Mesopotamian Cuneiform Tablet on Stand

Originates from: Sumer, Modern Day Iraq

Era: 2200 - 2000 BCE

Dimensions: 2.75” H x 2” W 

A beautiful and quite scarce Mesopotamian cuneiform tablet in its whole form, script laid across both obverse and reverse. A small pillow shaped tablet, repaired crack but detailed and extremely legible cuneiform script, preserved well enough to be read seen on both obverse and reserve of this tablet. Sumerian cuneiform, the oldest form of written language is scrawled across this tablet, emerging between 3400 and 3200 BCE, generally used as a form of administrative record keeping and commercial trade before being more broadly used as a form of recording Mesopotamian literature, law and history.

Translated by noted British specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern Archaeology, Wilfred G. Lambert, the Sumerian inscription reads:

dEn-ki me-šà-ba ni-ğar dEn-ki

šu-tag-ga šu-tag-ga

ba-ra ges-ta a-na su-du-ga-ge ki-a nu-ma-a

or a base English definition:

"By the divine ordinance of Enki, set apart under Enki's authority.

Hands-hands-must not approach it.

Let no bare hand touch.

Only with a covered hand may it be handled."

Provenance: English Private collection established in 1950’s. Accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity.