The

cuneiform Cuneiform is a logo-syllabic script that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Middle East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. It is named for the characteristic wedge-sh ...

sign gáb, (also qáb), is an uncommon-use sign of the Amarna letters, and other cuneiform texts. It is possibly an equivalent sign for the later version of

DAGAL (extensive Sumerogram) The cuneiform DAGAL sign, which is a capital letter (majuscule) Sumerogram with the Akkadian language meaning of ''to be wide'', or ''extensive''; also "many", Akkadian "rapāšu", is a minor usage cuneiform sign used in the Amarna letters ...

, , with '' an'', , replacing the earlier version, the "star" (as Dingir), contained within the cuneiform sign. This later version of ''DAGAL'' is somewhat similar to ''gáb'', (a 'rectangular-box form'). The meaning of "DAGAL",

Akkadian language Akkadian (, Akkadian: )John Huehnergard & Christopher Woods, "Akkadian and Eblaite", ''The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages''. Ed. Roger D. Woodard (2004, Cambridge) Pages 218-280 is an extinct East Semitic language th ...

for "extensive" – compares to the Amarna letters use of ''gáb'' as Akkadian language "gabbu", English language for "all", or "all (of us)" For Rainey's version of EA letters 359–379 (only 10 actual letters) ''gáb'' is only used to spell Akkadian "gabbu", and 2 words using ''qáb'', mostly for Akkadian "qabû", English "to speak", and in EA 259 (the ''"

King of Battle The King of Battle, or šar tamḫāri, is an ancient Mesopotamian epic tale of Sargon of Akkad and his campaign against the city of Purušḫanda in the Anatolian highlands and its king, Nur-DaggalWhere the Hittite version, l''Nu-úr-da-aḫ-ḫ ...

, Tablet I"''), for "battle", Akkadian ''"qablu"''. Cuneiform ''gáb''/''qáb'' is mostly used as a syllabic for the three characters of the sign. It is within a small group of signs that are composed of 1- or 2-vertical strokes (at right or left), the other signs being no. 535

Ib (cuneiform) The cuneiform sign ib, (or ip) is a common-use sign in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'', the Amarna letters, and other cuneiform texts. Its common usage is syllabic for ''ib'' (or ''ip''), or alphabetic for ''i'' or ''b''/''p''; the "i" is also exch ...

, no. 536 ku (cuneiform) (only 1-vertical, left and right), no. 537

lu (cuneiform) The cuneiform lu sign is a common, multi-use sign, a syllabic for ''lu'', and an alphabetic sign used for ''l'', or ''u''; it has many other sub-uses, as seen in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' over hundreds of years, and the 1350 BC Amarna letter ...

, and no 575,

ur (cuneiform) The cuneiform sign ur () is a common-use sign in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'', the Amarna letters, and other cuneiform texts. It has multiple sub-uses in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'', as well as use for the Sumerogram (capital letter (majuscule)), U ...

''Epic of Gilgamesh'' usage

The ''gáb''/''qáb'' sign as shown is not found in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh''. The Epic uses ''kab''/''kap'', for example, -(digitized version).

References

* Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. ''The Amarna Letters.'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. 393 pages.(softcover, ) * Parpola, 1971. ''The Standard Babylonian

Epic of Gilgamesh The ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' () is an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, and is regarded as the earliest surviving notable literature and the second oldest religious text, after the Pyramid Texts. The literary history of Gilgamesh begins with ...

'', 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 Rainey is a name of British-Irish origin. People with the surname * Bobby Rainey (born 1987), American National Football League player * Chuck Rainey (born 1940), American bassist * David "Puck" Rainey (born 1968), American reality TV personalit ...

, 1970. ''El Amarna Tablets, 359-379,'' Anson F. Rainey, (AOAT 8, ''Alter Orient Altes Testament 8'', Kevelaer and Neukirchen -Vluyen), 1970, 107 pages. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gab (cuneiform) Cuneiform signs