# Is the Ugarit notation the same system as the Mesopotamian theory texts describe, or a local adaptation? · Hurrian songs of Ugarit > Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T15:43:36+00:00 --- **0** # Is the Ugarit notation the same system as the Mesopotamian theory texts describe, or a local adaptation? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·2 answers·0·0 following **Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The h.6 terms are the Babylonian names in Hurrian spelling and the colophon uses the Babylonian tuning name, which is why the theory tablets are applied to it⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKYYCSZ9M/musical-notation-in-ugarit)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHDTPAT2K/the-cult-song-with-music-from-ancient-ugarit-another). Bayer argued in 1978 that the Ugarit notation drew on the Mesopotamian mainstream but became a separate channel, pointing to the different language and people and to the absence of any Babylonian song written this way⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK6NHE2N8/the-mesopotamian-theory-of-music-and-the-ugarit-notation-a). The Nippur music-instruction fragments use the same terms for singing and are the nearest Mesopotamian parallel, but they are broken and read differently by Kilmer and Civil and by Colburn⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKZG8CJW7/old-babylonian-musical-instructions-relating-to-hymnody)⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKZTWPWNX/a-new-interpretation-of-the-nippur-music-instruction). ## Answers 2 [**A separate local channel (Bayer)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/answers/ANS0DEEAWJJA0YP/a-separate-local-channel-bayer) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**Same system as the Babylonian theory texts (Güterbock, Kilmer)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/answers/ANS0DEEAT3RFX1S/same-system-as-the-babylonian-theory-texts-guterbock-kilmer) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1968[O. R. Gurney: every notation term in h.6 corresponds to one of the fourteen Babylonian interval names, and the colophon names nid…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJRDEAN34/an-old-babylonian-treatise-on-the-tuning-of-the-harp)For: Same system as the Babylonian theory texts (Güterbock, Kilmer) 1. 1968[Emmanuel Laroche: no Mesopotamian song survives in the Ugarit layout of words over a notation block, and the Ugarit terms appear in…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHDCF6PMX/documents-en-langue-hourrite-provenant-de-ras-shamra)For: A separate local channel (Bayer) 1. 1970[Hans G. Güterbock: every notation term in h.6 corresponds to one of the fourteen Babylonian interval names, and the colophon names nid…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKYYCSZ9M/musical-notation-in-ugarit)For: Same system as the Babylonian theory texts (Güterbock, Kilmer) 1. 1974[Anne Draffkorn Kilmer: every notation term in h.6 corresponds to one of the fourteen Babylonian interval names, and the colophon names nid…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHDTPAT2K/the-cult-song-with-music-from-ancient-ugarit-another)For: Same system as the Babylonian theory texts (Güterbock, Kilmer) 1. 2014[Bathja Bayer: no Mesopotamian song survives in the Ugarit layout of words over a notation block, and the Ugarit terms appear in…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK6NHE2N8/the-mesopotamian-theory-of-music-and-the-ugarit-notation-a)For: A separate local channel (Bayer) 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEEADDRHVSZ/session-1-the-hurrian-songs-of-ugarit-seeded-corpus-readings) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBZTCN1T/is-the-ugarit-notation-the-same-system-as-the-mesopotamian%23add-source) Where it fits Hurrian songs of Ugarit **Is the Ugarit notation the same system as the Mesopotamian theory texts describe, or a local adaptation?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]