#5000-Year-Old Tablets

[xtruss]

Image: Wikimedia Commons

5000-Year-Old Tablets Can Now Be Decoded By Artificial Intelligence, New Research Reveals

— M.J. Banias | November 27, 2023

A team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Mainz University of Applied Sciences has unveiled an AI system capable of deciphering ancient cuneiform texts. This novel technology, leveraging 3D models, represents a significant advancement in understanding one of humanity’s earliest forms of writing.

Published in The Eurographics Association Journal, the researchers’ study focused on a set of cuneiform tablets from the Frau Professor Hilprecht Collection. These tablets primarily originate from ancient Mesopotamia, a historical region in present-day Iraq. Often referred to as the cradle of civilization, this area is where some of the earliest human societies developed. These tablets, in particular, are inscribed with a series of symbols, signs, and wedges that form the languages of the region, such as Sumerian, Assyrian, and Akkadian.

Many are over 5,000 years old and offer a glimpse into ancient civilizations, covering a wide range of topics from everyday life to legal matters.

“Everything can be found on them: from shopping lists to court rulings,” said Hubert Mara, one of the study’s authors. “The tablets provide a glimpse into mankind’s past several millennia ago. However, they are heavily weathered and thus difficult to decipher even for trained eyes.”

The team turned to AI for help.

Using a novel AI process to decode ancient cuneiform tablets, they leveraged a sophisticated AI model based on the Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) architecture, a specialized system designed for object recognition. The study utilized a unique dataset consisting of 3D models of 1,977 cuneiform tablets, with detailed annotations of 21,000 cuneiform signs and 4,700 wedges.

The AI’s methodology entailed a two-part pipeline: initially, a sign detector, built on a RepPoints model with a ResNet18 backbone, identified cuneiform characters on the tablets. In simple terms, the RepPoints model combs through the ResNet18 collection of images connected to the Mesopotamian languages and then combines the patterns to ‘see’ the text. This step was crucial for locating the signs accurately. Subsequently, the wedge detector, using Point R-CNN with advanced features like Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) and RoI Align, classified and predicted the wedges’ positions, which forms the basis of the cuneiform script’s fundamental elements, allowing the AI, in effect, to ‘read.’

These tools take the 3D scans of the tablets and sift through the multitude of measurements of things like the impression depth made by the stylus into the clay or the distance between the symbols and wedges. This nuanced approach enabled the AI to overcome the challenges posed by traditional 2D photographs, such as inconsistent lighting and color distractions, thus providing a more accurate analysis of the ancient texts.

Traditional research on ancient texts uses optical character recognition software (OCR), which converts scanned images or 2D photographs of the writing into machine-readable text.

“OCR usually works with photographs or scans. This is no problem for ink on paper or parchment. In the case of cuneiform tablets, however, things are more difficult because the light and the viewing angle greatly influence how well certain characters can be identified,” said co-author Ernst Stötzner.

Ancient scrolls, parchment, and old books are easy- they are a 2D medium translated into another 2D medium. Cuneiform tablets, however, are 3D, and all that depth impacts interpretation.

To address this, the research team put their AI system through an extensive training regimen, utilizing three-dimensional scans and supplemental data. A substantial portion of this data was contributed by the Mainz University of Applied Sciences, which is currently leading a significant project focused on creating 3D models of these ancient clay tablets. This enabled the AI to achieve remarkable success in accurately identifying the symbols inscribed on the tablets.

This technology not only democratizes access to these ancient records but also opens up new avenues for research, allowing for broader analysis and interpretation of historical texts. Future enhancements could extend its application to other three-dimensional scripts, such as weathered inscriptions found in cemeteries.

— MJ Banias is a journalist and podcaster who covers security and technology. He is the host of The Debrief Weekly Report and Cloak & Dagger | An OSINT Podcast.

[mahasenelkhatib]

Help Mahasen, a Digital Artist from Gaza and Her Family!

Hello, I am Mahasen,a Digital Artist from North Gaza, where creativity thrives despite challenges. Verified by @90-ghost here

PLEASE DONATE HERE

In this tough situation, I am a digital artist finding solace and resilience through my art .. pixels and colors.

For over a decade, I've navigated the freelance world, weaving intricate digital tapestries that reflect the beauty and strength of my surroundings.

My father died, and I am the main provider for my family.

Before the war, I worked with international companies in motion graphics,

specializing in character design and storyboarding.

The conflict forced us into repeated evacuations, and our home suffered damage, including the theft and destruction of my essential art equipment and tablet. Each stolen piece held not just monetary value but years of dedication and creativity and hard work. We are left HOMELESS, UNSAFE, SICK with VERY LITTLE FINANCIAL SECURITY!

Our family consists of:

• My mother, 62 years old.

• My sister Mai, 35 years old, who is also visually impaired.

• Myself,Mahasen, 31 years old.

• My brother Mohammed, 28 years old, who is visually impaired.

• My brother's wife Iman, 28 years old.

• My youngest brother Amin, 21 years old.

Your support is crucial as I rebuild what was lost. Your contribution will help replace my tools and restore hope and creativity. And mainly for my family's safety, ability to survive the current situation and community.

Together, we can affirm that art is more than expression,

it is a lifeline that connects us and enlighten even the darkest moments.

Expenses Needed:

• Travel arrangements to Egypt ( $5000 per person ) for 6 family members.

• Living expenses to survive the current situation in Gaza.

• Buying art equipment and tablet to recover what I've lost and be able to work again.

• Living and transportation expenses during the initial period of travel.

• Food and medical expenses.

Every donation counts! Your support makes a real difference for my family and me.

Please consider contributing and sharing to help us.

Please Help Share AND Donate

My Socials: @MahasenAlkhatib Instagram here X here Facebook here

[expanding-hyrule]

To go with our Story Spotlights community project, it's time to launch Expanding Hyrule's first community challenge: TBR BINGO!

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Rules

All works must by Original Legends to count.

You don't need to finish catching up with a work for it to count (outside of specific prompts), just enough to say a few nice things about it.

