Neo-Assyrian

Individual and Compound Logograms

by

Ashur Cherry

NAM.DUB.SARRA AMA G.D-KE4.E.NE A.A UM.ME.A-KE4.E
Writing is the mother of speakers, the father of scholars

Neo-Assyrian
Individual and Compound Logograms

Ashur Cherry
York University
Toronto, Ontario

Copyright 2016
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication
may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or
mechanical, including
photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and
retrieval system, without
permission in writing from
the author.

Acknowledgement
Apart from the efforts of myself, the success of any project depends largely on the encouragement of many others. I would like to show my
greatest appreciation to my friends, especially late Dr. Goliath Nessan, Mr. Mirza Shmoil, Ms. Iannuzziello, Ms. Zuccarelli, Mr. Durnan, Mr.
Storoschuck, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Stuart, and Miss Smith for the encouragement that I have always received from them in publishing my
previous books, journal entries and developing my software. Also, I am personally would like to thank my late father, Petros Cherry, for he
always supported and encouraged me while working on Assyriological projects.

I dedicate this book in memory of His Holiness Mar Yousip Khnanisho

Archbishop of Shamisdin and Rustaqa

Seventy-Two Years of Dedication Toward His People, Church and Assyrian Nation
Thursday, May 18, 1893 (Mar Ishoo, Turkey) Sunday, July 3, 1977 (Baghdad, Iraq)

ina

in, on

itn

one

nadnum

to give

Ar

Ar (god)

alum

fortification

BALA

palm

reign

BAL.TILki

Ar

Assyria (city-state)

karzillum

physicians lancet

squm

street

AN

Anu

sky-god

DINGIR

ilum

god

dA

uruAL.U

GR.NI
SILA

am

sky

AN.BAR

parzillum

iron

AN.DL

andullum

sunshade

dimtum

tower, district

ZU

ed

to know

ZU

id

to know

ABZU

apsm

subterranean water

KU

makum

hide, skin

SU

ribum

to replace

ardu

slave

wardu

slave

AN

AN.ZA.GR

ITU

arum

month

ITI

arum

month

ITU

warum

month

ITI

warum

month

am

pig

INIM

awtum

word

pm

mouth

DUG4

qabm

to speak

asm

to call out

innum

tooth

suluppum

date

KA

Z.LUM

suluppum

date

EME

linum

tongue, language

GU7

aklum

to eat

URU

lum

city

UKKIN

purum

assembly

BANUR

parum

table

giBANUR

parum

table

tum

south (wind)

KU4

erbum

to enter

ENGAR

ikkarum

farmer, plowman

giAPIN

epinnum

a plow

Z.LUM.MA

imU .LU
18

Arasamnum

8th Babylonian
month (Oct-Nov)

MA

rum

excellent

PAP

aum

brother

KR

nakrum

to be (come)
different

nakrum

enemy

MU

num

life

MU

attum

year

MU

umum

name

MU

zakrum

to speak

MU

zikrum

word, name

qm

liter measure

itiAPIN.DU .A
8

lKR

SLA

qm

qa = 1 liter

NA.GADA

nqidu

shepherd

zNA.R.A

narm

stela

UB

maqtum

to fall

UB

nadm

to throw

NU

not

NU

ul

not

laputtm

lieutenant

NU.giKIRI6

nukaribbum

gardener

lNU.giKIRI
6

nukaribbum

gardener

kurNU.GI .A
4

eret l tri

netherworld

SLA

NU.BNDA

IDIM

kabtum

esteemed

TIL

labrum

to get old

SUMUN

labrum

old

SUN

labrum

old

BAD

petm

to open

BAD

umma

if

TIL

qatm

be ended

Ea

Ea (god)

eblum

rope, 13 bur = 2.16

hectares

Eiku

eblum

rope, 13 bur = 2.16

hectares

IR.BUR.LAki

Laga

Laga (city)

dIDIM

NUMUN

zrum

seed

TI.LA

balum

to live

MA

milum

middle, half

um

span = 25 mm.

