A SUMERIAN CLAY "NAIL"
A SUMERIAN CLAY "NAIL"

EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2500-2300 B.C.

Details
A SUMERIAN CLAY "NAIL"
early dynastic, circa 2500-2300 b.c.
The hollow, tapering object with a slightly domed head, more pronounced in the center around a central hole, with an additional hole at the midsection of the shaft, the upper zone inscribed with three columns of cunieform text, twelve lines per column, which read:

"When Lugal-amu, priest of Ishkur, was governor of Adab, Ur-X, house-born slave of Damgalnunna, mighty servant of X, mighty ..., king of ...:

When Damgalnunna chose Ur-X in her holy heart, ordered him "Build my temple!", and when Ur-X obeyed the pleasant words which she spoke,

Then Ur-X raised its foundations 6 cubits 1 span above ground level, Ur-X gave to the temple prelates, stewards and male and female slaves.
On account of this Damgalnunna promised with oath abundance for Ur-X. He asked for the health of his mother, his wife and children, and their brothers, and Damgalnunna attended to his wishes."
16in. (40.6cm.) long

Descriptif du lot

The nail was inscribed in a mature scribal hand for a king of an unknown town. The inscription records a dedication to the temple of the Mother Goddess Damgalnunna.