--- title: Muazzez İlmiye Çığ slug: muazzez-ilmiye-cig-25cf2 url: /detay/muazzez-ilmiye-cig-25cf2 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Muazzez İlmiye Çığ type: biography categories: - name: Other Social Sciences slug: diger-sosyal-bilimler url: /kategori/diger-sosyal-bilimler tags: - Sumerology - Muazzez İlmiye Çığ - Sümer author: Duygu Şahinler created_at: 2025-11-29T13:31:11.823527+03:00 updated_at: 2025-11-29T13:31:11.823542+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/15/Xn91QCnSRpumj7Uas8xPWgoWiNuBdVoA.jpg --- # Muazzez İlmiye Çığ > Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, Türkiye's first female Sumerologist, is a Turkish scientist known for her international research on Sumerology, Hittitology, and ancient Mesopotamian cultures. ## KURE Information Cards ![Ekran görüntüsü 2025-11-15 211844.png](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/15/xeB7Bk9uxLhuaDCr9FcXsMyRfYM6T0H9.png) *Muazzez İlmiye Çığ* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Birth | 20 June 1914, Bursa | | Education | Bursa Girls' Teacher Training School (Graduation: 1931),Ankara University Faculty of Language History and Geography Department of Hittitology (Graduation: 1940) | | Profession(s) | Sumerologist archaeologist linguist author | | Importance | Türkiye's first female Sumerologist | | Significant Contributions | Creation of an archive of cuneiform documents consisting of 74000 tablets translation of History Begins in Sumer (1990) author of 13 books on Sumerian and Hittite cultures | | Death | 17 November 2024, Mersin | | Spouse(s) | M Kemal Çığ (1940–1983) | ## Article Content Türkiye's first female Sumerologist, **Muazzez İlmiye Çığ**, was born on 20 June 1914 in Bursa. Her family consisted of immigrants from Crimea. Her father had migrated from Crimea to the Merzifon district of [Amasya](/en/detay/amasya-b349b/llms.txt), while her mother had moved to Bursa. When the family was living in İzmir, they relocated to Çorum after the occupation of İzmir on 15 May 1919, which they considered safer. [Muazzez İlmiye Çığ](/en/detay/muazzez-ilmiye-cig-7b48a/llms.txt) began primary school in Çorum; after the family returned to Bursa, she continued her education there. In Bursa, at the private school Bizim Mektep, she took French and violin lessons. In 1926 she entered the **Bursa Girls’ Teacher Training School** through an entrance examination and graduated in 1931. [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRw229-5aOA) *Muazzez İlmiye Çığ and the Journey to Sumer Part 1 (Serkan Koç / Kam Film)* ### **Education and Teaching Years** After graduation, she was assigned to Eskişehir, where her father also worked, and taught there for approximately five years. On 15 February 1936 she enrolled in the **Hittitology Department of the Faculty of Language, History and Geography at Ankara University**. During her studies, she took courses from prominent scientists who had fled Nazi Germany and were teaching at the university. She studied Hittite language and culture with Professor Hans Gustav Guterbock and Sumerian and Akkadian languages as well as Mesopotamian culture with Professor Benno Landsberger. She graduated from the faculty in 1940, marking the beginning of her scientific career. ### **Scientific Career** Immediately after graduating in 1940, she was appointed as an expert at the **Archives of Cuneiform Documents at the Istanbul Museum of Ancient Oriental Antiquities**. In the same year, she married M. Kemal Çığ, Director of the Topkapı Palace Museum. Together with her colleagues at the museum, **Hatice Kızılyay** and **Dr. F. R. Kraus**, she cleaned, classified, numbered, and cataloged tens of thousands of tablets inscribed in Sumerian, Akkadian and Hittite languages stored in the museum’s depot. As a result of these efforts, an archive of **74,000 cuneiform tablets** was established; Çığ also contributed to the preparation and publication of copies of 3,000 tablets. Her international activities include: - **1957** – Congress of Orientalists in Munich - **1960** – Six-month research at Heidelberg University - **1965** – Responsibility for transporting the Hittite exhibition from Rome to London - **1988** – Assyriology Congress in Philadelphia Even after retiring in 1972, she continued her scholarly work. She translated Professor Samuel Noah Kramer’s book *History Begins at Sumer* into Turkish; the book was published in 1990 under the title **“Tarih Sümer’de Başlar”**. Inspired by the great interest in this work, she began writing numerous books from 1993 onward aimed at both children and adults to introduce Sumerian and Hittite cultures. She produced a significant body of work comprising thirteen books. ### **Social Contributions** In addition to her scientific work, Muazzez İlmiye Çığ was recognized as one of Turkey’s foremost advocates for women’s rights. Her messages regarding women’s education, freedom and role in social life had a profound impact on society. ### **Personal Life** Muazzez İlmiye Çığ was married to M. Kemal Çığ from 1940 to 1983 and was the mother of two daughters. Throughout her life, she received numerous awards, including the Professional Service Award, the Free Human Award and the Melvin Jones Friendship Award. ### **Death** Çığ, one of the pioneering figures in [Sumerology](/en/detay/sumerler-2839a/llms.txt) worldwide, passed away on 17 November 2024 at the age of 110 in a hospital in Mersin, where she had been receiving treatment, following a long and productive life. ### **Information Provided in the AA Interview (2021)** In an interview conducted on 24 December 2021, 108-year-old Muazzez İlmiye Çığ recounted pivotal moments in her life, her perspective on Sumerology and her philosophy of work.