Ninurta

Ninurta (god)

muknum

serf, commoner

abtum

gazelle

muknum

serf, commoner

zzum

to divide, separate

BAR.SI

pargum

headdress, cap

tgBAR.SI

pargum

headdress, cap

ZIPA
dMA

MA.EN.GAG
MA.D
MA.GAG.EN
BAR

BN

stum

seah = 10 liters

ibtum

interest

M.U.GD.GD

brm

diviner, haruspex

lM.U.GD.GD

brm

diviner, haruspex

KUN

zibbatum

tail, rear part

MUEN

irum

bird

GL

bam

to be, exist

giIG

daltum

door

ZI

napitum

life

ZI

tibtum

arousal, muster,
attack

ZI.GA

tibtum

arousal, muster,
attack

mS.EK.RUM

sekretum

woman of the
palace

mS.EK.RU.UM

sekretum

woman of the
palace

GI

qanm

reed

NUN

rubm

prince

GB

umlum

left, left side/hand

Itar

Ishtar (goddess)

EN

adi

until

EN

blum

lord

Bl

Marduk (god)

Sn

moon (-god)

Sn-a-erba

Sennacherib

dINANNA

dEN

dZUEN

(=EN.ZU)

m,dEN.ZU.E.MEERI-BA

10

bl pti

commissioner

dEN.LL

Enlil

Enlil (god)

dEN.LL

Ellil

Enlil (god)

dEN.LL.L

Enlil

Enlil (god)

dEN.LL.L

Ellil

Enlil (god)

NIBRU (=EN.LLki)

Nippur

Nippur (city)

BURU14

ebrum

harvest, summer

SA.TU

adm

mountain

IKU

ikm

field = 3600 m.2

aum

side

kidum

neck

lEN.NAM

11

Kut

Kutha (city)

GUN

biltum

tribute

GUR

kurrum

kor = 300 liters

GUR

trum

to return, turn

SI

qarnum

horn

SI.S

erum

to prosper

itnum

north

rum

head

SAG.DU

qaqqadum

head

SAG.DN

assukkum

land-registry
officer

r namkrim

available assets

G.DU8.Aki

imSI.S

SAG

SAG.NG.GA

12

sikkrum

lock

eleppum

boat

M.LA5

malum

sailor

M.LA4

malum

sailor

M..DUB

napakum

cargo boat

giM..DUB

napakum

cargo boat

TAB.BA

tappm

(business) associate

GETIN

karnum

wine

LMMU

erbe

four

LMMU.BA

erbe

four

laptum

touch

giSAG.KUL

giM

TAG

13

bbum

gate, door

K.DINGIRki

Bbilim

Babylon (city-state)

K.DINGIR.RAki

Bbilim

Babylon (city-state)

ABUL

abullum

city gate

itiAB

Kinnum

10th Assyrian
month (Dec-Jan)

AB.SN

abinnum

furrow, field

AB.SN

absinnum

furrow, field

AB.SN

erum

furrow, cultivated
field

itiAB

ebtum

10th Babylonian
month (Dec-Jan)

itiAB.BA.

ebtum

10th Babylonian
month (Dec-Jan)

werm

copper, bronze

URUDU

14

lTIBIRA

gurgurrum

wood- or
metalworker

lTIBIRA

qurqurrum

wood- or
metalworker

UNUki

Uruk

city in southern
Mesopotamia

UNUGki

Uruk

city in southern
Mesopotamia

uruNINAki

Ninua

Nineveh (city)

UM.MI.A

umminum

artisan, scholar,
lender

DUB.SAR

uparrum

scribe, scholar

MUL

kakkabum

star

TA

itum

from

TA

ultum

from

ndum

to praise

15

zI.DIB

askuppatum

threshold

.GL

egallum

abundance

itiGAN

Kislmum

9th Babylonian
month (Nov-Dec)

itiGAN

Kisilmum

9th Babylonian
month (Nov-Dec)

itiGAN.GAN.NA

Kislmum

9th Babylonian
month (Nov-Dec)

itiGAN.GAN.NA

Kisilmum

9th Babylonian
month (Nov-Dec)

