whetstone

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Object Type
Museum number: 93077
Description: Green serpentine whetstone with bronze ram's head handle, the nose of which terminates in a ring; inscribed.
Authority
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1075BC-1070BC
Excavator/field collector
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Abu Habba (Sippar)
Materials: serpentine; copper alloy
Technique: carved (stone); cast (handle)
Dimensions: Width: 4.50 - 5 centimetres; Length: 22.50 centimetres; Weight: 680 grammes; Depth: 3 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: This object bears an inscription of Tukulti-Mer, king of the land of Mari on the middle Habur, who was contemporary with Aššur-bel-kala, king of Assyria (ca 1073-1056 BC). The inscription has been edited by A.K. Grayson in 'Assyrian Rulers of the Early First Millennium BC, 1: 1114-859 BC, Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia: Assyrian Periods', volume 2, Toronto/Buffalo/London 1991, p. 111). The kingdom of Mari was the seat of local rulers whose influence spread on the Habur and Jezirah regions (cf. S. Maul, 'Die Inschriften von Tall Bderi', Berlin 1992; id., "New Information on the Rulers of Tabetu", 'al-Rafidan' vol. 20 (1999), pp. 49-55, and id., 'Die Inschriften von Tall Taban (Grabungskampagnen 1997-1999) : die Könige von Tabetu und das Land Mari in mittelassyrischer Zeit', Tokyo 2005) and who sometimes brought the title of “king of Hana” as well. Additional literature relevant to this subject include the following: W. Röllig, "Aspects of the Historical Geography of Northeastern Syria from the Middle Assyrian to the Neo-Assyrian Times", in S. Parpola – R.M. Whiting (eds.), 'Assyria 1995', Helsinki 1997, pp. 289-290; M. G. Masetti – Rouault, 'Syriens et Assyriens dans la Djéziré, XIVème-IXème siècle av. J.-C.', Subartu 4, Turnhout 1998; M. G. Masetti – Rouault, "Aspects du paysage social et politique du Moyen-Euphrates syrien à l’Age du Fer", in L. Milano – S. de Martino – F.M. Fales et al. (eds.), 'Landscapes, Territories, Frontiers and Horizons in the Ancient Near East', Padova 2000, pp. 129-38; M. Luciani, "On Assyrian Frontiers and the Middle Euphrates", SAAB XIII (1999-2001), pp. 103-104; A.M. Podany, 'The Land of Hana : Kings, Chronology, and Scribal Tradition', Bethesda 2002
Bibliographic references: Leichty E 1986a / Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum: Volume VI: Tablets from Sippar, I (p.231); Braun-Holzinger E A 1984a / Figürliche Bronzen aus Mesoptamien (no.378, pl.71); Budge 1922a / A guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities. (p.238); De Meyer L 1980a / Tell ed-Dēr III (no.72, p.104); Smith S 1928a / Early History of Assyria (pl.XVIII); Grayson, RIMA 2 / Assyrian Rulers of the Early First Millennium BC, I (1114-859 BC) (RIM.A.0.89.2001)
Location: On display (G55/dc1)
Subjects
Associated names
Acquisition date: 1882
Department: Middle East
BM/Big number: 93077
Registration number: 1882,0714.1750

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