#487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths

Overview

This episode features Irving Finkel, a scholar of ancient languages and curator at the British Museum, as he delves into the origins of writing, the deciphering of cuneiform tablets, ancient flood myths, and the cultural significance of board games. Finkel shares his insights on Mesopotamian history, the evolution of language, and the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations.

Notable Quotes

- The limits of our language mean the limits of our world. – Ludwig Wittgenstein, referenced by Lex Fridman.

- The big mistake for mankind was the creation of monotheistic religions because they brought evil into the world. – Irving Finkel, on the divisive nature of monotheism.

- The British Museum is a lighthouse in a universe surrounded by darkness, ignorance, and stupidity. – Irving Finkel, on the museum's role in preserving human history.

📝 The Origins of Writing

- Writing began around 3500 BC in Mesopotamia, evolving from pictographs to cuneiform, a system capable of recording sounds and grammar. (Irving Finkel)

- Early writing was used for practical purposes like trade, contracts, and lexicography, which standardized symbols and preserved them for millennia.

- Cuneiform was a complex, flexible system that lasted over 3,000 years, eventually replaced by the alphabet due to its simplicity.

🌊 Ancient Flood Myths and the Ark Tablet

- Finkel discusses a Babylonian flood narrative from 1700 BC, predating the biblical Noah story by a millennium.

- The tablet describes a round ark, a practical design based on Mesopotamian coracles, and provides detailed construction instructions.

- He argues the flood myth likely originated from a real catastrophic event in Mesopotamia, later adapted into various cultural and religious contexts.

🎲 The Royal Game of Ur and Ancient Board Games

- The Royal Game of Ur, a 4,500-year-old board game, was widely played across the ancient world for nearly three millennia.

- Finkel reconstructed its rules from a cuneiform tablet, revealing a mix of strategy and chance similar to modern backgammon.

- Board games served as a form of time pass, fostering social interaction and intellectual engagement in ancient societies.

🏛️ The Role of the British Museum

- The British Museum preserves over 130,000 cuneiform tablets, offering insights into ancient civilizations.

- Finkel emphasizes the museum's mission to celebrate human achievements and serve future generations by safeguarding artifacts.

- He critiques modern skepticism toward museums, highlighting their importance in understanding humanity's shared history.

📜 Translation and the Art of Deciphering Cuneiform

- Deciphering cuneiform involves understanding syllabic writing, multivalent signs, and context-dependent meanings.

- Finkel highlights the challenges of translation, where subtle variations in words can alter entire narratives.

- He praises the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary as a monumental tool for understanding the richness of the Babylonian language.