A work can only be used for one square across all cards.

Multiple cards can be submitted.

There are three ways to get entries in the prize raffle: A Single Line/Standard Bingo is 1 entry, a Full Card is 5 entries, and posting about the works you're reading is an additional entry for any completed cards. Be sure to tag @expanding-hyrule if you post about your Bingo entries so we can find it!

Completed Bingo cards need to be submitted by Jan 14th, 2025 to the included Google Form.

Challenge List

Letters are rows, numbers are columns, reading left to right

A1 - Recommended by a friend

A2 - A genre I don't normally read

A3 - Caught up on a work

A4 - An incomplete project

A5 - I made an Original Legends work!

B1 - Updated this year

B2 - Less than 5000 hits or 500 notes

B3 - Picked because of the synopsis

B4 - A comic

B5 - Subscribed to an ongoing work

C1 - A familiar creator

C2 - An Original Legends work not in the archives

C3 - Show Us Your EH TBR

C4 - By a mutual or someone I'd like to be a mutual

C5 - Multiple POVs

D1 - A new favorite

D2 - A reread

D3 - A fic

D4 - A genre I love

D5 - Picked because of the title

E1 - A compete project

E2 - Last updated more than a year ago

E3 - A new creator

E4 - Less than 1000 hits or 100 notes

E5 - Left a review in EH's Story Spotlights

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Prizes

Several of our very talented creators have volunteered their time and talent to offer the prize pool you see below. If there are any creators who would like to add a prize to our prize pool, please reach out to the blog!

The prize pool works via raffle. After the form closes, I will begin the process of contacting our winners via DM from either this blog or @amelias-hart. Winners will have 24 hours to get back to me or forfeit their prize. After which, I will help coordinate you with the prize you picked. Entry requires providing contact information, so you must be old enough to have an account to enter.

Keep in mind creators have final discretion on what they are and are not comfortable creating. Be respectful of their time.

Writing

500 word drabble (In fandom, genfic to NSFW) - @drsteggy

500-1000 word drabble (French or English) - @karama9

Art

Fullbody color character drawing - @doubtfulloser

Flats halfbody character drawing - @hummbirds

Flats halfbody character drawing (with optional animal companion) - @nayru-s-clay-tablet

3-4 server emojis - @alternate-triforce/ @doomed-era

Half-size portrait of one or two characters, with gradient flats (will need character references or details) - @aheavenscorner

Other

500 word drabble or pencil sketch - @loz-untold-myths

[animemocha]

Anime's Greatest Chad: The Epic of Gilgamesh (Fate)

Gilgamesh is known as mankind's first hero.

But his story isn’t limited to just the Fate series. In fact, it’s shaped our modern lives more than you could ever imagine. 

If you’re here for a historically accurate depiction of the man who tried to conquer death, don’t leave. I’ve worked really hard to make this as accurate as possible.

And if you’re here for the story of the real anime Gigachad, and how he goes from an arrogant dictator to a benevolent king.

Then grab a drink and some snacks, because this, is the tale of the Hero of Heroes.

Roots of the King

Before we jump into the Epic of Gilgamesh, it’s worth taking a second to understand the roots of this iconic character and his influence on human culture and literature.

Mesopotamia was a region in 3100 BC, now covered by Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. It had its fair share of events, from the reigns of Sumerians and Akkadians to being eventually conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

But nestled within this timeline is a certain story that’s so profound, so raw, it's been echoing for millennia.

Now I know what you’re thinking.

"I'm here for anime, not a history lesson."

But the thing is, all evidence points to Gilgamesh actually existing 5000 years ago. And his legend is recorded in mankind’s oldest poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

The epic is thought to have been orally transmitted for generations before it was finally written down on clay tablets in the cuneiform script, which was one of the earliest systems of writing.

To put into context how old that is, it makes him almost 3000 years older than Jesus. 

But I wouldn’t take EVERYTHING that follows as being literal. Just know that some of the stuff is actually reported to have happened.

The Hero of Heroes

Gilgamesh is known as the King of all Heroes because every single myth that followed, every story, every legend from every culture and every religion in every country, it all borrows inspiration from mankind’s first hero.

The strongest examples of this are in the Biblical tale of Noah and the Greek myth of Hercules. And his story greatly influences modern literature too, like The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones.

The story of the Epic of Gilgamesh was discovered on 12 clay tablets found among the ruins of the ancient library of Ashurbanipal, the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

These tablets, inscribed with cuneiform script, are dated to around the 7th century BC but are believed to preserve much older stories that were likely first told orally and later written down.

These ancient tablets provide the most comprehensive version of the epic, but parts of the tale also appear on other scattered fragments found at different ancient sites across the Middle East.

There are actually two versions of Gilgamesh in the Fate series and they’re technically different people.

Well, they’re not, but they kind of are. 

Archer Gilgamesh

We’re in the year 2800 B.C., the Age of the Gods, where divine beings and humans walked the Earth together.

Some Gods were just, while others treated their subjects as slaves.

One day, a greater god called Sefar invaded the Earth, killing many of the Gods.

She was eventually defeated, but the damage was already done, and the rule the gods had over the humans had severely weakened.

In order to preserve their rule, the gods needed a keystone, a Wedge of Heaven that connected the rising humans to the fading gods.

That keystone was Gilgamesh.

Born from the Goddess Ninsun and the Human King Lugalbanda, Gilgamesh was two-thirds God, and one-third human, and ruled over humanity with the mission to observe and adjudicate.

The Fortress City

The city Gilgamesh ruled over was called Uruk, situated in present-day Iraq.

Yet, Uruk was far from ordinary.

It stood as a testament to human achievement, its towering walls not just architectural marvels but also echoes of the ambitions of its people.

Conceived under the watchful eye of Gilgamesh, these walls became more than mere defensive structures; they symbolised humanity's victory over nature. This audacious statement reflected Gilgamesh's own beliefs: that he stood above nature itself.

