UD = 𒌓 – Meaning

Visual analysis: Time flows from right to left. The obtuse angle on the right marks that a process is unfolding. There are two possible interpretations of the sign:

1. The two approximately horizontal strokes are rays of light moving away from their origin, the sun, and striking the earth. Since they are tracked over time, they are depicted as strokes. They are not depicted vertically because the x-axis is the time axis.
2. The lower approximately horizontal stroke represents the horizon, the upper approximately horizontal stroke represents the sky. The distance between the two strokes decreases over time. Thus, a process unfolds that brings heaven and earth closer together.

Derived meaning: Depending on the interpretation of the sign, the following derived meanings result:

• Interpretation 1 yields the meanings "light," "sun," and "day."
• If one assumes that "bringing heaven and earth closer together" means that justice is established on earth, then interpretation 2 implies the meaning "to shed light on a matter in order to establish justice."

The two possible interpretations of the sign could explain why the Sumerians associated "light" with "establishing justice."

Usage: There are different types of usage:

• Interpretation 1 justifies the following usages: As a noun, the sign means "light," "sun," and "day." As a verb, it means "to shine," "to gleam," and as an adjective, it means "bright," "shining," "gleaming."
• Interpretation 2 justifies the following usages: As a noun, the sign means "illumination of a matter (in order to establish justice)," and as an adjective, it means "upstanding" or "reliable."

Conventional interpretation: light, sun, day, to shine, to gleam, bright, shining, gleaming