Carlotta - the museum database

MM 1957:004 :: Tablet

Object description: The lapis-lazuli tablet is inscribed with an inscription of Amar-Suen, the third king of the Third Dynasty of Ur (2046-2038 BC). The hand copy published here stems from an anonymous colleague, who possibly in 1957 visited Medelhavsmuseet, copied three cuneiform texts and transliterated four. Because several details, including the name of the author, were missing, the manuscript was not possible to publish. In the publication by H. Steible, 5 other stone tablets with the same text are listed. For none of them is there any known provenance. The inscription describes how Amar-Suen, king of Ur, constructed a building called Gipar in the town Karzida outside the city Ur. The Gipar was the residence of the en-priestess Enagazianna of the moon-god Nanna. Another Gipar was situated in the center of the city Ur. For three of the published duplicates, it has sometimes been suggested that they may be modern fakes. The same may also be assumed for MM 1957:4, because of the many words and even signs, which are divided on two lines. However, these indications of bad writings do not necessarily prove that it is a fake, and it cannot be excluded that all exemplars are ancient. Those tablets, which are authentic, were possibly one principle placed in the walls of the Gipar, or in connexion with this building. Our tablet, however, seems to have been secondarily pierced for hanging. Therefore the tablet may at a later stage have functioned as an amulet, if it is ancient. Translation: “For the god Nanna of (the town) Karzida, his king, Amar-Suen, whose name the god Enlil mentioned in Nippur, provider of the temple of the god Enlil, righteous god of the land, king of Ur, king of the four horizons – from the past there was no Gipar (-building) in (the town) Karzida, no en-priestess lived (there) – Amar-Suen, the beloved son of the god Nanna, built for his beloved god Nanna at (the town) Karzida the Gipar (-building). Enagazianna, his (=the god Nanna’s) beloved en-priestess, he let To him (=the god Nanna). (Therefor) Amar-Suen may have long life.”

Data elements
References (6)

Inventory number - Depicted (5)
Inventory Number - Describes (1)

Show only objects with images
List view
Map view

5 hits

Show only objects with images
List view
Map view

Here you can leave a comment. You have to supply an e-mail, an alias and you have to accept the agreements.

Important to know about the information in the online collection database

Users of the database are warned that some records may include language or terminology dating from the 19th and 20th centuries which depicted people in ways that are obsolete and/or offensive. We are conscious that the inclusion of such terminology is problematic. As an institution, we have chosen to include this historic information in our database because it is part of the documentation for the object, photograph, or archival item. Where known, objects associated with, or photographs depicting, ritual or ceremonial activity have been hidden in the publicly accessible database as there may be restrictions relating to the age, gender, initiation and ceremonial status or clan of the person who may see them. The database may also include the names of deceased persons, which could cause sadness or distress, particularly to relatives of these people.

Click here for more information.

MM 1957:004 :: Tablet

Thumbnail

Photograph Number

Keyword, Swedish

Location

Time

Name