As evidence of its profound legacy, archaeologists pinpoint Uruk as one of humanity's earliest urban epicentres, with roots as deep as 4000 BCE. Its intricate temples, ziggurats, and canal systems all serve as relics of its storied past.

The Tyrannical King

This transcendence over nature, and the very walls that proclaimed it, became the lens through which Gilgamesh viewed himself.

To him, the limitations of divinity and humanity were but mere lines in the sand.

He believed that while no human could rival the gods, the gods themselves could never experience the complexities of human existence.

And since Gilgamesh was both human and God, he perceived himself not just above his subjects, but even the deities that breathed life into him.

His self-awareness was, in many ways, his crowning achievement.

Gilgamesh grew to become a cruel, arrogant, and oppressive tyrant who subjugated his people to forced labour and sexual abuse.

And just to be clear, I’m downplaying that a lot because even I don���t want to talk about some of the disgusting things he is historically reported to have done.

And it makes me wonder how he ever became a Heroic Spirit in the first place.

The Man Made of Clay

Naturally, the gods didn’t want this, but they couldn’t exactly do anything about it because, well, Gilgamesh just wouldn’t submit to them.

So instead, the King of God’s Anu, and the Goddess of Creation Aruru, created a monster out of clay called Enkidu, to punish the arrogant king.

But there was a problem.

You see, Enkidu didn’t have a soul, and so couldn’t make rational decisions.

So the gods sent a divine harlot to sleep with him. (And I’m not even joking.) 

After this, Enkidu takes human form, and his final appearance is very similar to the girl he slept with. And that’s why he has such a feminine form.

(It’s definitely not because having more hot girls leads to more sales)

Noble Phantasm's

Before we dive into what happened between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, let’s talk about Gilgamesh’s powers, or more specifically, Archer Gilgamesh’s powers.

In Fate, heroic spirits have Noble Phantasms, which are special weapons or abilities that embody the legend of that hero. For example, King Arthur’s Noble Phantasm, or rather, Artoria’s Noble Phantasm (Again, because more hot girls = more sales), is Excalibur, the sword of promised victory.

Gilgamesh has a lot of Noble Phantasms, and I mean, A LOT. It would take me a decade to cover them all, but I’ll talk about a few.

Sha Naqba Imuru:

The first is his ability Sha Naqba Imuru, or Clairvoyance, which lets him see into the future and see the truth of anything he looks at.

So in a fight, he knows exactly who his opponent is, what their abilities are, and how best to defeat them. Or if he’s playing chess, then he knows the correct move every time.

This ability is pretty OP but the thing is, Gilgamesh barely uses it.

Why?

Because he’s an arrogant prick.

He believes himself to be so powerful, that he doesn’t even need it most of the time.

And uhm… he’s kinda right...

Especially when you learn about his next Noble Phantasm.

The Gate of Babylon:

During his time as ruler of Uruk, Gilgamesh amassed every single weapon on Earth and stored them all in his treasury.

And I genuinely mean, every single weapon.

And the Gate of Babylon allows him to choose whichever weapon he wants, whenever he wants, wherever he wants. 

But that’s not how Gilgamesh uses it...

Every single weapon is fired out at a speed of Mach 10, and he has so many, that he could go his entire life firing them away without having to use a single one twice.

What makes this ability even more OP, is that these weapons aren’t just ordinary weapons. Every single one of them is a Noble Phantasm in itself. Artoria’s Excalibur, Lancer’s Gae Bolg, Hercules’ Nine Lives, Gilgamesh has all of these weapons in his treasury.

But how is that possible if these heroes came AFTER Gilgamesh?

Well. That’s because they’re prototypes. 

I mentioned earlier that almost every legend told today is in some way inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh. And in the same way, every weapon used today has a design that is somehow based on those in his treasury.

He owns every weapon that existed and owns every weapon that is yet to exist.

And don’t get me wrong.

While they’re technically prototypes, it is said that if you compare the original weapon to Gilgamesh’s prototype, the original will look like a fake, that’s how well-made the prototype is.

Not only that, but in a fight, the prototype will beat the original every time.

Now that doesn’t mean that if Gilgamesh were to use Excalibur and fight Artoria in a 1 on 1 swordfight that he would win.

He’d probably lose.

And that’s because he’s a jack of all trades but master of none.

Gilgamesh is a brilliant swordsman. But these other heroic spirits have spent their entire lives mastering a single weapon, and thus can use them to their full potential, which Gilgamesh cannot.

That being said. Gilgamesh DOES have one weapon that only he can use, one so powerful that it defies reality itself. Buuuuut I’ll talk about that later.

The Great Battle

Enkidu eventually confronts Gilgamesh outside of the Temple of Uruk, stating that he needed to be punished for disobeying the gods.

But Gilgamesh isn’t one to let anyone talk down on him.

So he engages Enkidu in a battle that lasts days on end.

And this was pretty new to Gil. It was the first time he ever came across someone equal in strength to him, which forced him to use his Gate of Babylon.

Gilgamesh was furious that someone had caused him to waste his weapons, he was humiliated.

But eventually, he stopped caring, and he even started to enjoy himself after finally finding someone worthy to be in his presence.

This battle lasted so long and was so fearsome that Gil exhausted every single weapon in his treasury, but by this point, Enkidu was severely weakened and Gilgamesh had won.

But instead of finishing him off, Gilgamesh extended a hand to him.

He saw Enkidu as an equal, and Enkidu ended up becoming Gil’s first friend, his only friend.

Friendship

One day, Gilgamesh set his sights upon defeating the Beast of the God’s, Humbaba.

But the thing is, the God’s hadn’t told him to do this, and he wasn’t doing it for the sake of his people either, because, well… he didn’t care about them.

Gilgamesh simply saw Humbaba as something that needed to be removed from the Earth in order to see out his mission.

Gilgamesh had always disobeyed the God’s so that he could be far removed from them, and he wanted his people to hate him so that he could be far removed from them, because that was the only way he could be truly neutral, because that was the mission for which he was born.

