ISIN-LARSA PERIOD, REIGN OF RIM-SÎN I, 1822-1763 B.C.

Details

AN OLD BABYLONIAN COPPER CUNEIFORM TABLET
ISIN-LARSA PERIOD, REIGN OF RIM-SÎN I, 1822-1763 B.C.
Rectangular in form with concave edges, with fourteen lines of Sumerian cuneiform on each side, recording the restoration of Temple E-a-ga-ga-kilib-ur-ur for the goddess Ninegal by Simat-Eshtar, the wife of King Rim-Sin I of Larsa, reading: "For the goddess Ninegal, great lady who holds all the me’s (divine properties enabling cosmic activities) in her hands, who looks at the numerous people, supreme advisor who looks after the black-headed people, whose ways are not rivaled, aristocrat whose word excels in the assembly, whose name is noble enough for praise, reliable goddess from (her) father who engendered her, whose utterance is favorable, great daughter of the god Sin, her lady, Simat-Eshtar beloved spouse of Rim-Sin, King of Larsa, daughter of Warad-Nanna, when the goddess Ninegal, her lady, called her good name, she built for her E-a-ag-ga-kilib-ur-ur, the residence suitable for her divinity, to establish the life of Rim-Sin forever, and for her own life. She enlarged its e-shu-si-ga (a temple room or building) more than it had been previously. She placed there for the future her foundation inscription proclaiming her queenly name"
4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm.) long

Provenance

with Elias S. David (1891-1969), New York; thence by descent.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

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Lot Essay

King Rim-Sin I was the last ruler of the Dynasty of Larsa in southern Babylonia, which was overtaken by Hammurabi in 1764 B.C. The inscription on this tablet dedicates the restoration of the Temple E-a-ga-ga-kilib-ur-ur or “House which gathers all decrees” to Ninegal by Rim-Sin's wife, Simat-Eshtar. Ninegal is better known by her Sumerian name Inanna, the goddess of love and war. The inscription is also found on five other examples, three in the British Museum, one in the National Museum in Stockholm, and one sold by Christie's, New York, 13 December 2013, lot 35 (see D.R. Frayne, Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early Periods, vol. 4., The Old Babylonian Period, pp. 293-294, no. 16(5)). Additionally, the same inscription is found on the stone tablet, lot 116 in the present sale.

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