This Is What Ancient Languages Sounded Like, From Egyptian to Viking

The voice of the ancients.

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Two men, who wear costumes and carry clubs that identify them as guards or policemen, engage in a spirited discussion, or perhaps an argument. Ancient Egypt, ca. 1352-1336 B.C.E. Image credit: Brooklyn Museum

Listen to 14 ancient languages that can take you on a journey through time, from the Egyptians and Sumerians to the Maya, Romans, Vikings, and Celts.

Most of these languages are no longer spoken, so they provide valuable insight into past cultures, even if we cannot be certain of their exact pronunciation.

Ancient Languages featured in the video:

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    Ancient Egypt / 3100 BC – 332 BC
    Achaemenids / 550 BC–330 BC
    Ancient Greece / c. 800 BC – c. 600 AD
    Ancient Rome / 753 BC–476 AD
    Assyria / 1813 BC–612 BC
    Göktürks / 552 AD-744 AD
    Hittites / c. 1600 BC–c. 1178 BC
    Akkadians / c. 2334 BC – c. 2154 BC
    Aztec / c. 1100 AD – 1533 AD
    Celts / c. 517 BC – C. 100 AD
    Mayans / c. 2000 BC – c. 1700 AD
    Sumerians / 4000 BC – 2000 BC
    Urartu / 860 BC–590 BC
    Vikings / 800AD – 1066 AD

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    Written by Tamás Varga
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    A sociologist and English major by degree, I've worked in the area of civil society & human rights and have been blogging in the fields of travel, nature & science for over 20 years.

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