In this sense, you could argue that the reason that Gilgamesh was such an abhorrent dictator, was because he didn’t want to get close to his subjects, so that he could remain impartial.

(I don’t know how much truth there is to that and it could simply be a result of the story being altered as it was passed from generation to generation.)

Either way, seeing Gilgamesh’s resolve, Enkidu pledges his loyalty to him, and the two go on numerous adventures together, which ends with Gilgamesh becoming the wealthiest and most powerful king on Earth.

He amassed so much power that even the gods had no choice but to acknowledge it. One Goddess in particular, Ishtar, the Goddess of Fertility, asked Gilgamesh to marry her.

The King's Loss

Marrying a Goddess was actually one of Gilgamesh’s duties as it would see the continued reign of the gods over the humans, but Gilgamesh said no.

Enraged, Ishtar went to her father Anu, and asked him to unleash the Divine Beast Gugalanna on Uruk.

This divine beast devastated the lands for 7 years before Gilgamesh and Enkidu were finally able to defeat it. But this came at a price.

Ishtar asked the gods to sentence Gilgamesh and Enkidu to their deaths. While the Gods agreed, they couldn’t do anything to Gil, but they could to Enkidu, because he was their direct creation. 

Enkidu’s clay body weakened and weakened until it would eventually return to the very Earth from which it had come.

Gilgamesh stayed by his friend's side until the very end.

While this event is not shown directly shown in the anime, it is mentioned in the original Sumerian poem from three thousand years ago, translated as follows:

“It saddens me. It saddens me, Gil. Who would understand you after I die? Who else would march by your side? My friend… when I think you will live on all alone henceforth, I can’t help but shed tears. But don’t be saddened. For I am but another of your treasures.” - Enkidu

It’s honestly a rather heartbreaking end to their friendship.

One would have thought that the arrogant and prideful King of Heroes would have had a rather stoic response. But history says otherwise:

"You do have worth. You alone have this worth. I hereby declare: In all this world, only one shall be my friend. Thus---not for all eternity shall his worth ever change." - Gilgamesh

And with this, Enkidu returned to the Earth, leaving nothing behind but Gilgamesh's thunderous cry.

And for those of you who have watched Fate Zero, you’ll know that Gilgamesh kept this promise, even thousands and thousands of years later.

The Herb

After Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh realised something.

As he was one-third human, he too would one day die.

If this were to happen, he would not be able to fulfil his dream of watching over humanity until the end of time, and it also meant he would not be able to carry out his purpose as the Wedge of Heaven.

And thus, for the first time in his existence, the king of heroes felt fear.

And this brings us to the core of the ancient Sumerian poem.

Gilgamesh, wanting to beat death, set out on a journey to find the only treasure that he didn’t have in his vault—the Herb of Immortality.

What does this herb do?

Well, it’s in the name so figure it out for yourselves.

Gilgamesh wandered the Earth for several decades in search of this herb, and eventually, stumbles upon a wise sage in the underworld that guides him in the right direction.

Sure enough, Gil finds the herb and is absolutely euphoric, because he has just beaten death, and all that’s left for him to do, is return to Uruk, and see over his people until the end of time.

Before beginning his journey back home, Gil decides to wash off in a nearby spring, where he first places the herb on the ground. However, as fate would have it, a serpent stumbles upon the bathing Gilgamesh, and after seeing the herb, it eats it.

And a little fun fact. It’s thought that the Sumerians and many of the cultures that followed, believed that snakes have the ability to shed their skin because this serpent ate the herb of immortality, giving snakes the ability to be reborn.

Much like the biblical tale of Adam, Eve, and the serpent, this story serves as a stark reminder of life's impermanence and the inevitable reality of death.

By losing the herb, Gilgamesh confronts the bitter truth: immortality remains beyond human grasp.

After realising what happened, you’d think Gilgamesh would be upset, or that he would be outraged, but, he wasn’t.

He realised that death was unavoidable and that by dying, he wasn’t abandoning his duty, he was completing it, because it was the most human thing he could do.

He realised that you didn’t die because you were human, but you were human because you died. 

And with his Sha Naqba Imuru, Gilgamesh was able to see into the future, and what he saw was exactly what he loved about the humans in the first place.

He saw the continued growth of the human race, the way their knowledge developed, and the way they used their resources to reach for the stars and beyond.

With this new outlook, Gilgamesh returned to Uruk as a changed man.

Caster Gilgamesh

While Archer Gilgamesh was an arrogant tyrant that did disgusting things, Caster Gilgamesh was kind, generous, and benevolent.

He loved his people so much that he actually gave away all the swords in his treasury. 

You see, these two versions of Gilgamesh are still the same person. It’s just that Archer Gilgamesh is the version of Gilgamesh we see before Enkidu’s death, and Caster Gilgamesh is the one we see after the death of his friend.

And yes, technically, Caster Gilgamesh is weaker than Archer Gilgamesh, and the biggest reason for that is the fact that he gave away so many of his weapons, weakening his Gate of Babylon.

But Caster Gilgamesh also had a noble phantasm that Archer Gilgamesh didn’t, Melammu Dingir, or King’s Signal Cannon. 

If you’ve ever seen the movie Three Hundred, it’s a lot like that. But except for arrows, he’s firing every weapon he has at his disposal.

As I mentioned, Caster Gilgamesh was much more generous than Archer Gilgamesh, and he gave away his treasures for them to be used in cannons, should the city of Uruk need protection.

As such, this Noble Phantasm is classed as an Anti-Army ability, firing every weapon mankind had in one go.

But if you think that’s powerful, there’s one more noble phantasm I haven’t yet mentioned. But this one didn’t belong to Caster Gilgamesh, it belonged to Archer Gilgamesh. 

The Sword of Rupture

Imagine a weapon so mighty that it not only holds power beyond comprehension but also taps into the very essence of our universe's creation. 

Enter Ea, the sword of rupture.

But is it even correct to call it a sword?

Ea is the pinnacle of Noble Phantasms and is the strongest weapon in Gilgamesh’s treasury and it is unique to only him.

