Cuneiform Sign Gur7

Several values belong to this sign; context helps select one.

The spellings gur₇ and guru₇ label values of the same cuneiform sign. guru₇ can mean “store” or “granary”; gur₇ is also linked to words for harvest, reaping, and lifting. A sign is a mark in this ancient writing system; by itself, 𒄦 is not a complete translated word.

Cuneiform first served practical records of goods and services. The ePSD2 dictionary records gur₇ for “lift” in Early Dynastic IIIa, and for “harvest” from Early Dynastic IIIb through Hellenistic times.

Why can gur7 have several readings?

Cuneiform signs can represent words, syllables, or related values.

Cuneiform was used for Sumerian and later Akkadian, among other languages; the language, period, and neighboring signs help select a value. A 2022 glossary lists guru₇ as “grain store,” “granary,” or “grain heap,” while noting a scholarly split over whether that last reading is kara₆ or kuru₁₃.

Sign lists also record the compounds GUR₇&GUR₇ and KA×GUR₇; 𒅬 is the encoded KA×GUR₇ sign. The × marks a structural combination, not two casually paired signs. Tablet forms vary by period and region; a digital font shows one style, not a picture of every tablet.