Cracking Ancient Codes: Cuneiform Writing - with Irving Finkel

Writing is generally agreed to be among the greatest inventions in human history, perhaps the greatest invention, since it made history possible.

Writing seems to have been invented in the late fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia in the form of wedge-shaped marks pressed into soft clay with a reed stylus: the script known as cuneiform. Through his work on this ancient language, Irving Finkel, has uncovered amazing secrets from over five thousand years ago, including the story behind Noah’s ark.

Irving Finkel is the curator in charge of cuneiform inscriptions on tablets of clay from ancient Mesopotamia at the British Museum, of which the Middle East Department has the largest collection of any modern museum. This work involves reading and translating all sorts of inscriptions, sometimes working on ancient archives to identify manuscripts that belong together, or even join to one another. He is the author of The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood.

This talk was filmed in the Ri on 18 January 2019.

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[brianweaver]

The internet humbly requests more Irving Finkel.

[thaqafi]

This man looks exactly like how I imagine a man who cracks ancient codes would look like

[tcbcapri]

I'm exceedingly grateful for the Royal Institute providing these lectures to the general public to see and to learn from; Thank you.

[hendrikdebruin]

A modest genius. The ultimate grandfather. The human being we strive to be. I salute you from Africa sir. May your years be long, healthy and blessed.

[fireangel]

Best lecture I’ve seen in a while. I openly laughed in a empty room by myself and learned at the same time. Please bring this man back for more.

[ryPish]

"The shift from pictographic use to writing sounds was the only real giant leap man has ever made apart from the development of the Electric Guitar."
― _Irving Finkel, intellectual, prophet, sage and rockstar_

[Macrogue]

This man is fantastic. Engaging, precise, full of humour - a superb presentation.

[lightsteps]

The kind of professor one hopes for and seldom is blessed with.

[friedbones]

I had one instructor in all my college classes that was very like Irving Finkel. We never got bored in class and because of his delivery, we very rarely forgot the subject matter covered in any of his presentations. Being entertained augments memory for many people and I remember him because I was thoroughly entertained by the presentations I sat through. Awesome presenter. I would have taken every class Irving Finkel offered up had he instructed at my school.

[WysteriaGuitar]

I studied Sumerian and Akkadian in the late 80's for 4 years for a Master's in History (yes I said 4 years not 2). I would usually spend about 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week studying. It's a very difficult language, especially when you are learning it to understand the history of the Sumerians. Do not regret it at all. Did not become a professional historian (as the pay is terrible), and went on to get other degrees and a different profession, but now that I am close to retirement I am thinking about digging out all my transliterations and books and doing some research to publish a paper or two. The Sumerian language is more understood now then when I went through school.

[MaxGalofre]

21:07 "So, the interesting thing is... I won't dwell on this melodramatic matter in case sensitive people feel faint, but when you start learning Sumerian, the business of leaping off a high building head-first onto the concrete is massively appealing on a daily basis". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[jonahperelman]

His book "The Ark Before Noah" is one of my all-time favorites, and I have nothing more than a passing layman's knowledge of his subject. It's as entertaining to read as his lectures are to hear. And he has a preternatural gift for taking unbelievably complex subject matter and making it comprehensible and enjoyable.

On a totally unrelated matter, I really want that suit.

[Themarkofegypt]

I'm an Egyptian Egyptologist and it cracked me up when he mentioned the thing about the who came up first with writing...I wish all Egyptologist were like him indeed

[joebombero]

I had a close friend in high school German class. Life took us in different directions and we met years later and learned we had both been in fraternities in college. We started sending each other notes, letters and later emails using the Greek alphabet phonetically spelling out simple German vocabulary. Nobody ever figured out our code. I still like to use Greek letters when I write down clues to remember passwords online.

[petermoore]

He is hilarious, why isn't he more famous?

[jortand]

"This is the most insulting and babylike map I could find" I love this guy so much

[cmdrtianyilin]

40 minutes just whoosed by and I'm here, glued to the screen. What a fantastic lecturer he is! 40 minutes worth spending.

[JH-kwzy]

I cannot describe the gratitude and affection I feel for Dr. Irving Finkel. A great mind, resource, and a genuine star ! Never get tired if hearing him speak.

[drg]

This man is an awesome educator! As an Egyptian, I find his subtle digs against Ancient Egypt hilarious :)

[BookOfFaustus]

One time I saw him sitting on a bench casually reading a book in Hebrew. He's a madlad and a total legend!