| SKU | LO.1256 |
|---|---|
| Circa | 1817 BC to 1794 BC |
| Dimensions | 3.62″ (9.2cm) high x 1.87″ (4.7cm) wide |
| Medium | Terracotta |
| Origin | Mesopotamia |
| Gallery Location | UK |
| The tablet contains 29 lines of Sumerian cuneiform on obverse and reverse and also has cylinder seal impressions on the reverse above the date and on upper, lower and left- hand edges. It is dated to the year in the reign of Damiq-ilishu, king of Isin in southern Mesopotamia, c. 1817-1794 B. C., but the precise date in his reign cannot yet be established, for lack of a list of year names covering the whole reign.Translation:
2 musar of neglected land, land Ahatum, Nabi-Shamash, Nishinishu and Ipiq- Ersetum, adjacent to (land of) Beli-tayyar: 2 shekels of silver were weighed out as its full price. Ibbi-Ninshubur, son of Puzur- Ninkarrak, purchased it from Ahatam, Nabi- Shamash, Ipqu-Ersetum and Ninshinishu, children of Sin-gamil. In the future Ahatum, Nabi-Shamash, Ipqu- Ersetum and Nishinishu, children of Sin- gamil, may not claim the land. They swore by the king. In the presence of Ta……, son of Shu-Ishar Ili-bani, son of Yadda-waqar Sin-eresh, son of Ubar-Baba Nanna-ME-BARA, son of Ahi-waqar Ilum-milik, son of Nanaya Seal inscription: Ahatum Wife of Sin-gamil Month: Iyar, year: Damiq-ili the king installed Ninzi-anna. The tablet is in excellent condition for the obverse, but there is a little damage to the reverse involving the list of witnesses. The ancient scribe took a short cut in one respect: the property sold was jointly owned by a woman (Ahatum) and three men, and all four in the wording of the document are described as children of Sin-gamil, but only one seal inscription is rolled, that of Ahatum, “wife of Sin-gamil.” The seal is no doubt correct, and the scribe saved himself trouble by making mother and three sons all “children of Sin-gamil.” The installation in the year name refers to a high priestess. Description and translation kindly provided by Professor W. G. Lambert – (LO.1256) |
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