Dictionary of the Oldest Written Language–It Took 90 Years to Complete, and It’s Now Free Online

It took 90 years to complete. But, in 2011, scholars at the University of Chicago finally published a 21-volume dictionary of Akkadian, the language used in ancient Mesopotamia. Unspoken for 2,000 years, Akkadian was preserved on clay tablets and in stone inscriptions until scholars deciphered it during the last two centuries.

In the past, we’ve published audio that lets you hear the reconstructed sounds of Akkadian (Hear The Epic of Gilgamesh Read in the Original Akkadian and Enjoy the Sounds of Mesopotamia). Now, should you wish, you can download PDFs of U. Chicago’s Akkadian dictionary for free. All 21 volumes would cost well over $1,945 if purchased in hard copy. But the PDFs, they won’t run you a dime.

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Listen to The Epic of Gilgamesh Being Read in its Original Ancient Language, Akkadian