DUMU

mrum

son

TUR

erum

small

TUR

urum

boy, male servant

errum

child

apltum

position of heir,
inheritance

lTUR

IBILA

16

DUMU..DUB.BA

mr bt uppim

state scribe

DUMU..DUB.BA.A

mr bt uppim

state scribe

mrtum

daughter, girl

AD

abum

father

martum

gall bladder, bile

martum

gall bladder, bile

IN.NU

tibnum

straw

IN.NU.DA

tibnum

straw

LUGAL

arrum

king

KEDA

raksum

to bind

EZEN

isinnum

religious festival

DUMU.MUNUS

17

BD

drum

city wall

SUM

nadnum

to give

DURU5

rabum

moist

DU

tuum

scraps, bran

GABA

irtum

breast

EDIN

rum

steppe

KASKAL

girrum

way

KASKAL

arrnum

road, journey,
campaign

AM

rmum

wild bull

AM.SI

prum

elephant

UZU

rum

flesh, meat

18

itum

fire

dGIBIL
6

Gibil

fire-god

dGIBIL
6

Girru

fire-god

dGIBIL
6

Girra

fire-god

itiNE

Abum

5th Babylonian
month (July-Aug)

itiNE.NE.GAR

Abum

5th Babylonian
month (July-Aug)

mum

a purchase, price

KUM

alum

to crush

pmum

thigh

snum

lap

DU

alkum

to go

IZI

19

GUB

izuzzum

to stand

lKA
4

lsimum

courier

lKA .E
4

lsimum

courier

ANE

imrum

ass, homer

ssm

horse

rtum

rest, remainder

EGIR

arki

after, behind

EGIR

warki

after, behind

SAAR

eperum

dust

SAAR

eprum

dust

ikarum

beer

ANE.KUR.RA
B.TAG4

KA

20

IM

sirm

brewer

amnum

oil

.BA

piatum

ointment (ration)

atm

gatekeeper

zikarum

male

sixty

rdm

administrator

S.SA.DU

it

bordering on,
beside

S.SA.DU

itm

border, neighbor,
plot

abnum

stone

piannum

basket, box

lNI.DU
8

NITA
U
lU

NA4
PISAN

21

piannum

basket, box

G.GI.A

gagm

cloister

G.GI4.A

gagm

cloister

DAGAL

rapum

wide

AMA

ummum

mother

kisalmaum

temple courtyard

UBUR

tulm

breast

PA

arum

branch, frond

PA

artum

branch, frond

GIDRU

aum

scepter

UGULA

aklum

overseer

giPISAN

KISAL.MA

22

waklum

overseer

ayyartum

white coral?

urum

branch, staff

Nab-bl-umti

Nabu-bel-shumate
(king)

GARZA

parum

religion office, duty

NSI

iiakkum

farmer, land tenant

SIPA

rm

shepherd

GI

ium

tree, wood

GI.GI

apum

reed thicket,
canebrake

GI.R

gurum

beam, log

GI.TIR

qitum

forest, grove

UGULA
na4PA

giGIDRU

m,dPA.EN.MU.ME

23

dGI.NU
11

ama

sun-god

dGI.BAR

Gibil

fire-god

dGI.BAR

Girru

fire-god

dGI.BAR

Girra

fire-god

dGI.BAR

grum

fire

dGI.BAR

girru

fire

GISSU

illum

shade

GU4

alpum

ox

itiGU
4

Ayyarum

2nd Babylonian
month (April-May)

itiGU .SI.S
4

Ayyarum

2nd Babylonian
month (April-May)

aldm

reserve of barley

AL.D

24

AL.D.A

aldm

reserve of barley

imMAR.TU

amurrum

west

MAR.TUki

Amurrum

land of the
Amorites

MAR.GD.DA

ereqqum

wagon, cart, Ursa

Major

giMAR.GD.DA

ereqqum

wagon, cart, Ursa

Major

ID

manm

to count

SANGA

angm

temple
administrator

dMES

Marduk

Marduk (god)

Marduk-apla-iddina

Merodach-Baladan
(king)

ammatum

cubit

um

span = 25 mm.