You might think it kind of looks like a sword, but it actually isn’t. It was designed before the concept of a “sword” even existed and so, it’s in its own class.

To even summon Ea, Gilgamesh first has to unlock the depths of his treasury with a key that only he possesses, and after that, we see the mere act of obtaining Ea disrupts reality itself.

Designed intricately, each section of Ea represents the Heaven’s, the Earth, and the Underworld, with the sections rotating in opposite directions, echoing the universe’s vast expanse.

Gilgamesh claims that the sword "knows the truth" of the world where it once existed, and by using its power, it is able to bestow its knowledge upon others.

The weapon holds memories of a time even before the planet existed, a time when life, as we understand it, couldn't have survived. The memory of our universe's raw, primordial form, a chaotic blend of scorching heat and biting cold, of molten lava and dense gas, long before life as we know it began.

This primordial memory is embedded deep within our very DNA, a distant echo from eons past, now faded from our tales and consciousness.

Yet, to those who gaze upon the sword, this deep-seated, almost forgotten knowledge comes rushing back.

To Gilgamesh, Ea is more than just a weapon.

It’s an entity.

He treats it like a person. He talks to it, respects it, and unleashes its might only against those he deems truly worthy.

This isn't just any weapon; it's a creation from even before our planet's dawn, crafted by an unknown God and was once used to split the Heavens and Earth.

It is classed as an anti-universe noble phantasm with power unlike any other and its ability is called “Enuma Elish”, and to use the ability, Gilgamesh first recites an incantation, which is as follows:

“I will tell you of the beginning. Heaven and Earth split, nothingness congratulated creation, my Sword of Rupture cleaved the world!"

"Mortar of the stars, heaven's hell is the eve of creation's celebration. Now you shall die and be silent..."

This is actually another Babylonian tale from thousands of years ago titled “The Story of Creation”, buuuuuuuut I'll cover that another time.

I know that I’ve been describing Ea as a “weapon”, but it isn’t that at all. In fact, that barely scratches the surface of its true nature.

It's not an exaggeration when I say that Enuma Elish has the power to tear the universe apart. Yet, even such an unparalleled force had its moment of surprise.

(There is one recorded instance of it being stopped, something which shocked even Gilgamesh, but that’s a story for another time...) 

Gilgamesh is only seen using this ability on two occasions, once against Rider and another against Tiamat, a primordial deity that almost destroyed the world and was so powerful, that even Gilgamesh couldn’t defeat her. Or rather, Caster Gilgamesh couldn’t. Because like I said before, Archer Gilgamesh is on an entirely different level.

Reunion

We see Gilgamesh use Ea’s full strength against Enkidu, not in their first battle, but rather, when they met again thousands of years later in Fate Strange/Fake.

Here, the world itself is sucked into the void created by the sword, and it begins tearing apart. But Enkidu has his own version of Enuma Elish and thus was able to hold the World together.

The battle is described as follows by those that observed it:

"I felt as if the World was born seven times, and destroyed seven times." - The Sacred Prostitute.

This meeting here is honestly, beautiful. And I know that’s a weird way to describe what is essentially a war to the death between mages, but that’s all I can say about it.

We know how much Gilgamesh values Ea. He is disgusted by the thought of someone unworthy even laying their eyes on it. And it’s so rare that we ever see him even using it.

But when he realises that his opponent is his first and only friend, he pulls out Ea with zero hesitation. [Say it with slight laughter]

In fact, this is the happiest we ever see Gilgamesh. He spends the entire battle laughing his heart out, and we see Enkidu, with a hand to his ears, admiring the sound of his friend's laughter as if it were a song. 

It’s a tragedy that Gilgamesh will never be able to see Enkidu again. But that’s life. As sad as it is to admit, we all have people we care about that will be gone from our lives forever.

It’s no wonder that Gilgamesh’s greatest treasure wasn’t any of his riches, any of his weapons, the holy grail, or even Ea.

It was his friendship with Enkidu.

And with that, I’ve covered a fraction of The Epic of Gilgamesh. It took a lot of work and there’s a lot I couldn’t talk cover. I’ll probably make another post dedicated to Ea and another on Enkidu, but I’ll warn you, be prepared to cry.

psst... if you liked this essay, check out the full video essay on my youtube channel!

And I don't normally add this, but if I can be a teenie bit selfish on this one occasion:

Please check out the video (if you'd so graciously lend me a few minutes of your time) because it's by far the hardest I've ever worked on a video and I wholly believe the end result is really good. You can always leave a dislike and tell me how to improve if you don't like it lol

- love ya

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Oldest known paycheck shows workers being paid with beer.

This clay tablet not only shows that beer is a popular beverage but also shows that economic relationship between employee and employer has already been established.

According to the cuneiform writing on a nearly 5000 year old tablet, workers in Mesopotamia were rewarded for their labor in daily rations of beer.

Dated 3300 BC, the tablet was found in the Sumerian city of Uruk and is one of earliest known examples of writing.

According to Alison George in New Scientist, the tablet, which is the oldest known paycheck in the world, tells that workers prefer their daily share of beer as a salary.

This beer was also distributed by employers.

Cuneiform was a kind of caption.

In this tablet, which is currently in British Museum, image of a person eating from a bowl means "food ration" and a cone-shaped container means "beer."

Alison George says semicircular scratches scattered across tablet also record amount of beer a particular worker takes.

According to George, this makes the tablet as the "oldest known paycheck in the world, implying that concept of employee and employer was familiar even 5,000 years ago."

Annalee Newitz of Ars Technica points out that these wages were not meant to keep workers drunk so that they would be more obedient.

In ancient world, beer was a starchy and satisfying beverage and could be used as a meal as well.

