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Ur-Bau Foundation Tablet

Sumerian (Artist)
2150-2137 BCE (Lagash II)
clay
(Ancient Near East )

The cuneiform script records the order of King Ur-Bau of Lagash to rebuild the temple of its main god, Ningirsu. Ur-Bau was the predecessor of the famous King Gudea. The tablet also mentions that Ur-Bau built temples for other deities to demonstrate his political influence and power.

Inscription

[Translation from composite text of Cuneiform Digital Library RIME 3/1.01.06.06] For Ningirsu, / the mighty warrior / of Enlil, / Ur-Baba, / the ruler / of Lagaš, / the son born / of Ninagala, / the Eninnu with the White Thunderbird / he built for him, / and his house of donkey stallions / he built for him. / For Baba, / the beautiful woman, / the daughter of An, / her temple of the Holy City / he built. / For the divine Holy Noble Lady / her temple of Urub / he built. / For Enki / his master / his temple / he built. / For Ninagala / his (personal) goddess, / her temple / he built. [https://cdli.ucla.edu/P272832]

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Edgar J. Banks, 1929 [claimed found at Tello]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1929 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

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Geographies

(Place of Origin) Iraq, Telloh (Place of Discovery)

Measurements

H: 8 3/8 x W: 7 1/8 in. (21.3 x 18.1 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1929

Location in Museum

Centre Street: Second Floor: Ancient Near Eastern Art

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

41.106

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