by math in cuneiform
I’m no mathematician but I’d like to point you to a fascinating review in the New York Times: Masters of Math, From Old Babylon. I wish I could see this this exhibition in person, however the online information and photos are very good. These clay tablets used in ancient mathematics predate Pythagoras by more than a thousand years, so they are truly an incredible discovery.
I like the look of cuneiform script as a type of ancient writing on tablets and I particularly love them just as sculptural art forms. I recall last year admiring the (non-math) cuneiform tablets in the British Museum such as the one below which I scanned from a BM postcard I’d picked up. It is very much younger being only from the 7th century BC.
Related in a fun way is this long ago post on cuneiform writing.
November 29, 2010 in History, Rock Art & Archaeology by Marja-Leena
Is that a spelling mistake, bottom right hand corner, third line up?
I read that article. Like you, I like things that one can speculate about but not understand. It makes me feel very peaceful, somehow, to contemplate all that past time.
That’s a funny comment from Joe.
It seems to me if all modern business was being conducted in cuneiform we wouldn’t be seeing results of such major theft. I think I’ll send some clay to the Federal Reserve and Goldman Sachs.
Joe, hah, you almost got me there to go look for a mistake in my own writing! Very funny!
Hattie, yes, well said!
Susan, you are funny too! Great suggestion!