Ancient world dictionary finished — after 90 years

Associated Press ^ | June 4, 2011 | SHARON COHEN

[decimon]

CHICAGO – It was a monumental project with modest beginnings: a small group of scholars and some index cards. The plan was to explore a long-dead language that would reveal an ancient world of chariots and concubines, royal decrees and diaries — and omens that came from the heavens and sheep livers.

The year: 1921. The place: The University of Chicago. The project: Assembling an Assyrian dictionary based on words recorded on clay or stone tablets unearthed from ruins in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey, written in a language that hadn't been uttered for more than 2,000 years. The scholars knew the project would take a long time. No one quite expected how very long.

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Now that the dictionary is finished, Roth says there's a feeling of tremendous accomplishment and "a little bit of a sense of loss.... This has occupied my waking and sleeping moments for 32 years. You dream this stuff."

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[decimon]

Warren’s the word ping.

[freedumb2003]

An amazing story about an amazing journey.

I wonder how much is online. It would be fascinating reading.

[stylecouncilor]

"I'll get you on the Ameche."

[Popman]

....explore a long-dead language that would reveal an ancient world of chariots and concubines, royal decrees and diaries — and omens that came from the heavens and sheep livers.

Sounds like an Obama wet dream for America

[vladimir998]

The editors of the Bavarian Dictionary say it will take 45 years. I bet their underestimating. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11095620

[decimon]

It would be fascinating reading.

You deserve some applause if you can read it.

[decimon]

The editors of the Bavarian Dictionary say it will take 45 years. I bet their underestimating.

You are bairisch on their prospects?

[Sacajaweau]

Can you spell Grant Money??

[onedoug]

¨A homina-homina....¨

[JoeProBono]

[Walkingfeather]

just saw that a couple days ago.... thinking the same thing

[marktwain]

Can you spell Grant Money??

I doubt it. If grant money had been involved, they would have hired a bunch of grad students and done it in 20 years.

It sounds more like a labor of real scholarship. It was started long before the era of multitudinous government grants. Before Franklin Roosevelt.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

It was a black and white world, and I’m glad. :’)

[marktwain]

This project was started during the same year that Ray Chapman Andrews (the inspiration for Indiana Jones) was planning his expeditions into the Gobi desert in Mongolia. It was a golden age, after WWI and before the Great Depression. Calvin Coolidge, one of our greatest and most successful presidents, was in charge during most of this era.

[Sacajaweau]

Did a little googling...lotsa past grants and ongoing grants for this.

[vladimir998]

Ohhh! Nice one.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.historians.org/info/AHA_History/jhbreasted.htm

[marktwain]

Did a little googling...lotsa past grants and ongoing grants for this.

Thanks for your research.