m,dMES.A.SUM-NA

25

ammum

plant

alum

rope = ca. 60
meters

.DL

utullum

chief shepherd

.TL

utullum

chief shepherd

.SAL

uallum

shoreland,
water meadow

GA

izbum

milk

giDUSU

tupikkum

work, corve duty

giDUSU

tupikkum

work, corve duty

sukkalmaum

chief minister

sukkallum

vizier

btum

house

.NINNI5

lSUKKAL.MA

SUKKAL

26

.ZU.AB

Eabzu

Eabzu (temple)

.ZI.DA

Ezida

a temple of Marduk

.GI.A

kallatum

daughter-in-law,
bride

.SAG.L

Esagil

a temple of Marduk

.SAG.L

Esagila

a temple of Marduk

.DUB.BA

bt uppim

tablet house, school

.DUB

napakum

granary, silo

..DUB

napakum

granary, silo

.GI4.A

kallatum

daughter-in-law,
bride

.GAL

ekallum

palace

.BABBAR

Ebabbar

temple of ama in
Sippar

27

.BABBAR.RA

Ebabbar

temple of ama in
Sippar

.DURU5

kaprum

village

.GAR8

igrum

wall (of building)

KALAG

dannum

be strong

GURU

elum

young man

giESI

um

ebony

karpatum

pot

KALAM

mtum

land

UN.ME

nim

people (pl.)

NIR

tukultum

trust

GI4

trum

to return, turn

DUG

28

awlum

human being

L.KURUN.NA

sbm

innkeeper,
beer merchant

aum

brother

RIki

rum

Ur, city in southern

Mesopotamia

RIMki

rum

Ur, city in southern

Mesopotamia

Nanna

Sumerian moongod

ZAG

imittum

right side/hand

ZAG

imittum

animals shoulder

uzuZAG

imittum

animals shoulder

SAR

marum

garden plot = 36
m.2

SAR

arum

to write

dNANNA

(=E.KI)

29

kirm

orchard

qablum

middle

itiZZ

abum

11th Babylonian
month (Jan-Feb)

itiZZ.A.AN

abum

11th Babylonian
month (Jan-Feb)

MA

manm

mina

MA.NA

manm

mina

GAL

rabm

great, big

ANDAN

andanakkum

admin. of date
orchards

lTIRUM

trum

courtier

parakkum

dais

Nisnum

1st Babylonian
month (Mar-Apr)

giKIRI
6

MURUB4

BRA
itiBR

30

Nisnum

1st Babylonian
month (Mar-Apr)

agm

crown

ngirum

herald

rdm

soldier

idum

arm, side

DA

um

proximity, what
adjoins

qtum

hand

U.I

gallbum

barber

U.D

izm

3 cubit = 16.7 cm

U.D

zum

3 cubit = 16.7 cm

U.D.A

izm

3 cubit = 16.7 cm

itiBR.ZAG.GAR

AGA
lNIMGIR

UKU.U

31

zum

U.D.A

3 cubit = 16.7 cm

itiU

Dumuzi

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

itiU

Duzu

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

itiU

Dzu

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

itiU.NUMUN.NA

Dumuzi

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

itiU.NUMUN.NA

Duzu

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

itiU.NUMUN.NA

Dzu

4th Babylonian
month (June-July)

uduU.GI.NA

uginm

offering of sheep

U.A

berum

fisherman, soldier

lU.A

berum

fisherman, soldier

nrum

singer (m)

lNAR

32

nrtum

singer (f)