British Museum

[atplblog]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] From the manufacturer Description A beautiful metallic body, a treasure trove of 5000 old hindi songs and crystal clear sound, bring home the Saregama Carvaan Gold with iconic Harman Kardon sound. The 5000 pre-loaded songs are categorized into stations based on lyricists, actors, singers, music composers, specials. Each music station can be selected by turning a jog-dial. With the turn of a knob switch from Kishore Kumar classics, to R.D Burman’s pulsating hits, to songs picturised on the angry young man - Amitabh Bachchan and other legends of Hindi Cinema. In addition, you can enjoy an array of specially curated stations like Romance, Sad, Gurbani, Kapoors, Ghazal, Bhakti and many more. Carvaan Gold also houses Ameen Sayani's Geetmala countdown collection spanning 50 years. You can also enjoy your personal collection of songs by plugging in a USB drive. Alternatively, you can connect your phone or tablet to Carvaan Gold using Bluetooth or an AUX IN cable. Carvaan Gold also has AM/FM making it the go to music system in your home. Download the ‘Saregama Carvaan’ app on your Android or iOS mobile phone to view the entire list of 5000 songs on Carvaan Gold, search a song, artiste or album and create playlists with your favourite songs. Carvaan Gold works on a rechargeable battery that lasts for approximately 5 hours. With its premium retro look, extensive content library, and ease-of-use, Saregama Carvaan Gold with sound by Harman Kardon is the perfect gift to buy for yourself or your loved ones.

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[ayubalwellness12]

Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers

Ayurveda, an Indian system of medicine is as old as over 5000 years and is still in vogue due to its reliance on healing the human body by natural remedies. In today’s world where many people want to turn back to nature, and traditional healing with herbs, Ayurvedic medicine is on the rise.

The reason behind this revival is the Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers who practice alternatives and integrate it with the present system needs of improving health care. This paper discusses how these manufacturers, especially the ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in jaipur, have fine tuned the ageless process of ayurvedic manufacture while incorporating sophisticated technology to give the world the best ayurvedic products. The Roots of Ayurveda Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health where everything in an individual is evenly balanced. This is an art from antiquity acknowledged to use such components as herbs, minerals, and oil to fashion cure-all that reestablishes order and drives out essence in the human body. But modernization has brought new problems, and Ayurvedic medicine makers have to change, though staying as close to the concept of Ayurveda as possible. The Role of Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Mills and manufacturing organizations involved in ayurvedic medicines have the responsibility of protecting and promoting such a system of medicine. Their work is not only to manufacture herbal medicine; they have also got the challenges of guaranteeing the quality of the products.

In the contemporary society where the demand of Ayurvedic products is increasing, it is important that the manufacturers develop and adhere to high quality standards as well as the regulatory consideration. Prominent ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in jaipur, such as Ayubal Wellness, respond to this paradigm in this manner.

Manufacturers also have to pay close attention to their selection of raw materials. The herbs used in Ayurveda preparations have to be from the correct time and correct place, that is free from pollution.To this credit, Ayurveda medicine makers also spend money in research and development to find out how knowledge in Ayurveda can be applied to the problems of today. The Innovation in Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing The Ayurvedic system of medicine has not used any chemicals and comes with less complicated remedies in capsule form. But today due to such things as pollution and alterations in diets these formulas will have to be modified. Modern Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers are today using first-class technology to improve the effectiveness of their compound while still retaining their original botanical nature.

For instance, Jaipur based Ayubal Wellness and one of the leading ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in jaipur make use of the most sophisticated techniques in extraction of the herbs and sublimation of the natural products to aid the healing powers. It is effective in maintaining the constituents of the herbs and also it is safe from contaminants and chemical residues.

Moreover, there are new product delivery systems that Ayurvedic manufacturers are opting for from time to time. Knowingly the concept of Ayurveda that used to be in powder form or as a paste is no more the same. Currently, Ayurvedic medicines reach out packaged in capsules, tablets, syrups and skin and other products that the present day consumer tends to opt for. Maintaining Quality as well as Adherence to Standards

This has made it important for all manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicine to observe high quality control in its production. Element 7: The quality scale has been set high by Ayubal wellness Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in Jaipur and has incorporated GMP and ISO in their production line.

QC, therefore, is a system or set of processes that includes establishing high quality of materials before their acquisition. These raw materials are then taken through processing in sanitized packaging centers, where all the materials undergo further checks to ensure that they are free from chemicals such as pesticides, dangerous metals or chemicals. A Look at the Future of Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing

With increasing emphasis on natural and holistic remedies for health and wellness all over the world, Ayurvedic medicine makers are likely to emerge as even more important to the wellness business of the future. In the next five years, manufacturers will probably increase the adoption of artificial intelligence in production lines, better extraction technology and better packing materials.

Thus, manufacturers such as Ayubal Wellness are setting this international expansion by following the necessary safety requirements globally. As many ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in Jaipur, Ayubal Wellness has adopted traditional Ayurveda alongside the application of modern technology and high quality control to make its products suitable to the domestic and international markets. Conclusion

Twenty-first century people do not have to turn to spirituality with doubts, skeptical about whether they are doing the right thing or not: Ayurveda is a confirmed method of natural healing, working in today’s society even more efficiently.

A lot of gratitude goes to Ayubal Wellness and other ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in Jaipur for taking ayurvedic medicine to the next level while keeping it as a tradition’s tradition. Being traditional, these manufacturers also incorporate novelty in their products and services in order to make Ayurveda a reliable source of health to many individuals in future.

[nbhealthcare01]

Best Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturer in India

India is a beautiful country known all over the world for its ancient culture. Ayurveda is one of the oldest cultures in our country and is almost 5000 years old. Ayurveda is a natural medicine for humans, which is why people today prefer to use Ayurvedic products over synthetic products. Out of the total population of India, about 145 crore people, more than 80% use herbal medicines and health products. The Indian herbal medicine industry is worth 57,450 crores and is growing at a rate of 7.6% annually. Therefore, it can be said that investing in third-party herbal medicine manufacturers is very profitable and the market will not decrease in the next few years.

Finding a reputable third party is a difficult task. Look no further, in this guide, we will talk about the Best Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturer in India - NB Healthcare. With extensive experience and a strong reputation in the industry, we pride ourselves on being the best choice for manufacturing high-quality Ayurvedic products.

