A Mesopotamian clay brick with Sumerian inscription. Possibly from a building in Nippur erected by King Ur-Ninurta 1923–1896 BC. 31×31×7 cm.
Transcription: ur-nin-urta sipa ni-nam-il- nibru.Ki na-gada- uri, Ki-ma isib-su-sikil eridu,Ki-ga en-se-ga unu.Ki-ga lugal-i-si-in.Ki-na lugal-ki-en-gi-ki-uri dam-igi-il-la- inanna
Translation: Ur-Ninurta shepherd who offers everything for Nippur herdsman of Ur issipum priest with clean hands for Eridu favourite en prienst of Uruk King of Isin King of the land of Sumer and Akkad spouse chosen by the goddess Inanna
Provenance: Archaeologist and paleoethnograph Hans Helbæk 1907–1981, received as a gift c. 10 dated bricks from the National Museum of Iraq, to examine the crops of that particular period. This brick survived the examination. He gave the brick to Archaeologist Peder Mortensen b. 1934 Director of the Moesgaard Museum from 1982–1996 Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus and cultural advisor to the Danish embassy in Damascus 1996–2001 Honorary professor in Middle Eastern studies at University of Copenhagen.
Asian, Islamic & Indian art, 1 December 2021