Cuneiform is one of the oldest writing systems of the world. Sumero-Akkadian cuneiform dates back to 3000 BCE and was used for more than 2000 years. Cuneiform writing consists of wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay with a stylus. Its unique three dimensional form is beautiful to the eye, but to really appreciate it you must hold it in your hands.
Meet us on Worldcon 2017 at Helsinki!
Team Cooleiform consist of students of Assyriology (the study of ancient Mesopotamian languages and culture) at the University of Helsinki. We read cuneiform texts at the university, but writing in cuneiform is our hobby and a way to show to the public how beautiful the cuneiform tradition is.
We sell hand-written tablets and accessories with both excerpts of ancient texts and our own retrotranslations. (Why send a postcard saying you were at Worldcon, if you can send a clay tablet telling the same?) Our table will be full of clay tablets and jewellery items made of polymer clay, but we also take commissions: you can have your name or message written in the way Sumerians or Babylonians would have written it. We think cuneiform is cool, so that’s why we’re here.
We'll be bringing cuneiform to modern age by turning the heritage into jewellery and other cool accessories. Our art combines academic tradition with handicraft.
The best of Babylonian literary tradition as a pendant?
On the left: From the prologue of the Code of Hammurabi, he claims he was meant to write the law to "To prevent the strong from oppressing the weak". Written in Old Babylonian.
On the right: The Epic of Gilgamesh starts describing Gilgamesh as "He who sees the unknown". Written in slightly more modern cuneiform, in Standard Babylonian.
We can write your message on clay on the spot. Need a business card in Old Babylonian? Want to confess your love in Akkadian? Just need your name written next to your door since all your Sumerians friends are getting lost trying to get to your house?
We have studied Mesopotamian languages in the University of Helsinki. You can choose your text to be written in Sumerian, Old Babylonian or Neo-Assyrian cuneiform.
All the writings come with explanation and reading instructions in English/Finnish or other living language of your choice.
These cute little pendants have the name of your favourite animal written in Akkadian/Sumerian and a modern representation of it.
On this page we have only some examples of our art. A lot more will be seen on 75th Worldcon 9th–13th August 2017!