Nu (cuneiform)

{{Short description|Cuneiform sign}}

240px|left|thumb|Cuneiform sign '''nu'''. [[File:Amarna letter mp3h8878.jpg|thumb|right|340px|Amarna letter EA 365-(''Reverse''), Biridiya to Pharaoh, ''"Furnishing Corvée Workers"'';<ref>Moran, William L. 1987, 1992, ''The Amarna Letters,'' letter EA 365, ''Furnishing Corvée Workers,'' p. 363</ref> 2nd line: LÚ.MEŠ-ha-za-'''nu'''-ta-meš.<br/>"Men.(plural)-hazzanu-(pl.)"-('mayor(s)'/'chief magistrate(s)' of a city)<ref>Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379'', ''Glossary:Vocabulary'', '''hazzanu''', pp. 55-87, p. 64.</ref><br/>(High Resolution expandable photo)]]

Cuneiform sign '''nu''' is a common use syllabic, or alphabetic (for ''n'' or ''u''). It is restricted to "nu", but in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'', or elsewhere has a Sumerogram (capital letter, majuscule) use '''NU''', and probably mostly for a component in personal names (PN), god's names, or specialized names for specific items that use Sumerograms.

It is also a common use syllabic/alphabetic sign in the mid 14th-century BC Amarna letters. Since the letters often discuss 'present conditions' in regions, or in cities of the vassal Canaanite region, a segue adverb meaning ''"now"'', or ''now, at this time...,'' Akkadian language "enūma"<ref>Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Glossary, pp. 119-145, '''enūma''', p. 122.</ref> is often used, and almost exclusively using ''nu''.

The usage numbers for ''nu'' in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' are as follows: ''nu''-(317), ''NU''-(2).<ref>Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Sign List, pp. 155-165, no. 075, p. 156.</ref>

==Two styles of "nu" sign== Since the ''nu'' cuneiform sign is in a small category of "2-stroke" signs, it is interesting that there exist two simple varieties of the sign. After the first horizontal stroke is made, it is seen that in many uses an upward stroke is laid upon it (as in the digitized version shown). The second variety is a complete ''wedge-style'' stroke placed upon the horizontal. The premier example shown is on the photo of the reverse of Amarna letter EA 365 (top photo), in the 2nd line, (line 365:16, reverse).

Also, line art drawings of cuneiform signs, from a document, or article have the possibility of showing the ''nu'' sign with either of the two types of the sign, showing either, (arrow) wedge strokes, or a wedge stroke (full triangle-type) stroke. The alternate wedge-triangle type would look similar to this: 100x24px|, but the wedge moved to the center, or beginning of the horizontal (adjacent the head of the horizontal stroke).

===Akkadian language "nukurtu"=== In the Amarna letters, the spelling of Akkadian language (''nuKÚRtu''), "nukurtu",<ref>Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Glossary, pp. 119-145, '''nukurtu''', p. 135.</ref> for ''war'', or ''hostilities'', is almost exclusively spelled starting with ''nu'', but ending with various syllabics to supply the "t" ending. <!-- ==Partial list of signs beginning with wedge (U)== The list:

* Cuneiform-'''U'''--Sign No. '''1'''---100x24px| * Cuneiform-'''AMAR''', '''ṣur''', '''zur'''--Sign No. '''2'''---100x24px|; Sumerogram: '''''See!'''-(''AMAR'') (Akkadian, "'''amāru'''") * Cuneiform-'''di'''--Sign No. '''3'''---100x24px| * Cuneiform-'''ki'''--Sign No. '''4'''---100x24px| * Cuneiform-'''u'''--Sign No. '''u-1'''---100x24px| * Cuneiform-'''ú'''--Sign No. '''u-2'''---100x24px|-(approximate: ''only 3 verticals'' for '''ú''', (the common '''alphabetic u''')) * Cuneiform-'''Ù'''-('''u-3''')--Sign No. '''5'''---100x24px| ** (With an added horizontal, 100x24px|, after the left vertical) * Cuneiform-'''ši''', '''lim''', or '''IGI''' ("in 'face' of", "before" Sumerogram)--Sign No. '''6'''---100x29px|--('''Abdi-Ashirta'''), Abdi-A-'''Ši'''-iR-Ta, (wedge-sign, 4th sign) -->

==See also== *KÚR (cuneiform)#List usage in Amarna letters, for ''nu'' of Akkadian "nukurtu"

==References== {{reflist}}

*Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. ''The Amarna Letters.'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. 393 pages.(softcover, {{ISBN|0-8018-6715-0}}) * Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Parpola, Simo, Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I thru Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119–145), 165 pages. *Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8'', Kevelaer and Neukirchen -Vluyen), 1970, 107 pages.

