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Source Description
The emphasis on sumptuous materials, such as precious metals and stones, is a common characteristic of foundation deposits. This tablet resembles the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli, prized by the Mesopotamians, although it is in fact made from a less costly material known as "Egyptian blue." It bears an inscription of King Warad-Sin, ruler of the city-state of Larsa, with a prayer and a dedication.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
17796
label
Foundation Tablet
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
4
Source metadata
id
17796
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Foundation Tablet
description
The emphasis on sumptuous materials, such as precious metals and stones, is a common characteristic of foundation deposits. This tablet resembles the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli, prized by the Mesopotamians, although it is in fact made from a less costly material known as "Egyptian blue." It bears an inscription of King Warad-Sin, ruler of the city-state of Larsa, with a prayer and a dedication.
provenance
Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Brummer, New York, 1941, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. N5013]; Walters Art Museum, 1941, by purchase.
date
1834-1823 BCE (Old Babylonian; Isin-Larsa)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ceramics
tablets
cornerstones
imageCount
4
pageCount
4
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
5.6
height
7.6
depth
2.2
dimensionsRaw
H: 2 3/16 x W: 3 x D: 7/8 in. (5.6 x 7.6 x 2.2 cm)
Source extras
cul
Babylonian
inscriptions
[Translation from composite text of Cuneiform Digital Library RIME 4.02.13.22]: For Nininsina
\ the great lady
the mother of the nation
\ who creates the living things of the nation
\ first-born child of holy An
\ his mistress - \ Warad-Sîn
\ the mighty man
\ provider of Ur
\ king of Larsa \ and king of Sumer and Akkad
\ shepherd who perfects justice and the divine plans
\ the Plant of Life temple
\ the sacred dining hall
\ her place of relaxation -\ her temple which in a past time \ had been built and had grown old - \ for his life\ and the life \ of Kudur-mabuk \ the father who begot him
\ he rebuilt for her \ and restored for her. \ In her residence that gladdens the heart \ I caused her to dwell in grand fashion
\ and my royal name \ I put there everlastingly. \ For ever after today \ to cause the praising of me
\ foundation document(s) in praise of my princeliness \ into its foundation I buried
\ and a pure brick wall for it I placed upon it. \ For my deeds
\ O Nininsina \ my mistress
may you rejoice over me. \ May a fate of life
\ a long reign
years of abundance
\ and a throne with a secure foundation \ be presented to me. \ In the shrine of Larsa
\ the city where I was created
\ may my days be long. [https://cdli.ucla.edu/P272909]
reign
Warad-Sin (1834-1823 BC)
med
Egyptian blue
creator_ids
6353
collection_ids
ANE
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
e58aa4a70c0d8dc2
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
47aa585d9f56a019
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
a39c964da67a6f10
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
d608ef9f84712a89
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no