170. Neo-Babylonian cuneiform foundation brick tablet, Neo-Babylonian, c. 604-562 BC
Terracotta
Dimensions: 8x9cm
11587
£ 3,200
FROM RENEE KOVACS 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...
FROM RENEE KOVACS
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.
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), acquired in Iraq, 1953-57.The enthusiastic amateur archaeologist, Harold James Strickland Taylor (1922-2016) started his career as a Spitfire pilot of 16 Squadron, RAF, and in 1944 was forced to bail out over Holland where he evaded capture for five days before being caught and interrogated by the Germans. A copy of his account, 'One Flight too Many' (1991) is held at the Imperial War Museum. After the war Jimmy Taylor read history at Trinity College, Cambridge (1946-49) and trained as a teacher. In 1953 he was employed by the Iraq government as an English teacher and later as the Head of English at the Primary Teachers Training College. While working in Iraq from 1953-57 he took the opportunity during long vacations to explore the archaeological sites of Iraq. He recorded and charmingly illustrated these travels which included trips to Ninevah, Mosul, Khorsabad, Tepe Gawra, Nimrud, and Assur. It is during this time that his collection was formed.
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