[^1] She emphasized that choosing to work at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum instead of pursuing an academic career was the most important turning point in her life, one that shaped her professional path. ![Image](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/15/iL7Rcq9VVqdRJX5j1L9cLA2INJTPpnAy.jpg) *Interview with Muazzez İlmiye Çığ (AA)* #### **Beginning of Her Education** While recounting how she entered the Faculty of Language, History and Geography at Ankara University, she stated that choosing Sumerology opened up a “whole new world” to her. She noted that despite difficult economic conditions, her family’s support enabled her to make the decision to attend university. #### **A Turning Point in Her Life** She affirmed that after university, she chose to work at a museum rather than pursue an academic career, calling it the right decision. She described how her scientific work at the museum led to international collaborations and numerous publications. #### **Her Perspective on Sumerology** Çığ stated that even though she could no longer actively conduct research, she continued to follow publications. She emphasized that Turkey’s accumulated knowledge on Sumerology has no equivalent in the world and highlighted the central role of Sumerian culture in human history. #### **Her Understanding of Success and Advice to Students** Çığ defined success as “working without thinking.” She urged young people to read extensively, remain steadfast in their goals and share knowledge, with these words: **“Life is work. The Sumerians said 5,000 years ago: ‘You wasted your time — what good did it do?’”**[^2] #### **On the Social Status of Women** Comparing the era of her education with the present day, she stated that Turkish women have made tremendous progress over the past 80 years, equivalent to the centuries-long development seen in Europe. #### **Her Views on Atatürk and the Faculty of Language, History and Geography** She emphasized that Atatürk established the Faculty of Language, History and Geography to train experts who would investigate the origins of the Turkish language, history and culture. #### **Her Choice to Live in Mersin and Relationship with Technology** She said that moving to Mersin made her very happy and that she remains in constant contact with students and visitors there. She illustrated her familiarity with technology by referencing activities from her childhood and noted that she uses computers and modern devices comfortably. ## Academic Sources and References 5. Anadolu Ajansı. "108 yaşındaki Sümerolog Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, hayatının dönüm noktasını anlattı." Accessed November 15, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/roportaj/108-yasindaki-sumerolog-muazzez-ilmiye-cig-hayatinin-donum-noktasini-anlatti/2456439 6. Anadolu Ajansı. "108-year-old Turkish Sumerologist say work at museum turned life around." Accessed November 15, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/108-year-old-turkish-sumerologist-say-work-at-museum-turned-life-around/2457081 7. Bin Yaprak. "İlk Türk Kadın Sümerolog: Muazzez İlmiye Çığ." Accessed November 15, 2025. https://binyaprak.com/kesfet/ilk-tuerk-kadin-suemerolog-muazzez-ilmiye-cig 8. NTV Haber. "Muazzez İlmiye Çığ kimdir? Muazzez İlmiye Çığ'ın biyografisi." Accessed November 15, 2025. https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/muazzez-ilmiye-cig-kimdir-muazzez-ilmiye-cigin-biyografisi,WSMsdR4SO0-Oi6m\_zUYDag 9. Serkan Koç / Kam Film YouTube Channel. "Uygarlığın Kökeni » Muazzez İlmiye Çığ ile Sümer'e Yolculuk 1. Bölüm." Accessed November 15, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRw229-5aOA ## Citations [^1]: Anadolu Ajansı. "108 yaşındaki Sümerolog Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, hayatının dönüm noktasını anlattı." Son Erişim: 15.11.2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/roportaj/108-yasindaki-sumerolog-muazzez-ilmiye-cig-hayatinin-donum-noktasini-anlatti/2456439 [^2]: Anadolu Ajansı. "108 yaşındaki Sümerolog Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, hayatının dönüm noktasını anlattı." Son Erişim: 15.11.2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/roportaj/108-yasindaki-sumerolog-muazzez-ilmiye-cig-hayatinin-donum-noktasini-anlatti/2456439