Old Babylonian Cuneiform Tablet Letter

$947.78

A large complete clay tablet, written in cuneiform to both sides, a letter dating to the Old Babylonian period. The inscriptions on the tablet refer to administrative and legal affairs. The item comes with an original note from Professor W. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology.

Date: Circa 1900-1700 BC
Condition: Fine, minor consolidation to the side.

SOLD

SKU: CS-149 Category:

Cuneiform writing was one of the earliest forms of writing, developed in the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. Babylonian society was a complex social structure and had a need, as we do today, to record such things as temple acquisitions, land transactions, financial loans, as well as their epic stories and personal letters. They would write these documents and letters on a wet clay tablet, which was then dried, retaining the inscriptions. Cuneiform is instantly recognisable by the wedge-shaped marks, usually pressed into clay tablets. Indeed, the name ‘cuneiform’ literally means “wedge-shaped”. The text would have been written using a blunt reed.

Weight 143.9 g
Dimensions W 4.5 x H 8.5 cm
Culture

Region

Pottery and Porcelain

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