Sales catalogue 574: Maggs Bros

Date:: 1932

Reference:: WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/118

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 574: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

17/286 page 1

Curiosities of Literature and Book-Production WRITING SNe BABYLON IN 02350 B.C. 1 AN ORIGINAL CLAY CONE of Gudea, the famous Governor of Lagash (Tello), a city in Southern Babylonia and one of the oldest centres of civilization in Babylonia and a centre of artistic development. The Cone, measuring 6 inches from the apex to the base, contains an inscription of 7 lines (in the cuneiform character) in the Sumerian Language (which was in general use among the non-Semitic inhabitants of the country). The inscription records the building of the Temple E-ninnu, the shrine of the Patron God of the City, Ningirsu, by Gudea, the great Governor of Lagash. (Identical with Cones Nos. 90874, 91037, 91067 in the British Museum). Preserved in morocco lettered case. [Lagash (S. Babylonia), about 2350 B.c. | (SEE ILLUSTRATION, PLATE NO. I). £25 The inscription reads as follows in translation :— ‘“ [To the God| Nzxgzrsu, the mighty Warrior, Lord of the exalted Temple, Gudea, Prince Pontiff [of| Shirpurla, its foundation he built; the Temple of E-Ninnu to Ningirsu he dedicated, and built; rts founda- tion he established.” ‘“ For a time there was no predominant power in the land (of Babylon), and the cities enjoyed a large measure of autonomy. Among these may be specially mentioned the city of Lagash, which prospered and obtained great importance under a series of able governors, of whom Ur-Bau, Gudea and Ur-Ningirsu are the best known. The monuments and inscriptions of Gudea are the products of a very high order or civilization.’’ (See Guzde to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities in the B.M., p. 5).

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