THREE THOUSAND YEARS OLD BABYLONIAN SCRIPT DECODED WITH THE HELP OF AI
The ancient city of Babylon was established in what is now Iraq approximately 2,000 BCE and was once a bustling centre of culture and politics. Located around 85 kilometres (52 miles) south of Baghdad, its ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and continue to be an intriguing site for exploration. We now know more about this ancient culture because of the everyday items and city plans that archaeologists have discovered throughout the years. But what has truly contributed to our understanding of the complexities of Babylonian life is the thousands of cuneiform tablets. Researchers have now successfully assembled ancient cuneiform fragments that are part of the same long-lost text using artificial intelligence.
Dr. Enrique Jiménez and Anmar A. Fadhil of the University of Baghdad. All cuneiform text fragments found worldwide have been digitised by Enrique Jiménez, professor of Ancient Near Eastern Literatures at LMU's Institute of Assyriology. Their team discovered a missing hymn by using artificial intelligence to analyse etched fragments that belong together. “We were able to identify 30 additional manuscripts that belong to the rediscovered hymn—a task that would have previously taken decades—using our AI-supported platform,” Jiménez says.
The shards of intact tablets from the 7th to the 1st centuries BCE provide intriguing insights into Babylonian values and daily life. Babylon "flourishes in her attractions," like a bountiful fruit garden, according to the hymn, which extols the city's natural beauty. The river Euphrates, the city's star (the "Star of Marduk," named after its patron deity), its imposing gate, the defensive wall Imgur-Enlil, and its monarch, Alulu, are also highlighted. According to researchers, schoolchildren probably knew the rediscovered song by memory because it was so well-known and cherished.
Even the life and functions of Babylonian women are clarified by the well-known hymn. The discovery of references to priestesses and their responsibilities, which had not been found in any previously known literature, shocked experts. Insights regarding harmonious coexistence in urban society are also offered by the hymn. For instance, the locals are said to treat visitors with respect. The elements of water, fire, and air—which the Babylonians considered to be the basic building blocks of the universe—as well as the divine triad of Anu, Enlil, and Ea—three of Babylon's most potent gods—are even mentioned in the text.