The
cuneiformpa sign, (as
Sumerogram, PA), has many uses in both the 14th century BC
Amarna letters and the Epic of Gilgamesh. It is routinely and commonly used to spell the
Akkadian language word "pānu",[1]face, presence, and with a preposition (ex.
ana pā
nu), before. In the photo of the obverse of
EA 364, it is used to spell Akkadian "eperu",[2] 'dust', (EA 364, lines 7,8: "...and (
ùdust (IŠ (Sumerogram)=dust)) and (
u)\ dust"-(
a-pa-
ru). (The two "and"-s are u-(no. 3), then u-(no. 1)-(
u (cuneiform))(the bottom half).)
The alphabetic/syllabic uses and Sumerograms of the 'pa' sign from the Epic of Gilgamesh:[3]
hat
pa
PA (Sumerogram)s
SÀG
Its usage numbers from the Epic of Gilgamesh are as follows:[4]hat-(21), pa-(209), PA-(11), SÀG-(1). In the Amarna letters the start of "messenger Xxxxx" is often spelled in cuneiform characters: "LÚ.PA.X.y.z" (etc.), (LÚ the beginning
determinative for Man).
References
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, pānu, p. 135.
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Glossary, pp. 119-145, eperu, p. 125.
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Sign List, pp. 155-165, no. 295, p. 159.
^Parpola, 1971. The Standard Babylonian
Epic of Gilgamesh, Sign List, pp. 155-165, no. 295, p. 159.
Sign kat, kad, gad, gat, 'Gad (cuneiform), based on Pa (cuneiform). (For k/g/q–qat/qad, for "hand", and Akkadian qātu, cuneiform sign
Šu (cuneiform) is used. (ŠU (hand Sumerogram)=qātu)). For a listing of trade objects for procuring an entourage of women to Egypt, "...silver, gold, linen garments". (GADA, GAD for Akkadian "tunic",
GAD (tunic Sumerogram),
Amarna letter EA 369, to
Milkilu of Gazru, titled: "From the Pharaoh to a Vassal".
Mesopotamian
cylinder seal-(view Side G) with
griffin (Lion (with lion tail) and wings (on Side E)). The columns of inscription contain, at right:
an (cuneiform)-(for DINGIR, god?), and pa (cuneiform).