Lex Fridman Podcast
Irving Finkel is a scholar of ancient languages and a longtime curator at the British Museum, renowned for his expertise in Mesopotamian history and cuneiform writing. He specializes in reading and interpreting cuneiform inscriptions, including tablets from Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian contexts. He became widely known for studying a tablet with a Mesopotamian flood story that predates the biblical Noah narrative, which he presented in his book “The Ark Before Noah” and in a documentary that involved building a circular ark based on the tablet’s technical instructions.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep487-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/irving-finkel-transcript
CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact
EPISODE LINKS:
Irving’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drirvingfinkel/
The Ark Before Noah (book): https://amzn.to/4j2U0DW
Irving Lectures Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYXwZvOwHjVcFUi9iEqirkXRaCUJdXGha
British Museum Video Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0LQM0SAx603A6p5EJ9DVcESqQReT7QyK
British Museum Website: https://www.britishmuseum.org/
The Great Diary Project: https://thegreatdiaryproject.co.uk/
SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
Miro: Online collaborative whiteboard platform.
Go to https://miro.com/
Chevron: Reliable energy for data centers.
Go to https://chevron.com/power
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
AG1: All-in-one daily nutrition drink.
Go to https://drinkag1.com/lex
OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(00:43) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(09:53) – Origins of human language
(15:59) – Cuneiform
(23:12) – Controversial theory about Göbekli Tepe
(34:23) – How to write and speak Cuneiform
(39:42) – Primitive human language
(41:26) – Development of writing systems
(42:20) – Decipherment of Cuneiform
(54:51) – Limits of language
(59:51) – Art of translation
(1:05:01) – Gods
(1:10:25) – Ghosts
(1:20:13) – Ancient flood stories
(1:30:21) – Noah’s Ark
(1:41:44) – The Royal Game of Ur
(1:54:43) – British Museum
(2:02:08) – Evolution of human civilization
#177 – Risto Miikkulainen: Neuroevolution and Evolutionary Computation
Risto Miikkulainen is a computer scientist at UT Austin. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – The Jordan Harbinger Show: https://jordanharbinger.com/lex/ – Grammarly: https://grammarly.com/lex to get 20% off premium – Belcampo: https://belcampo.com/lex…
#176 – Robert Breedlove: Philosophy of Bitcoin from First Principles
Robert Breedlove is a decentralized finance entrepreneur, philosopher, and podcaster. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/lex – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack – Munk Pack: https://munkpack.com and…
#175 – Yannis Pappas: History and Comedy
Yannis Pappas is a comedian and podcaster. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Wine Access: https://wineaccess.com/lex to get 20% off first order – Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get…
#174 – Tyler Cowen: Economic Growth and the Fight Against Conformity and Mediocrity
Tyler Cowen is an economist, writer, and podcaster. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Linode: https://linode.com/lex to get $100 free credit – ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3…
#173 – Nic Carter: Bitcoin Core Values, Layered Scaling, and Blocksize Debates
Nic Carter is a financial researcher, investor, writer, and podcaster on topics of decentralized finance. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – The Information: https://theinformation.com/lex to get 75% off first month –…
#172 – Ryan Schiller: Librex and the Free Exchange of Ideas on College Campuses
Ryan Schiller is the creator of Librex, an anonymous discussion feed for college communities. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Allform: https://allform.com/lex to get 20% off – Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and…
#171 – Anthony Pompliano: Bitcoin
Anthony Pompliano is an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and podcaster on topics of decentralized finance. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Theragun: https://theragun.com/lex to get 30 day trial – Sun Basket: https://sunbasket.com/lex…
#170 – Ronald Sullivan: The Ideal of Justice in the Face of Controversy and Evil
Ronald Sullivan is a law professor at Harvard and previously a lawyer for Harvey Weinstein and Aaron Hernandez. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Brooklinen: https://brooklinen.com and use code LEX to…
#169 – Ryan Hall: Solving Martial Arts from First Principles
Ryan Hall is a martial artist, BJJ black belt, and MMA fighter undefeated in the UFC. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Indeed: https://indeed.com/fridman to get $75 credit – Audible: https://audible.com/lex…
#168 – Silvio Micali: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Algorand, Bitcoin, and Ethereum
Silvio Micali is a computer scientist at MIT, Turing award winner, and founder of Algorand. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1…