damqum

good

giGIIMMAR

giimmarum

date palm

aneGAM.MAL

gammalu

camel

KUR

kadum

to conquer

KUR

mtum

land

KUR

adm

mountain

KUR-

adm

east

eum

barley

uatum

grain, units of
measurement

iprum

barley ration, food

allowance

mNAR

SA6

E.BA

33

yarau

grain

barley, grain

eum

barley, grain

E.UM

barley, grain

E.UM

eum

barley, grain

E.GI

amaamm

sesame or flax

E..GI

amaamm

sesame or flax

E.IM

barley, grain

E.IM

eum

barley, grain

GD

arkum

to be(come) long,
delayed

GD.DA

arkum

to be(come) long,
delayed

E.SAG

34

GD

arkum

long

GD.DA

arkum

long

KAR

krum

quay

KAR.KID

armtum

prostitute

mKAR.KID

armtum

prostitute

BABBAR

pem

white

U4

mum

day

UD

mum

day

dUTU

ama

sun-god

dUTU

amum

sun

siparrum

bronze

ZABAR

35

UD.UNUGki

Larsam

Larsa, city in
southern Babylonia

dBURANUN

Purattum

Euphrates river

ZIMBIRki

Sippar

city north of
Babylon

GETU

uznum

ear

libbum

heart

.GU4

kullizum

ox-driver

.GAL

ukullm

food allotment,
fodder

ummnum

army

bum

soldier, army

RIN

ummnum

army

RIN.I.A

ummnum

army

RIN
lRIN

36

erimmatum

bead

SAN

qinnzum

(ox-)tail, whip

kuSAN

qinnzum

(ox-)tail, whip

DG

bum

good, pleasant

rum

3600

IM

rum

wind

TU15

rum

wind

IM

dum

clay

IM

uppum

tablet

Adad

Adad (god)

imbarum

mist, fog

na4NUNUZ

dIKUR

MURU9

37

imsuum

whirlwind

UR5

am

lung

AR

awirum

ring

eer

ten

BR

brum

bur = 2.48 hectares

BR

bur

bur = 2.48 hectares

BRiku

brum

bur = 2.48 hectares

BRiku

bur

bur = 2.48 hectares

UGU

eli

on, over

ltum

cow

B.GUD.I.A

litum

cattle, bovines (pl.)

IM.S

38

Ki

Kish, a city east of

Babylon

GE6

mum

night

GE6

almum

black

AGAN

iqqatum

basin, flask

dugAGAN

iqqatum

basin, flask

giPAN

qatum

bow

ITIM

itinnum

builder

kma

like

erum

bed

NIM.GR

birqum

lightning

ELAMki

Elamtu

Elam (country)

KIki

GIM
giN

39

ELAM.MAki

Elamtu

Elam (country)

TM

ablum

to bring

TM

wablum

to bring

AMAR

brum

calf

Marduk

Marduk (god)

SISKUR

niqm

offering, sacrifice

GR

pum

foot

GR.S.GA

gerseqqm

temple attendant

GR.PAD.DU

eemtum

bone

GR.NTA

akkanakkum

governor

lGR.NTA

akkanakkum

governor

dAMAR.UTU

40

dGR.UNUG.GAL

Nergal

god of the
netherworld

DUGUD

kabtum

esteemed

GIG

murum

disease

NI

er

twenty

alum

rope = ca. 60
meters

al

thirty

d30

Sn

moon-god

NIMIN

erb

forty

NINNU

am

fifty

itiDU
6

Tartum

7th Babylonian
month (Sept-Oct)

itiDU .KUG
6

Tartum

7th Babylonian
month (Sept-Oct)

41

IGI

num

eye

IGI

marum

front

IGI

pnum

front

LIM

lmum

thousand

dabdm

defeat

IGI.S

igism

gift

AGRIG

abarakkum

steward

SIG5

damqum

good

.TU

aldum

to birth

.TU

waldum

to birth

annum

to equal

BAD5.BAD5

42

SILIM

ulmum

wholeness

DI.KUD

dayynum

judge

S.S

kadum

reach

KI

arum

place

KI

eretum

earth

KI

itti

with

KI.KAL

kankallum

hard soil

KARA

karum

military camp

KISLA

makanum

threshing floor, lot

mKI.SIKIL

ardatum

young woman

mKI.SIKIL

wardatum

young woman

43

ellum

pure

K.GI

urum

gold

K.BABBAR

kaspum

silver

UK

kurummatum

food, ration

UKU

kurummatum

food, ration

DI

ana

to, for

DI

itn

one

DI

umma

if

parsiktum

bushel = 60 liters

LAL

kamm

prisoner

LAL

kamm

to bind

NIGIDA

44

ME

meatum

hundred

dENGUR

Nammu

Nammu (goddess)

