Boundary stone (kudurru)

2nd Dynasty of Isin, about 1099-1082 BC
From Babylon, southern Iraq

A boundary stone recording a royal gift of land

The shape, layout and design of this kudurru are very characteristic of the second half of the second millennium BC. The cuneiform inscription records a gift of land in the tenth year of King Marduk-nadin-ahhe (1099-1082 BC) of the Second Dynasty of Isin. An army officer called Adad-zer-iqisha is granted some land, having distinguished himself in a successful campaign against Assyria.

The main text ends with curses condemning any later official who questions the gift. Fifteen gods are invoked to protect the document and eighteen symbols representing deities are carved on the top. A later additional text confirms the land is to be exempt from various taxes and obligations.

J. Rawson, Animals in art (London, The British Museum Press, 1977)

D. Collon, Ancient Near Eastern art (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)

L.W. King, Babylonian boundary stones and (London, Trustees of the British Museum, 1912)