Rim-Sin Carrying Clay (Foundation Deposit Figure)

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is incorrect, the Smithsonian has not provided this identification for this artifact, and this artifact should not be published with this identification.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