SIGMA, Upside-Down Cuneiform: The Depiction of Babylonian Mathematics in Games

The SIGMA project based at the University of Edinburgh are hosting the forthcoming seminar by Dr Erica Meszaros. Joining instructions are below.

Upside-Down Cuneiform: The Depiction of Babylonian Mathematics in Games

Babylonian mathematics may seem like an esoteric topic; yet if you’re a gamer, chances are you’ve run into the language at some point. From action-adventure platformers to open-world mystery games to collectible card games, games slip in Babylonian references for seemingly myriad reasons.

This talk will introduce the basics of Babylonian mathematics, including the sexagesimal system and the cuneiform script, as a stepping stone to examining how this field is represented within games. In addition to showcasing examples from different gaming genres, this talk presents a brief history of how later peoples have used and “misused” ancient scripts and numbers in ways that accrete meaning. Ultimately, I am particularly interested in how the depiction of Babylonian material in games has shifted in recent history, from early video games like Prince of Persia to the rise of escape rooms and tangible cuneiform puzzles.

I argue that using Babylonian mathematical material “incorrectly” — say, upside-down or as an alphabet — helps shape a new meaning that is in line with how earlier cultures also re-interpreted this content.

Zoom Joining Instructions

https://edin.ac/4bbnEUX
Passcode: nakkisu1