THIRD DYNASTY OF UR, CIRCA 2112-2004 B.C.

Details

TWO MESOPOTAMIAN CLAY CUNEIFORM TABLETS
THIRD DYNASTY OF UR, CIRCA 2112-2004 B.C.
Larger: 2 3/8in. (6.1 cm.) long
Smaller: 1 5/8 in. (4.2 cm.) long

Provenance

Larger tablet:
Antiquities; Christie’s, London, 16 July 1985, Lot 292.
Jacques Carré (1927-2015), Antwerp, acquired from the above, thence by descent.
Smaller tablet:
Collection X, 8e vente: Bronzes et Terres Cuites du Louristan et de la Caspienne, Glyptique, Boisgirard and Heeckeren, Paris, 21-22 September 1982, Lot 250.

Conditions of sale

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Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

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Lot Essay

Both tablets are inscribed in Sumerian. The largest is an administrative text recording an account of livestock assigned to different individuals. The text comes from Puzriš-Dagān (near ancient Nippur), an emporium founded by King Šulgi. The main activities carried out there were related to livestock, mainly sheep, goats and cattle. The document dates to Šulgi’s 42nd year of reign, circa 2053 B.C.
The smaller tablet is a messenger tablet. It lists the food and beverages that a messenger would receive at stops over a long journey. Its small size is to facilitate it not adding to the weight that the tablets' messenger would already be carrying.

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