Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud

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Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 08 June 2019
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Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud Download Full Size Image

This is the outer cover of the ivory writing-boards (6 in number) incised with four lines of Assyrian cuneiform text, giving the title of the astrological script which was a compilation of omens ordered by Neo-Assyrian king Sargon II (reigned 722-705 BC) to be set up in his palace at Khorsabad. The surface still harbors traces of beeswax; this is the earliest known specimen from Western Asia of writing upon wax.

The text reads"'Palace of Sargon, King of the world, King of Assyria. He caused [the text
beginning with the words] Enuma Anu Enlil to be inscribed on an ivory tablet and set it in his palace of Dur-Sharrukin".

Found inside Well AB at the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Nimrud, Iraq, by the British School of Archaeology in Iraq led by Sir M. Mallowan (1904 - 1978 CE); Well AB was previously discovered by Sir H. Layard (1817 - 1894 CE) in 1851 CE and rediscovered by Sir Max Mallowan in March 1953 CE. Late 8th century BCE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2019, June 08). Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10892/ivory-writing-board-from-nimrud/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 08, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10892/ivory-writing-board-from-nimrud/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 08 Jun 2019. Web. 25 Jul 2024.

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