A (Sumerian)

Proto Cuneiform A
※cdli ( Cuneiform Degital Library Initiative ) のサインリスト
 https://cdli.ucla.edu/tools/SignLists/protocuneiform/archsigns.html
を参考に描画。

Script: Sumero-Akkadian Cuneiform; Name: Cuneiform Sign A; Font: Akkadian

a (e4, ea) [water; semen; progeny]
a [to do; to make; to act, perform; to proceed, proceeding (math.)]
a [a cry of woe; to cry, groan]
aya2 (a) [father]
duru5 [(to be) soft; (to be) wet, irrigated, damp, fresh]
e4 (a) [house; temple; (temple) household; station (of the moon)?; room; house-lot; estate]
eš10 [water]
eš10 [three; triplets]
※ the website of the Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary Project (PSD) より引用

波打っているさまで「水」をあらわす。

　water「水」は草木や生きもののいのちを育む。irrigated 灌漑用水路にたっぷりと湛えられた「水」を思い浮かべるとよいかもしれない。流れは堰を切って耕地を proceed「進み」soft「柔軟」に形を変え大地を wet, damp「潤す」そして fresh「新鮮」な食物をもたらす。