Zi (cuneiform)



The cuneiform zi sign is a common multi-use sign of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the 1350 BC Amarna letters, and other cuneiform texts. It also has a sumerogrammic usage for ZI in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The structure of the cuneiform sign is like its twin, Gi (cuneiform),.

The "zi" sign has the syllabic usage for ze and zi, and a Sumerogram usage for ZI. Alphabetically "zi" can be used for z ("z" can be interchanged with any "s"); and "zi"/"ze" can be used for i, or e. In Akkadian, all 4 vowels, a, e, i, u are interchangeable with each other.

Epic of Gilgamesh usage
The zi sign usage in the Epic of Gilgamesh is as follows: ze-(6 times); gi-(46), ZI-(32 times).