| SKU | LO.1250 |
|---|---|
| Circa | 1828 BC to 1817 BC |
| Dimensions | 2.87″ (7.3cm) high x 1.87″ (4.7cm) wide |
| Medium | Terracotta |
| Origin | Mesopotamia |
| Gallery Location | UK |
| This has a total of 27 lines of Sumerian cuneiform on observe, reverse and upper edge. It also bears impressions of a single cylinder seal on upper, left and right edges, also between the end of the document and the date. It is a date of king Sin-magir of Isin, in southern Mesopotamia, who ruled for 11 years, c. 1828-1817 B. C. This is known from the ancient king lists, but of the year names used to refer to individual year of his reign only two have been known previously. This tablet adds a third, and is so important, but we do not know to which years of his eleven the three refer.Translation:
1 1/2 musar a storehouse adjacent to the estate of Sin-eribam, 12 musar of palm grove planted with palm trees on the bank of Danamugula canal, next to the palm grove of Sin-eribam, the estate of Bur-Adad: from Bur-Adad Sin-eribam purchased (these items). He weighed out for him 3 shekels of silver for the full price. In the future Bur-Adad and his heirs, as many as there may be, may not claim the storehouse and palm grove. He swore by the king. In the presence of Hazirum, son of Ahushunu Beliya, son of Agu’a Ubarrum, son of Siprum Amurrum-tayyar, son of Atanah-ili Dada, son of Ili-tappe Month: Kislimu, year: Sin-magir the king dug the Ninkarrak canal. Seal inscription: Bur-Adad, servant of Adad and Nergal. Adad was the Babylonian storm god, Nergal god of the netherworld. A musar was a plot of land measuring 12 x 12 cubits. This year was named after the digging of the canal since that was considered the most important event of the year. The area has virtually no rain, so agriculture was only possible by irrigation from the rivers via a network of irrigation canals. Description and translation kindly provided by Professor W. G. Lambert – (LO.1250) |
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