The discussion details the origins of writing in Mesopotamia around 3500 BC, highlighting the revolutionary leap from simple pictographs to a phonetic system capable of recording complex language. This was sustained for millennia through the early invention of lexicography, which standardized signs and ensured their retrievability.
The conversation touches upon the 19th-century decipherment of cuneiform, a monumental intellectual achievement. It highlights the crucial role of the trilingual Bisutun inscription and champions the often-overlooked contributions of Irish clergyman Edward Hinks as the true genius behind the breakthrough.
A central theme is the direct link between Mesopotamian myths and biblical narratives, exemplified by the Ark Tablet's flood story which predates and shares specific details with the story of Noah. Finkel argues that these stories were absorbed and adapted by Hebrew scribes during the Babylonian exile.
The discussion explores the practical and polytheistic nature of Mesopotamian religion, where gods were powerful but human-like figures whose existence was taken for granted. This worldview extended to an acceptance of ghosts and a pragmatic view of mortality, which was seen as an inevitable part of the natural order.
Keep pulling the thread on Irving Finkel.