Why NB Healthcare?

Selecting a Contract manufacturer company for your Ayurvedic products requires a careful review of a company's experience, expertise, authority, and reliability. NB Healthcare excels in all these areas.

Experience: With over 17 years of experience in the industry, our team at NB Healthcare has the knowledge and skills to produce Ayurvedic products of the highest quality. Our successful relationships with customers across India reflect our proven track record of manufacturing and delivering superior-quality products.

Expertise: Our team consists of highly experienced professionals who are well-educated in the science of Ayurveda. From selecting the best herbal blends to ensuring the highest quality standards, we have the expertise to create the highest quality products.

Authority: As a leading contract Ayurvedic medicine manufacturer in India, NB Healthcare has established itself as an industry leader. Our commitment to excellence and commitment to delivering the best products has established us as a trusted partner.

Trust: Trust is important when choosing a third-party manufacturer of Ayurvedic products. At NB Healthcare, we focus on building and maintaining customer trust through a clear and customer-centric approach.

Product Range At NB Healthcare

We offer a wide range of Ayurvedic products including capsules, tablets, powders, etc. Only quality ingredients from reputable suppliers ensure our products are safe, effective, and of the highest quality. Whether you're looking to develop a new product or need help developing an existing product, the NB Healthcare team is ready to help. We offer custom manufacturing services to meet the unique needs of our clients and work closely with you every step of the way to achieve your vision.

At NB Healthcare, we ensure that every product we make meets the highest standards of quality and safety. From manufacturing to packaging, we carefully inspect every detail to ensure your products are flawless. If you are looking for the best third-party Ayurvedic product manufacturer in India, NB Healthcare is your answer. With experience, expertise, power, and reliability, we are confident in our ability to meet and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to find out how we can bring your Ayurvedic products to market.

Contact Details:

Name - NB Healthcare

Address - Plot No. 966, JLPL Industrial Park, Sector-82, Airport Road, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab 160062 India

Phone Number - +91-921-690-7372, +91-7888-693-191

Email - nbhealthcare2005@gmail.com 

Website - https://www.nbhealthcare.co.in/ 

[conchlifescience]

India's Best Third-Party Manufacturer for Ayurvedic Products

India is a beautiful country known all over the world for its ancient culture. Ayurveda is also one of the oldest cultures in our country, nearly 5000 years old. Ayurveda is a natural healing science for humans, which is why people today prefer to use Ayurvedic products more than synthetic products. Out of the total population of India, which is around 145 crore people, more than 80% people use herbal medicines and health products. India's herbal medicine industry is worth around 57,450 crore and growing rapidly by 7.6% every year. So it can be said that investing in third party herbal medicine manufacturers is very profitable and the market will not decrease in the coming years. 

Searching a leading third-party can be a challenging task. Look no further, In this guide, we will talk about the Best Third-Party manufanturer for Ayurvedic products - Conch Lifescience. With a wealth of experience and a strong reputation in the industry, we pride ourselves on being the top choice for manufacturing high-quality Ayurvedic products.

Why Partner with Conch Lifescience?

Selecting a third-party manufacturer for your Ayurvedic products requires careful consideration of a company's experience, expertise, authority, and reliability. Conch Lifescience excels in all these areas.

Experience: With 17+ years of industry experience, our team at Conch Lifescience possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to produce Ayurvedic products that meet the highest standards. Our successful collaborations with clients worldwide underscore our proven track record of delivering outstanding results.

Expertise: Our team comprises highly skilled professionals who are well-versed in Ayurvedic science. From selecting the ideal herbal blends to ensuring strict quality standards, we possess the expertise to create top-quality products.

Authority: As a prominent third-party manufacturer in India, Conch Lifescience has established itself as a leader in the industry. Our unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to providing the best possible products have solidified our position as a trusted partner.

Trust: Trust is paramount when selecting a third-party manufacturer for your Ayurvedic products. At Conch Lifescience, we prioritize building and maintaining our clients' trust through transparency and a client-centric approach.

Our Product Range

We offer a diverse range of Ayurvedic products, including capsules, tablets, powders, and more. We source only the highest quality ingredients from reputable suppliers, ensuring our products are safe, effective, and of the utmost quality. Whether you're looking to develop a new product or need assistance with manufacturing an existing one, the team at Conch Lifescience is ready to assist. We provide custom formulation services to meet our clients' unique needs, working closely with you every step of the way to realize your vision.

Our Process

At Conch Lifescience, we ensure that every product we manufacture adheres to the highest standards of quality and safety. From formulation to packaging, we meticulously oversee every detail to ensure your products are flawless.

In conclusion, if you're seeking the best third-party manufacturer for Ayurvedic products in India, Conch Lifescience is your answer. With our experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness, we're confident in our ability to meet and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to explore how we can help bring your Ayurvedic products to market.

Contact Details:

Name - Conch Lifescience

Address - C-10, First Floor, Mohan Garden, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi - 110059

Phone Number - +91 7048908449

Email - conchlifescience@gmail.com 

Website - https://conchlifescience.in/ 

[gsirvitor]

Well, no, the oldest evidence of a city is found around the range of 2000 BC, not 5000 BC, beginning with the kingdom of Armi from 2500-2300 BC.

Though, there is a theory that Aleppo was originally a city known as Armi, which later became a Kingdom, yet there is little evidence supporting this, the city of Aleppo could have been subsumed into the larger Kingdom at a later date.

This is due to the fact there is little to no evidence the city of Armi existed where Aleppo is, and is only loosely mentioned on clay tablets and pottery, while the Armi Kingdom has direct evidence of existing, and holding the city of Aleppo.

However, even then, the city of Armi originates around 3000 BC, which would mean Aleppo would be roughly 5000 years old, and not having existed since 5000 BC, as that would make it 7000 years old.

This would put it behind Athens, Thebes and Argos which have been continuously inhabited since 5000 BC, from proto Anatolians, to the Mycenaeans, to the Hellenistics, to Modern Greeks.