narkabtum

chariot

num

sheep, goats

apprum

reed marsh

TU

abum

to sit

TU

wabum

to sit

giTUKUL

kakkum

weapon

TG

ubtum

garment

taskarinnum

boxwood

agrum

hired-person

giGIGIR

U8.UDU.I.A
AMBAR

giTASKARIN

lUN.G

45

UDU

immerum

sheep

UDU.NTA

immerum

sheep

DAB

abtum

seize

DIB

etqum

to go past

itiKIN

Ullu

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

itiKIN

Elnum

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

itiKIN

Ellu

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

itiKIN.dINNIN.NA

Ullu

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

itiKIN.dINNIN.NA

Elnum

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

itiKIN.dINNIN.NA

Ellu

6th Babylonian
month (Aug-Sept)

ptum

wool

SG

46

lubum

clothing, wardrobe

MIN

in

two

UR

kalbum

dog

UR.MA

num

lion

barbarum

wolf

ANABI

inip

two-thirds

ANABI

inipm

two-thirds

E5

al

three

GN

iqlum

shekel

parasrab

five-sixths

aplum

heir, son

SG.BA

UR.BAR.RA

KINGUSILA
A

47

A.ZU

asm

physician

AB.BA

kuabkum

thorn tree

A.AB.BA

kuabkum

thorn tree

A.AB.BA

timtum

sea

A.R

adi

multiply by, times

A.R

arm

product (math)

A.GR

ugrum

open field, meadow

A.

eqlum

field

ukusum

subsistence field

mm

water

A.ME

mm

water

A..UKU

48

nrum

river, canal

arbatum

poplar

A.IGI.DU8

skirum

canal worker

lA.IGI.DU
8

skirum

canal worker

dD

Id

river-god

KU6

nnum

fish

A.LA

zzum

to divide, separate

na4GUG

smtum

red stone

NINDA

akalum

food

NINDA

nindanum

rod = 6 meters

NG.KAS7

nikkassum

accounting (record)

D
giSAL

49

NG.GA

makkrum

property

NG.GA

namkrum

possession(s)

NG.U

bum

goods

LIMMU

erbe

four

ami

five

edi

six

IMIN

sebe

seven

IMIN

sebe

seven

USSU

samne

eight

USSU

samne

eight

tie

nine

ILIMMU

50

parm

mule

MUNUS

sinnitum

woman

MUNUS.TUR

urtum

girl, fem. servant

ME

atnum

jenny

M.KURUN.NA

sbm

innkeeper,
beer merchant

NIN

bltum

lady

NIN.DINGIR

entum

high priestess

NIN.DINGIR.RA

entum

high priestess

aatum

wife

tamkrum

merchant

amtum

fem. servant

aneKUNGA

DAM
DAM.GR
GME

51

kussm

seat

ellum

pure

libittum

(mud) brick

itiSIG
4

Simnum

3rd Babylonian
month (May-June)

itiSIG .GA
4

Simnum

3rd Babylonian
month (May-June)

itiSIG .A
4

Simnum

3rd Babylonian
month (May-June)

giGU.ZA

SIKIL
SIG4

52

References
Bord, Lucien-Jean and Remo Mugnaioni. L'criture Cuniforme: Syllabaire Sumrien, Babylonien et Assyrien. Paris: Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner S.A., 2002.
Borger, Riekele, and Rykle Borger. Mesopotamisches Zeichenlexikon. Vol. 305. Ugarit Verlag Mnster, 2004.
Ellermeier, Friedrich, and Riekele Borger. Sumerisches Glossar: Fhrer durch die neuere sumerologische Fachliteratur. Die sumerischen Lautwerte: nach dem Alphabet,
nach den"Zeichennamen" und nach den Keilschrftzeichen geordnet. Selbstverlag dr. Friedrich Ellermeier, 1979-1980.
Labat, Ren and Florence Malbran-Labat. Manuel D'pigraphie Akkadienne: Signes, Syllabaire, Idogrammes. 6th ed. Paris: Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner S.A., 1988.
Miller, Douglas B. and R. Mark Shipp. An Akkadian Handbook: Paradigms, Helps, Glossary, Logograms, and Sign List. 2nd ed. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2014.
Oracc Global Sign List. Retrieved September 6th, 2016, from http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ogsl/signlist/
The Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary. Retrieved September 6th, 2016, from http://psd.museum.upenn.edu/epsd/nepsd-frame.html

53