Akkadian Addenda · Signs

𒈪MI · [mi] · night, black

night

Where it comes from

In Sumerian this sign is the night — ŋi₆, “night, black” (stated in the lists). Akkadian never taught it a word of its own; it took the sound mi and put it to work, and the work turned out to be glorious: mi opens mīšarum, “justice,” the word the stele names itself with.

How to remember it

Night falls, and out of it comes justice: say mi and let mīšarum follow. The darkest sign in the school carries its brightest word.

In the wild

Akkadian reading taught in 103’s chapter 08.