How to Write in Cuneiform Symbols

Learn how to write a few cuneiform symbols.

One of the earliest cultivated societies, Sumeria began more than 5,000 years ago. They developed a writing system on clay tablets called tokens. On these tokens, they would create simple images and counting marks in pictograph form. As the writing evolved, it became more concise, with specific forms and shapes representing words and phrases. These writing systems are called cuneiform, and it was used for 3,000 years. Teach a friend or family member how to write a few cuneiform glyphs to share a secret language.

Instructions

"La" Cuneiform Syllable

1. Draw a small triangle on a sheet of paper with one point of the triangle facing right. At the tip of the triangle, draw a short horizontal line.

2. Sketch three more triangles and lines next to the first line. The first line should touch the flat end of the middle triangle. All triangles and lines should face to the right.

3. Create another small triangle at the top end of the three lines. The triangle's narrow end should face down. Draw a vertical line extending from the tip of the triangle down the length of the three lines. This glyph forms the syllable "la."

"Hal" Cuneiform Syllable

1. Draw a small triangle with the narrow tip facing to the right. Draw a short line extending from the tip of the triangle.

2. Create a second triangle the same way you created the first, and draw a short line extending from the narrow tip. The flat end of the second triangle should touch the line from the first triangle.

3. This symbol creates the sound "ha." Combine this glyph with others to form words.

"Bi" Cuneiform Syllable

1. Draw two small triangles with the narrow ends facing to the right. The triangles should be close but not touching each other.

2. Create a line from the tip of each triangle. Make it slightly long.

3. Form two capital "A" shapes at the end of each line. The "A" shapes should be horizontal with the top of the "A" touching the tip of each line. This glyph creates the phrase "bi."

Bread Cuneiform Symbol

1. Draw a medium-sized triangle with the narrowest point facing downward.

2. Create a line through the top third of the triangle.

3. Use this symbol to create the word bread.

Barley Symbol

1. Draw a long vertical line on a sheet of paper.

2. Sketch four short lines angled upward on the left side of the vertical line. The angled lines should touch the vertical line.

3. Create four short angled lines on the right side of the vertical lines directly opposite of the angled lines on the left. These lines should touch the vertical line. This symbol creates the word barley.

Tips & Warnings

• Memorize the different glyph shapes to form words quickly.

• Study the different forms of words. Earliest forms look more pictorial, while later forms are more wedge-shaped.

References

• The British Museum: Writing: The Development of Writing
• Ancient Scripts: Sumerian
• Omniglot: Akkadian
• "The Inventions of Cuneiform: Writing in Sumer"; Jean-Jacques Glassner, et al.; 2003