#neo-sumerian

[armthearmour]

A beautiful bronze Sickle Sword, Neo-Sumerian, ca. 2250-2000 BC, housed at the Musée du Louvre.

[abwwia]

Most likely representing a high priestess, this statuette calls forth a line from “The Exaltation of Inanna” by Enheduanna: “Me, who once sat triumphant.” The image also resonates with that of Enheduanna on her votive disk. The woman’s transfixed gaze expresses deep reflection and her hands are firmly clasped in devotion. In her lap is a small tablet. Three incisions on its surface represent the columnar division of clay tablets, an overt reference to cuneiform writing. The tablet and divisions bear witness to the dedicator’s well educated status and engagement with writing, perhaps as an author. As a votive, the statue’s offering is a written text.

Seated female figure with tablet on lap Mesopotamia, Neo-Sumerian Ur III period (ca. 2112–2004 BC) Alabaster | Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, Vorderasiatisches Museum, Acquired 1913; VA 04854 © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin-Vorderasiatisches Museum. Foto: Olaf M. Teßmer. x

Seated female figure with tablet on lap Mesopotamia, Neo-Sumerian Ur III period (ca. 2112–2004 BC) Alabaster Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, Vo

[bagdemagus]

Gudea of Lagash

Paragonite

Mesopotamia (Iraq), city-state of Lagash

Neo-Sumerian period, Lagash II dynasty 2150-2125 BCE

Detroit Institute of Arts, 82.64

[luckymohair]

Figurine

ca. 2100–2000 B.C.

Neo-Sumerian

[thinkingimages]

Gudea of Lagash, 2150 - 2125 BCE

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Cuneiform tablet from Ur-Ishtaran by the official Dadaga.

Period: Third Dynasty of Ur, year 41 of king Shulgi of Ur

Date: 2094 -2047 B.C.

Place of origin: Middle East

Culture: Neo-Sumerian

Medium: Terracotta

[archaicwonder]

Extremely Rare Neo-Sumerian Palace Messenger Tablet from Iri-Sagrig, Dated 2027 BC

A clay pillow-shaped messenger tablet from an important palace archive of the Sumerian city Iri-Saĝrig, dated to 2027 BC, with cuneiform text on both sides: "1 roasted mutton, 5 sila soup Ur-šu-suen, chancellor’s assistant when he came for the ’secretary’ of Nana’s field; 3 sila soup, 2 fish Laqipum, cup bearer, royal messenger when he went for royal offerings; 1 sila soup, 1 fish Suškin, royal messenger when he came from Der to the king’s place; 1 sila soup, 1 fish Kuganum, royal messenger; /REVERSE/ 1 sila soup, 1 fish Ilianum, royal messenger when they went to Der; 1 sila soup, 1 fish Namhani, royal messenger; 1 sila soup, 1 fish Lu-šulgira, royal messenger when they came to the governor’s place; 2 sila soup, 2 fishŠugatum, royal messenger when he came to capture fugitive soldier-workers, servants of Ninhursag; 1 sila soup, 1 fish Pululu, eguary when he went for the sikum-mules; A disbursement for the month Nigenlila, 19th day."

This text dates to the second year of King Ibbi-Sin, the last king of the Ur III. The text is particularly rare because almost all of the named messengers are followed by a description their mission: "Suškin, royal messenger when he came from Der to the king’s place." The tablet records rations of food and drink distributed by the government to royal messengers. According to Prof. David Owen the Iri-Saĝrig archive is probably the archive of the governor whose office was in the local palace. The king and other members of the royal family occasionally traveled to Iri-Saĝrig, perhaps on their way to or from Nippur or other towns. No town in Sumer was visited more often by the king than Iri-Saĝrig. This may explain the presence of so many royal functionaries associated with the town.

[bagdemagus]

Stautue of Gudea, ensi (governor) of Lagash Diorite ca. 2120 BCE

Gudea is shown here with a stylus and a tablet bearing an architectural plan of the E-ninnu temple, which he built for the god Ningirsu in the city of Girsu (modern Tello).

Musée du Louvre, Paris