Ni (cuneiform)


The cuneiform sign ni, is a common-use sign of the Amarna letters, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and other cuneiform texts. It has a secondary sub-use in the Amarna letters for addressing the Pharaoh, from the vassal states of Canaan. The address to the Pharaoh is often 'King-Lord-Mine': LUGAL, EN-ia which has many varieties of expression. "LUGAL" is Akkadian language for "Šarru", English "king", and EN in Akkadian is bēlu, for "Lord",. In some Amarna letters the sub-use of ni is lí, for spelling "bēlu", be-lí often .
There are other sub-uses of ni. It is also found in some Amarna letters, EA 9, and EA 252, for example where ni or lí is scribed in a "flourish" format, similar to tab,. In EA 9 especially, there is a 'scribe margin line', both left and right on the clay tablet obverse. For the right margin, some words in the lower paragraphs of the obverse, some words ending with ni/lí, have the sign lengthened, and sitting upon the right margin line-.

''Epic of Gilgamesh'' usage

The ni sign usage in the Epic of Gilgamesh is as follows: lí- times, né-, ni-, ṣal-, zal-, Ì- times. Ì, the Sumerogram is Akkadian language "šamnu", for English "oil".
Because of its multiple usages in the Epic, ni, or lí, can be used as a syllabic for "
"ne", "ni", or "li"/"lí", etc. It also can be used as a syllabic for combinations related to: "sal", "ṣal", or "zal";.