These are all fragments of inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II, of Babylon 604-562 BC. The two very small fragments could be from any number of inscriptions, too few signs to match up. They looks like they are from bricks.
The fragment in the attachment is identifiable as a particular brick inscription -- the translation is of the whole inscription though this piece shows only parts of 4 lines.
The large fragment: I would like a couple of additional photos which may help fill in lacunae in other examples. I have circled in red to the two areas needed: a somewhat raking light from the upper left corner (to cast shadows) take from directly overhead. The middle section I was able to identify thanks to very detailed text editions on a cuneiform website, and these lines are from a stock invocation in a number of his inscriptions.
[...] May I reach [the prime of (my) life (and) attain very old age inside it. May I receive inside it the substantial tribute of kings of the (four) quarters (of the world and) all of the people. From the horizon to the zenith, wherever the sun rises, may I not have (any) enemies nor acquire (any) troublemaker(s). Inside it, may my descendants rule over the black-headed (people) forever.”
It looks like this is a fragment of a cylinder, but if it has a right angle it could be from a prism or even a brick, I can probably figure out which inscription this is with the two additional photos. It is not a new or noteworthy inscription from an academic point of view, but attractive for a collector.
Renee
Provenance
Harold James Strickland Taylor (1922-2016), UK; acquired in Iraq, 1953-57Harold James Strickland Taylor (1922–2016) was an enthusiastic amateur archaeologist whose early career began far from the field. He served as a Spitfire pilot with No. 16 Squadron, RAF, and in 1944 was forced to bail out over Holland. After evading the enemy for five days, he was eventually captured and interrogated by German forces. His wartime experiences are recounted in One Flight Too Many (1991), a copy of which is held by the Imperial War Museum.
Following the war, 'Jimmy' Taylor read history at Trinity College, Cambridge (1946-49) and subsequently trained as a teacher. In 1953 he took up a post with the Iraqi government as an English teacher, later becoming Head of English at the Primary Teachers Training College. During his time in Iraq (1953-57), he used extended vacation periods to explore the country’s archaeological sites. His travels took him to Nineveh, Mosul, Khorsabad, Tepe Gawra, Nimrud, and Assur, which he documented in engaging written accounts accompanied by charming illustrations. It was during this period that his collection was assembled.
