2000.274: Inscribed Clay Nail of King Enmetena

Identification and Creation

Object Number

2000.274

Title

Inscribed Clay Nail of King Enmetena

Other Titles

Alternate Title: Cuneiform Inscribed Clay Nail: Early Dynastic IIIb Foundation Inscription of Entemena of Lagash

Classification

Inscriptions

Work Type

inscription

Date

c. 2400 BCE

Places

Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Asia, Sumer (Mesopotamia)

Period

Early Dynastic III period

Culture

Sumerian

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/182040

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Terracotta

Technique

Incised

Dimensions

L. 24 cm (9 7/16 in.)
Diameter of head: 5.8 cm (2 5/16 in.)

Inscriptions and Marks

• inscription: For Innana (Lady of Heaven) and Lugalemush (Lord
  of the Emush Temple), Enmetena, ruler of Lagash,
  the Emush, their beloved temple, built and ordered
  [these] clay nails for them.

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History

Diniacopoulos Collection, Montreal, Canada (assembled in Europe and the Middle East in the first half of the 20th century); sold [through Sotheby's New York, June 14, 2000, no. 263] to Dr. Jerome Eisenberg, New York, 2000, gift: to Harvard University Art Museums, 2000.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number

CDLI P393090

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Dr. Jerome M. Eisenberg

Accession Year

2000

Object Number

2000.274

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Contact

am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Permissions

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Descriptions

Description

Terracotta cone-shaped foundation nail with a cuneiform inscription, written in Sumerian, in the upper half of the object, just below the nail head. The inscription is written in two columns around the shaft of the nail; the first column is the one adjacent to the head of the nail. The nail was broken into two pieces just below the inscription and has been repaired.

The inscription commemorates the building of the Emush ("Temple: Foundation [of the land]") for the goddess Inanna ("Lady of Heaven") and the god Lugalemush ("Lord of the Emush-temple"). The latter is probably another title of the god Dumuzi, whose temple, the Emush, was in Bad-Tibira (modern: Tell al-Mada'in). The final seven lines also record a pact between Enmetena and Lugal-kineš-dudu, and may be among the first written evidence for this kind of political accord.

The text reads:
For Inanna and Lugalemush, Enmetena, ruler of Lagash, built the Emush, their beloved temple, and ordered (these) clay nails for them. Enmetena, who built the Emush--his personal god is Shulutul.
At the time Enmetena, ruler of Lagash, and Lugalkiginehdudu, ruler of Uruk, established brotherhood (between themselves).

Sumerian text:
(Col. I){d}Inanna-ra / {d}Lugal-e2-muš3-ra / En-te:me-na / ensi2 / Lagaš{ki}-ke4 / e2-muš3 e2 / ki-ag2-ga2-ne-ne / mu-ne-du3 / KIBxgunu mu-na-dug4 / En-te-me-na / lu2 e2-muš3 du3-a / (Col. II) dingir-ra-ni / {d}Šul-utul12-am6 / u4-ba En-te-me-na / ensi2 / Lagaš{ki} / Lugal-ki-ne2-eš2-du7-du7 / ensi2 / unug{ki}-bi / nam-šeš e-ak

Publication History

• Deena Ragavan, “Cuneiform Texts and Fragments in the Harvard Art Museum / Arthur M. Sackler Museum”, Cuneiform Digital Library Journal (2010), no. 3.1

Exhibition History

• 32Q: 3440 Middle East, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 12/14/2022

Verification Level