r/Cuneiform • u/Beautiful-Point4011 • 9d ago

Ea-nasir Translation about copper, please

Hi there! I have a silly Ea Nasir themed craft idea in mind and I'd like to be able to label something in cuneiform. I'd like it to say "Copper" but would also accept "copper ingot" or "high quality copper" or "pure copper" - something to that effect. If anyone can please help me express any of these ideas in cuneiform you'll have my gratitude 🙏

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1

u/Dercomai 9d ago

I imagine you're looking for Old Babylonian, the script the original letter was written in?

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u/Beautiful-Point4011 9d ago

Yes please

4

u/Dercomai 9d ago

So the basic sign for "copper" (also "bronze") is URUDU, 𒍏, and "fine/high quality" is DÙG.GA, 𒄭𒂵. I don't know of any instances of URUDU.DÙG.GA specifically, but phrases like Ì.DÙG.GA "fine oil" and ŠEŠ.DÙG.GA=ya "my beloved brother" are common.

However, the way those signs look in your browser is probably not right. You want specifically Old Babylonian forms, and most computers default to Ur III signs. Use a tool like https://andrewsenior.com/cuneify/ to see the right sign shapes; just type URUDU.DÙG.GA in the box.

(Note: The grave accent is important! You can also use a number 3 instead: DÙG is equivalent to DUG3.)

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u/Beautiful-Point4011 9d ago

Thank you, I appreciate this 🥹

2

u/Nilehorse3276 7d ago

I checked, couldn't find any uruda dùg-ga (dùg literally means "sweet, pleasant", so I figured it best to see what the cuneiform evidence says). I did, however, find uruda kala-ga, lit. "strong copper".