Back to School in Babylonia

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, The University of Chicago 1155 E 58th St. Chicago, IL 60637

In 1740 BCE in Babylonia, students resumed classes in Nippur, Mesopotamia, focusing on cuneiform script, math, religion, and law to become skilled scribes for the king and temples. The Joint Expedition to Nippur unearthed the school’s remains in 1951–52, providing insights into Babylonian education. Enter the Edubba’a, a Nippur scribal school, to explore artifacts, texts, and the school experience, gaining a glimpse into the journey of Babylonian students becoming scribes.