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A long terracotta nail that has been inscribed along the top end with small symbols. It is tan and orange in color and has a small, flared top edge.

A long terracotta nail that has been inscribed along the top end with small symbols. It is tan and orange in color and has a small, flared top edge. It is shown laying vertically on a white background.

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.

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
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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

Exhibition History

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

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu