cast; stela

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Object Type: cast; stela
Museum number: C.189
Description: Plaster cast of Assyrian rock stele carved into the cliff face at the mouth of Nahr el-Kelb ("Dog River"); figure of Esarhaddon with cuneiform inscription commemorating the capture of Memphis, Ascalon and Tyre.
Producer name
Cultures/periods
Production date: 671BC (approx date of the original stele)
Production place: Original from: Nahr el-Kelb
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 193 centimetres; Thickness: 20 centimetres; Width: 84 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: This cast was formerly displayed in the Grand Central Saloon and probably thereafter in the Assyrian Transept, hence the dark brown painting around the edges which results from a decoration scheme involving Brucciani in the 1860s. It is one of three or more casts of this stele: others formerly in the museum collection in Berlin and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris (cited by Wiessbach, who illustrates the Berlin cast on p. 25). It was originally believed to be a representation of "a Persian monarch" with the cuneiform inscription naturally for the period of registration compared to "Persepolitan" script (thus B&M and E&A register entries).The original rock-cut stele is sited immediately next to an earlier rock-cut stele of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, and hardly coincidental given the purpose of Esarhaddon's stele was to commemorate his defeat of the Egyptian pharaoh Taharqa and the first campaign by an Assyrian ruler within Egypt proper.
Bibliographic references: Weissbach F H 1907b / Die Denkmäler und Inschriften an der Mündung des Nahr el-Kelb (pp.26-30, pls XI-XII) (original 'in situ'); Olmstead A T 1923a / History of Assyria (p.384, fig. 146 (opposite)); Feldman M H 2005a / Nineveh to Thebes and back: Art and politics between Assyria and Egypt in the seventh century BCE (pp.142-43, fig. 2) (illustration of the original stele from Weissbach); Synopsis 1855a / Synopsis of the Contents of the British Museum (p.136) (states that it was presented by the Duke of Northumberland); Guide 1900a / A Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities (p.32)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: Nineveh Gallery (1900 Guide; also cited by Weissbach) Kouyunjik Side-Gallery (Synopsis 1855) Grand Central Saloon [with Persepolis sculptures and casts]
Condition: Complete; edges painted dark brown
Subjects
Associated names
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1837
Acquisition notes: Registered as [18]37,0408.6; cf. E&A register where listed on 8th April 1837 as a "Persian" antiquity: "23. Cast of a bas relief of the figure of a Persian monarch cut upon the Rocks at Beyrout. It represents the left side of the King standing elevating his right hand and arm at right angles. In his hand he holds an object, but what is not very distinct. His left hand and arm are placed in a similar position upon his body. On his head is a pyramidical cap or mitre; his nose is aquiline, & his beard thickly curled in pendent locks and long. The rest of his body is enveloped in a long cloak covered with horizontal lines of an inscription in the cuneiform character, apparently similar to the Persian character". Also registered in British & Medieval as 1837-4-8,6: "Cast of bas-relief of Persian monarch [sic]. The king stands elevating his right hand. Inscriptions in cuneiform character". The 1855 Synopsis states that this cast was presented by the Duke of Northumberland.
Department: Middle East
Registration number: C.189
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: 1247 (exhibition number); Miscellaneous number: 1837,0408.6; Miscellaneous number: 23 (running number for 1837 acquisitions)

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