This project examines the emergence and development of absolute direction terms in Sumerian, Akkadian, Iranian, and Tocharian languages. The implications of these terms' conceptual backgrounds for spatial perception and imagination in antiquity, and the interplay between language and mind are the main focus. Employing the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, I will analyse and interpret the absolute direction terms in these languages in their historical and textual context and investigate the role of language contact in the development of the term’s forms and concepts. By comparing the Sumerian and Akkadian terms with those in Iranian and Tocharian, the project aims to identify universal aspects of spatial conceptualization rooted in human perception as well as differences influenced by cultural and environmental factors. The comparison with Central Asian sources highlights conceptual similarities and dissimilarities, emphasizing the impact of multilingualism in regions such as Mesopotamia and Eastern Silk Roads.