyphs was achieved in the 19th century with the help of the Rosetta Stone.
Linear B is the script used by Mycenaean Greeks during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1450-1200 BC). This script was used to record the Greek language on clay tablets. It was primarily an administrative tool, documenting economic transactions, military records, and inventories. Linear B was deciphered in 1952 by Michael Ventris, revealing it to be an early form of Greek.
The Oracle Bone Script of ancient China is one of the oldest forms of Chinese writing, dating back to the late Shang Dynasty (c. 1200-1046 BC). Used for divination, these characters were inscribed on animal bones or turtle shells. This script evolved into the modern Chinese Characters over centuries.
Ogham is an early medieval alphabet used to write the early Irish language. Dating from the 4th to the 9th centuries AD, Ogham inscriptions are found mostly on stone monuments in Ireland, but also in parts of the UK and on the Isle of Man. It's characterized by lines or notches cut into the edges of standing stones.
These ancient scripts evolved from pictographic or ideographic symbols to more abstract and phonetic systems. The transition was often influenced by:
The decipherment of ancient scripts often required: