Lot 229
229
A LARGE BABYLONIAN INSCRIBED VEINED LIMESTONE CEREMONIAL MACE HEAD
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A LARGE BABYLONIAN INSCRIBED VEINED LIMESTONE CEREMONIAL MACE HEAD

REIGN OF KING ISHME-DAGA, CIRCA 1954-1935 B.C.

Details
A LARGE BABYLONIAN INSCRIBED VEINED LIMESTONE CEREMONIAL MACE HEAD
REIGN OF KING ISHME-DAGA, CIRCA 1954-1935 B.C.
Of bulbous collared form, fragmentary, with thick walls, bearing an incised rectangular panel with 13-line dedicatory inscription in Sumerian cuneiform reading "To Nergal of ...dak, his lord, and for the ... of the life of Ishme-Dagan, mighty king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, Warad-Erra, anointed priest of Nergal, son of Adallal, anointed priest of Nergal, his servant, gave [this mace head]"
7½ in. (19 cm.) high; 6¾ in, (17 cm.) diam. max.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Nergal was the Sumero-Babylonian god of the netherworld. The mace head was given by a priest of Nergal to the god Nergal for the benefit of Ishme-Dagan, the king of the time. The exceptional size of this mace head would suggest that it was for ceremonial rather than for practical use.

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