A Commentary on the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Babylonia and Assyria

Sir Henry Rawlinson's groundbreaking work on the cuneiform inscriptions of Babylonia and Assyria, particularly his decipherment of the Behistun Inscription, revolutionized the understanding of ancient Near Eastern languages. Using a trilingual approach (Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian), Rawlinson built upon earlier research by Georg Friedrich Grotefend to decode Darius the Great's monumental inscription, a key milestone in Assyriology. Published in 1850, this work not only advanced linguistic studies but also provided archaeological context and interpretations of king lists and other inscriptions, though its claim to primacy remains debated.

Rawlinson, H. C. (2014). A Commentary on the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Babylonia and Assyria. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139923385