The Gudea Cylinders

These are inscribed cylinders from the time of the Sumerian ruler Gudea, c.2120 BC - that is, well over four thousand years ago. In the cuneiform inscription on the cylinders, which tells of the building of the temple of Ningirsu, we find perhaps the earliest, perhaps the first-ever-recorded descriptions of dreams.

In Venice, Italy, right now, the Fondazione Prada is hosting an exhibition about the Human Brain. As part of the exhibition, a number of powerful objects are being exhibited, accompanied by stories written by a wide range of writers.

I was asked to write a story inspired by the Gudea cylinders.

I wrote a story about dreams.

I’ll post it tomorrow, free for everyone to read.