Du (cuneiform)

The cuneiform du sign, also kup, and sumerograms DU and GUB, is a common-use sign of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the 1350 BC Amarna letters, and other cuneiform texts. In the Akkadian language for forming words, it can be used syllabically for: du, or kup (and ku, up); also alphabetically for letters d, u, k, or p. (All the four vowels in Akkadian are interchangeable for forming words (a, e, i, u), thus the many choices of scribes is apparent for composing actual 'dictionary-entry' words.) It is also true in the Akkadian language, that some consonants are paired (k/g, k/q), thus the relationship between kup, and sumerogram GUB is explained (k/G).

A common form of du, kup, or sumerograms DU, or GUB.

Digitized form of du.

Amarna letter EA 367.
Final numbered letter from the Pharaoh (~10 letters) with title: "From the Pharaoh to a Vassal",[1] to Endaruta.

For the sumerogram GUB, GUB in the Akkadian language becomes uzuzzu, English language for "to stand", or "to be present"; in the Epic of Gilgamesh, GUB is only used (2)-times for uzuzzu,[2] and is used elsewhere in the Tablets I-XII (chapters), (15)-times.

Epic of Gilgamesh usage

The usage numbers for du in the Epic of Gilgamesh are as follows:[3] du-(148) times, kup-(1), and DU-(17) times.

References

1. Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. EA 367, A Hymn to the Pharaoh, p. 365.
2. Parpola, 197l. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, uzuzzu, p. 122.
3. Parpola, 197l. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Sign List, pp. 155-165, Sign No. 206, du, p. 159.

• Moran, William L. 1987, 1992. The Amarna Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1992. 393 pages.(softcover, ISBN 0-8018-6715-0)
• Parpola, 197l. The Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Parpola, Simo, Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project, c 1997, Tablet I thru Tablet XII, Index of Names, Sign List, and Glossary-(pp. 119–145), 165 pages.