The Meroitic Language and Writing System

This book provides an introduction to the Meroitic language and writing system.

Claude Rilly (Author), Alex de Voogt (Author)

9781107008663, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 August 2012

262 pages, 14 b/w illus. 3 maps 237 tables
23.4 x 15.9 x 2.2 cm, 0.49 kg

This book provides an introduction to the Meroitic language and writing system, which was used between circa 300 BC and 400 AD in the kingdom of Meroe, located in what is now Sudan and Egyptian Nubia. This book details advances in the understanding of Meroitic, a language that until recently was considered untranslatable. In addition to providing a full history of the script and an analysis of the phonology, grammar and linguistic affiliation of the language it features: linguistic analyses for those working on Nilo-Saharan comparative linguistics, paleographic tables useful to archaeologists for dating purposes and an overview of texts that can be translated or understood by way of analogy for those working on Nubian religion, history and archaeology.

Preface
1. Introduction to history and texts
2. Meroitic writing
3. Linguistic affiliation
4. Meroitic phonology: facts and reconstruction
5. Grammar: facts and hypotheses
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Palaeography [history of writing CFL], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Language: history & general works [CBX]