# The secret to deciphering the Cuneiform ancient language | Irving Finkel and Lex Fridman Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5T9qf8Xf0E Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/k5T9qf8Xf0E Generated: 2025-12-18T21:34:44.059+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The decipherment of Cuneiform, particularly the Behistun Inscription, was made possible by scholars like Sir Henry Rawlinson and Edward Hincks, who used the trilingual text (Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian cuneiform) to unlock the more complex scripts, revealing that Sumerian was not related to Semitic languages but was instead an early example of a language isolate or language isolate family that required a syllabic writing system. **Key Points:** - The Behistun Inscription (c. 520–518 BCE) is trilingual, featuring text in Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian cuneiform, which provided the key to decipherment. - Sir Henry Rawlinson, known as the "Father of Assyriology" (1810–1895), deciphered the Old Persian script first, which then served as the foundation for translating the two more complex cuneiform scripts. - Edward Hincks, a clergyman from Northern Ireland, was also a crucial pioneer in the decipherment process, working concurrently with Rawlinson. - Sumerian, an early written language, is not part of the Semitic language family (like Akkadian, Hebrew, or Arabic) but is considered a language isolate or belongs to a small isolate family. - Cuneiform writing, particularly for Sumerian, functioned as a syllabic writing system, where signs represented syllables (like 'ab,' 'ib,' 'ub,' 'eb') rather than just consonants, unlike the early Old Persian script. - The complexity of Sumerian grammar and sign values made its decipherment more challenging than the relatively simpler Old Persian script. ![Screenshot at 00:04: 04:Lex Fridman asks the expert about the process of deciphering the Cuneiform language, prompting the expert to explain the role of the Behistun Inscription and the inherent difficulties in understanding the syllabic nature of Sumerian.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-04.png) **Context:** This interview segment features Lex Fridman speaking with an expert (implied to be Irving Finkel, based on the context of Cuneiform discussion) about the historical process of deciphering ancient cuneiform scripts, particularly the monumental trilingual Behistun Inscription. The discussion focuses on the key figures involved, like Sir Henry Rawlinson and Edward Hincks, and highlights the structural differences between the languages involved, specifically contrasting the Semitic languages with the language isolate, Sumerian. ## Detailed Analysis The conversation centers on the decipherment of Cuneiform, specifically referencing the Behistun Inscription (c. 520–518 BCE) as the crucial Rosetta Stone moment for this ancient writing system. Sir Henry Rawlinson, dubbed the 'Father of Assyriology' (1810–1895), successfully deciphered the Old Persian script first because it was relatively simple, which then provided the key to translating the more complex Elamite and Babylonian cuneiform scripts also present on the monument. The expert notes that Edward Hincks, an Irish clergyman and fellow pioneer, also made significant contributions, even if Rawlinson historically received more credit. The discussion moves to the nature of the Sumerian language, which was recorded in Cuneiform alongside Babylonian. The expert emphasizes that Sumerian is not related to Semitic languages (like Hebrew or Arabic) but is a language isolate, meaning its structure is fundamentally different. He explains that Sumerian writing is syllabic, where signs represent consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., ba, bi, bu, be), contrasting with the simpler consonant-based systems of related languages. This complexity meant that even once the Old Persian was cracked, deciphering the Sumerian portion, which lacked word separation, was much harder, requiring careful contextual analysis. ### Decipherment Key - The Behistun Inscription is trilingual (Elamite, Babylonian, Old Persian cuneiform) - Rawlinson deciphered Old Persian first, providing the key to the other two - Edward Hincks was also a critical pioneer, working on the decipherment. ### Sumerian Language Structure - Sumerian is a language isolate, not related to Semitic languages like Akkadian or Hebrew - It uses a syllabic writing system where signs represent consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., ba, bi, bu, be) - Unlike the Old Persian, Sumerian lacked clear word spacing. ### Learning Cuneiform - The process involves learning hundreds of signs and choosing the correct sound/value based on context - The lack of word separation makes reading Sumerian difficult, requiring context to parse meaning. ![Screenshot at 00:02: 00:The Lex Fridman Podcast intro screen featuring Lex Fridman against a backdrop of Earth from space.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-02.png) ![Screenshot at 00:07: 00:The expert explains the difficulty of deciphering Cuneiform without relying on known related languages.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-07.png) ![Screenshot at 00:10: 59:A Cuneiform code chart is displayed, sourced from Irving Finkel and Jonathan Taylor's book.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-10.png) ![Screenshot at 00:34: 08:The expert explains that the early Sumerian writing system was syllabic, contrasting with consonant-based alphabets.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-34.png) ![Screenshot at 00:34: 35:A slide shows the Behistun Inscription, noting its trilingual nature in Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian cuneiform, which aided decipherment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/k5T9qf8Xf0E/00-00-34.png)