Babylonian Times

We are currently studying the early history of Babylon. In learning about the Sumerians, what they did, how they lived, what they believed in, and where they lived, we also learned about how they communicated with each other. They had their own writing which first was called "hieroglyphs", which was basically picture like symbols scratched onto lumps of clay. The symbols later were modified into what is called "cuneiform."...So here in this picture the girls are creating their own alphabet to then put onto a cylinder seal.

A cylinder seal is like a stamp with your signature (however that may be) or family/business image/sign/logo on it. Only 5000 years ago it was all carved out of clay. So next the girls had to figure out how carve a mirror image of what they wanted on their seal. Here Alexis is writing her name backwards using her own alphabet.

Once they figured out how to write backwards, in another language, they then had to transfer onto their clay cylinder, (not yet a cylinder).Alexis's name is above and Kendra's name is below.

They clay needs to dry and then get sharpened up. Next we will create the tablet that we roll the seal into.

This has been a very fun study and the girls have really enjoyed it!