this post was submitted on 01 May 2026

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The perfect language (lemmy.ml)

submitted 6 months ago by cm0002@literature.cafe to c/funny@sh.itjust.works

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[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 5 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Yes but how many Sumerian or Akkadian grimoires survive today in their original language?

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[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Nowhere as many as Latin. As far as ancient languages, Egyptian magical texts definitely outnumber Akkadian and Sumerian.

A large number of surviving Akkadian texts are commercial or official records. The most famous is probably the complaint against Ea Nasir.

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[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago* (2 children)

Unfortunately we know what latin sounds like (though most of hollywood has only a vague concept), and nobody speaks ancient Egyptian of Akkadian.

From what I gather even reading either is a nightmare..

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[+] Tonava@sopuli.xyz 2 points 6 months ago (1 child)

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[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

We also have latin rhymes and even pronunciation guides from many different times, because the romans ended up teaching latin to quite a few people for uhm... less ethical reasons.

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[–] lauha@lemmy.world 1 point 6 months ago

But does it really matter if we don't kmow what they sound like. It's not like audience will know either.

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[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 2 points 6 months ago

Unless Ea Nasir was carving scarabs and magic squares on his copper, I don't think that counts as a magical text.

I'm aware of the Chaldean Oracles, but they don't survive in their original language. I think the oldest surviving translations are in Greek or Arabic.

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