Lex Fridman Podcast · 2025-12-12 · 134 min · 22,196 words

#487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths

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The following is a conversation with Irving Finkel, who is a scholar of ancient languages curator at the British Museum for over forty five years and is a much admired and respected world expert on cuneiform script and more generally on ancient languages of Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian. and also on ancient board games and uh Mesopotamian magic, medicine, literature, and culture. I should also mention that both on and off the mic, Irving was a super kind and fun person to talk to, with an infectious enthusiasm for ancient history that of course I already love, But uh fell in love with even more. And now a quick few second mention of each sponsor.

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