<!--*Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. ''The Amarna Letters.'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. 393 pages.(softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0) * Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Parpola, Simo, Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I thru Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119–145), 165 pages. *Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8'', Kevelaer and Neukirchen -Vluyen), 1970, 107 pages.

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*Held, Schmalstieg, Gertz, 1987. ''Beginning Hittite''. Warren H. Held, Jr, William R. Schmalstieg, Janet E. Gertz, c. 1987, Slavica Publishers, Inc. w/ Glossaries, Sign List, Indexes, etc, 218 pages. *Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. ''The Amarna Letters.'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. 393 pages.(softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)

MORAN AMARNA <ref>Moran, William L. 1987, 1992, ''The Amarna Letters,'' letter EA 365, ''Furnishing Corvée Workers,'' p. 363 </ref>

<ref>Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. ''The Amarna Letters.'' EA 147, ''A Hymn to the Pharaoh'', pp. 233-235. </ref>

* Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Parpola, Simo, Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I thru Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119–145), 165 pages. *Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8'', Kevelaer and Neukirchen -Vluyen), 1970, 107 pages.

RAINEY-LETTER_REF <ref>Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8''</ref>

SIGN <ref>Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Sign List, pp. 155-165, no. 068, p. 156.</ref> <ref>Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Glossary:Vocabulary, pp. 55-87, p. 24.</ref> <ref>Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' ''EA 365, Biridiya of Megiddo to the King,'' pp. 24-27.</ref>

GLOSS<ref>Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh'', Glossary, pp. 119-145, '''aššum/enūma''', p. 122.</ref> CCCCCCCCC

GLOSS-RAINEY <ref>Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379'', ''Glossary:Vocabulary'', '''saparu''', pp. 55-87, p. 81.</ref>

GLOSS-Buccellati <ref>Buccellati, Giorgio, (Ugarit-Forschungen 11, 1979). ''Comparative Graphemic Analysis of Old Babylonian and Western Akkadian'', pp. 95-100, Graph, p. 96.</ref>

UUU-FFFORS *Ugarit Forschungen (Neukirchen-Vluyn). UF-11 (1979) honors Claude Schaeffer, with about 100 articles in 900 pages. pp 95, ff, "Comparative Graphemic Analysis of Old Babylonian and Western Akkadian", ( i.e. Ugarit and Amarna (letters), three others, Mari, OB,Royal, OB,non-Royal letters). See above, in text.

XXX-BUCCELLATI-XXX-PPPPPP

REF <ref>Buccellati, Giorgio, (Ugarit-Forschungen 11, 1979). ''Comparative Graphemic Analysis of Old Babylonian and Western Akkadian'', pp. 95-100, Graph, p. 96.</ref>

*Buccellati, Giorgio. ''Comparative Graphemic Analysis of Old Babylonian and Western Akkadian'', from ''Ugarit-Forschungen 8'', (Neukirchen-Vluyen). *Rainey, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8'', Kevelaer and Neukirchen -Vluyen), 1970, 107 pages.

<ref>Held, Schmalstieg, Gertz, 1987. ''Beginning Hittite'', Sign List, page 194, page 200.</ref>

Amarna letter mp3h8878.jpg

File:Tablet Zimri-Lim Louvre AO20161.jpg

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File:Hitite cuneiform kv.png|

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{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} <gallery widths="250px" heights="390px" perrow=widths="250px" heights="390px" perrow="2"> C+B-Assyria-CuneiformImage12.PNG|Full EA 365, Reverse </gallery>

{{col-2}} <gallery widths="215px" heights="245px" perrow=widths="215px" heights="245px" perrow="2"> File:Tablet Zimri-Lim Louvre AO20161.jpg|with griffin (Lion (with lion tail) and wings (on Side E)).<br/>The columns of inscription contain, at right: an (cuneiform)-(for DINGIR, god?), and '''pa (cuneiform)'''. </gallery> {{col-end}}

XXX

Amarna letter mp3h8878.jpg --> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} <gallery widths="280px" heights="240px" perrow=widths="280px" heights="240px" perrow="2"> File:Flickr - Nic's events - British Museum with Cory and Mary, 6 Sep 2007 - 163.jpg|Photo from British Museum display: '''nu''', last character, line 6. (last line) </gallery>

{{col-2}} <gallery widths="185px" heights="245px" perrow=widths="185px" heights="245px" perrow="2"> File:MLC 1805.jpg|Line art showing use of '''nu''' cuneiform sign, one use, line 11.</gallery> {{col-end}}

Category:Cuneiform signs