Rim-Sin Carrying Clay (Foundation Deposit Figure)
Social Media Share Tools
Object Details
- Collector
- Joseph Hirshhorn
- Donor Name
- Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
- PROVENIENCE UNDOCUMENTED. IDENTIFICATION PROVIDED BY HMSG. (PREVIOUSLY INVENTORIED AS AT13322 ON EXHIBIT IN HALL 26)
- NMNH Hall 26, Western Cultures Hall, exhibit caption for this artifact: "Rim-Sin, King of Larsa. At the top of the social order in the Mespotamian state was a king. One of his most important functions was to arrange for the construction of public buildings and defensive fortifications. To celebrate these works, objects like this bronze figurine were buried in the foundation during construction. This figurine depicts Rim-Sin, king of the southern Mesopotamian city Larsa from about 1822 to 1763 B.C. He is shown carrying a load of bricks for a temple. A prayer to the goddess Inanna, to whom the temple was dedicated, is inscribed on the figure. During his sixty-year reign, Rim-Sin succeeded in dominating a large part of southern Mesopotamia, including the nearby city of Uruk."
- Per Hall 26 exhibit label, the Sumerian inscription reads: "To Inanna, lady of all exaltation who happliy establishes all commands, who causes the oracle to dwell in the land, (who is) the oldest child of Sin, their lady, Kudurmabuk, Adda of Emutbal, son of Simtishilkak, and Rim-Sin his son, the exalted prince of Nippur, nourisher of Ur, King of Larsa, King of Sumer and Akkad (built) the temple where oracles are recieved, the habitation which she loves. For their lives they built, they raised its summit up like a mountain. In its precincts may Inanna, lady of heaven and earth, take her pleasure. May she decree for them a life of exalted days, long years, a firmly established reign, countrywide fame, and to extend their reign forever among the great gods."
- Note that this figure has sometimes been published online identified as Ninkasi. This identification is incorrect, the Smithsonian has not provided this identification for this artifact, and this artifact should not be published with this identification.
- Record Last Modified
- 2 Feb 2018
- Specimen Count
- 1
- Culture
- 1758-1698 BC
- Sumerian, Iraq
- Accession Date
- 28 Aug 1992
- Collection Date
- 1966
- Accession Number
- 370312
- USNM Number
- A553124-0
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Length - Object
- 26.7 cm
- Width - Object
- 10 cm
- Depth - Object
- 4.7 cm
- Weight - Object
- 2.3 kg
- Place
- Near East (not certain)
- See more items in
- Anthropology
- NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
- Topic
- Archaeology
- Record ID
- nmnhanthropology_8503940
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3ec0e1267-0412-475d-95e9-d10dd1dd25d1
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.