[allengreenfield]

5000-Year-Old Tablets Can Now Be Decoded by Artificial Intelligence, New Research Reveals - The Debrief

[khayalhealth8]

Why You Should Be Using This Shilajit Tablet?

The idea of Khayal, an Ayurvedic company, was to be there for everyone. We strive to develop the most innovative and ground-breaking Ayurvedic health care products by merging ideas from traditional Ayurvedic practices. By taking care of the general public, we hope to create an India free from disease through our kind and genuine products. Therefore, in order to tackle the diseases of the future, we utilize our ancient Ayurvedic knowledge and combine it with modern breakthroughs. Before it gets to your house, each of our products must pass rigorous inspection and quality-control standards. Shilajit, a sticky substance that may be found in the rocks of the Himalayas and other hilly areas, is used to make the  Shilajit tablets, a dietary supplement. Shilajit has been utilized for its possible health advantages in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia. The following are some justifications why people might think about utilizing  Shilajit tablets, Shilajit has been used in traditional Ayurvedic therapy in India for a very long time. It is thought to possess adaptogenic qualities, which could assist the body in adjusting to stress and preserving equilibrium.

Shilajit is well known for being rich in minerals and fulvic acid, which may enhance general health. Fulvic acid is thought to improve the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Energy and endurance: Some individuals take With the intention of being there for everyone, Khayal was created. By drawing inspiration from the conventional Ayurvedic techniques that have been practiced since 1000 BC, we aimed to create the most ground-breaking and innovative healthcare products in the history of the planet. And it was from this predisposition that Khayal was born. It has often been said that "God has a plant out there that will heal it for every illness or ailment known to man." We merely need to keep learning about their healing abilities from nature. We carry out just that. At Khayal, we carefully source local and uncommon herbs and combine them with modern medicines to develop authentic, native therapies and remedies that are based on references from over 5000-year-old ancient Ayurvedic writings.

Ingredients of  Shilajit Capsule

In times of stress and weakness, bioactive chemicals that support homeostasis and preserve bodily processes. medications that help with edema decrease after an accident a chemical that can prevent free radicals from oxidizing live cells and we offer shilajit gold resin and visit us if required and much  more.

 Benefits of Shilajit Capsule

Increases testosterone and sperm count in men

2. Heals Alzheimer's illness

3. lessens overexertion of fatigue

4. Improves the health of women

5. Reverses the effects of aging

6.Strengthens antioxidant capacity

This is the typical dosage that is advised in the majority of therapy situations. Please keep in mind that each patient's case is unique, and the dosage may vary depending on the illness, the route of administration, the patient's age, and their medical history at Khayal

and much more to know about the product if required.

Our Mission and Values

Ayurveda has been passed down for more than 3,000 years. Since then, Ayurvedic medicine has been used to treat illnesses. However, the authenticity of Ayurveda has significantly diminished as a result of the development of cutting-edge technologies and procedures. There are numerous well-known Ayurvedic businesses and more than a thousand Ayurvedic products available today, all of which make numerous health-related claims. But because of their poor and tainted quality, they actually cause more harm than help. Many times, these adverse effects can develop into severe and persistent, raising a number of issues. What we saw was that production organizations were using manufacturing techniques that weren't real only to lower costs and the time it required to extract items as well as to take care of our customers' health through our benevolent and unique products, becoming indispensable to them. We are resolute in our commitment to providing care for every member of your home, from a baby to the elderly, and our goal is to supply goods that improve the overall well-being of people. Our goal is to spread awareness about Ayurveda so that everyone can take advantage of the knowledge our ancestors had. By offering our consumers only the most authentic and reliable Ayurvedic items, we hope to become the most sought-after Ayurvedic brand. Our goal is to serve the globe with excellence and make it possible for the benefits of Ayurveda to be delivered to every home.

[im-tempted]

oooooooh my god so random of you to ask I'd love to tell you

ok so the card itself was supposed to be part of an art thing about yami yk dying again drama drama everyone's sad that's the context

the title of the card "we say that once there were two" is a quote from the poem war of the foxes (from the book war of the foxes) by Richard Siken love the poem do read it at some point the whole book is up on genius lyrics for free

so the poem itself starts with this fox trying to eat two rabbits and they talk to each other

" Pip: We're doomed. Flip: We're not. Pip: Are you sure? Flip: Yes. Here, hide inside me.

This is the story of Pip and Flip, the bunny twins. We say that once there were two and now there is only one. "

that's the excerpt of the poem I'm specifically referencing in comparing the relationship of yami and yugi with yami literally hiding in the other for his own safety they become one to save themselves

(you could also argue that this is in reference to the puzzle the big triangle thing but that's a whole other can of worms of hiding bodies in bodies

(also it's a light monster yugi is the light one in the relationship yada yada that's just for myself mostly)

than BOTTOM TEXT BOX

in the top brackets is the kind of monster the card would be in this case

[ SOMEONE HAS TO LEAVE / FIRST ]

pre slash is the king of monster it is

it's a shorthand for knowing basically what kind of thing is going on with this card

in this case it's telling you the main crux of this quote is about loss

the second half of the / is basically what the monster does it's either normal and has no fun ability or effect and it does

in this case the / is both emphasizing the word first obviously but it's also saying it's referencing yami due to him being the first cuz the post / is a way of sorting the two (ish) kinds of monsters in this case it's sorting the two characters first (yami) second (yugi)

"this is a very old story / there is not other version of this story"

this quote is mostly referencing the tablet of memories which is a literal stone tablet made about yumis OG death so it is both a very old story (he's like 3000/5000 year sold depending on where you look) and there's also no other way this could have ended yami was always meant to die but not even in the normal way in the way that every choice he made in the show was to get him closer to finally being able to pass over to the afterlife and his death is literally carved into stone

[cuntstable]

its so awesome when people say that historical study is useless and fake because ”history was written by the winners” like they genuinely think that historians are just like reading 2000 year old accounts from individual figures and going like ”Well he says somethings true and happened so lets publish this as verified information. we werent thought critical thinking btw”