Ziwiye Ceramic Vessel

Pillow-shaped tablet with dense cuneiform text to two broad faces and one edge, concerning the listing of 146 sheep and their owners or shepherds:

Column I	Column II	Column III
5 sheep, Pirigni, Kor 2? 6 male sheep, Ur-ur of Umma 3 sheep, Zag-mu, ki ni mu zu 5 sheep, x x-gi 4 male sheep …	Ur-Ishkur, herder of Abdu 4 sheep, Urgu (of) E-RU 2 … , herder IL, scribe 3 Gimni, herder chief galla-official 5 male sheep, Ur-lu, .. 2 sheep Lu-ra, herder…	…, herder 2 male sheep, Akadu, son of Lugal-sanga 2 Shesh-zimu 3 Zagmu, Akadu 2 Ekalsi 1 Gimdu, son of Ekal 2 Mashda 1 … Guzi… 2 …kam … NA
Column IV	Reverse Column V	Column VI
2 Ur-…dua 6 Zagmu, herder of Mesanne 1 Urtul 3 GISH.MI, herder of Ilum-su?ni 4 Lugal-shalasu Adda, singer? 5 Almu 2 Ur-Ezida IGI MI ZI SI	3 Lueshla 2 Ur-… NE-RA 8 Azuzu 2 Adda, captain 1 En…du, nuesh-officiant 3 Sheshpadda, overseer 2 … ki-bi … … 6 E…	1 Ur… … 1 Ur … 1 … 3 Dingir-urmu 1 Pirigni Da… 1 Ur-Ninshaza, wife of U-u 4 Lugallu, herder of Lugalla…, majordomo 5 …igi-en … 1 Lugal-E…nisi
Column VII	Column VIII	Total
4 E-gish MI bi?, .., farmer 1 Ur-dingir, …si-TExESZ3 1 … 1 Lugal-nuduga 1 Aba-Enlil 1 Lugal … 2 Urmes 1 Urdam 1 Akadu, Adda… 1 U-u, … Umunene	2 … -niE-u? (space)	Its total: 146 sheep, … Pirigni (is) kush-official.

202 grams, 78 mm



with Laemmle Gallery, San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, USA. Acquired from the above in the early 1970s. with Bonhams, London, 13 April 2011, no.133. Private central European collection. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. Accompanied by a copy of the translation for this tablet. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12121-218147. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Pillow-shaped with impressed cuneiform text to both broad faces. 20.9 grams, 35 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Two standing gods face a complex scene. The first deity is a Lamma goddess, in horned tiara, long flounced robe, and she is raising both hands. Behind her stands the god with mace: hat with deep brim, clothes to the knees, and holding his mace at the waist. What they are witnessing is a standing monster: general build of a lion, but wings, a brush tail and talons of a bird of prey for legs. Its head is leaning down. Above it stands a god in long robe and long tiara, with one leg projecting and foot resting on some strange being. The god holds a whip over one shoulder and forked lightning in the other hand. Facing him in the distance is a small walking figure holding up some object. A two-line cuneiform inscription names two gods: Adad and Shala. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1600 B.C. It is somewhat worn, but the design is rare for the animal and god above it. This god is Adad, the storm god, identified by whip, forked lightning, and the animal on which he stands, which was passed down to the Old Babylonian period from the Akkad period. Thus the design is of considerable interest. Shala was the wife of Adad.'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 15.9 grams, 30 mm



From the private collection of a North American lady, formed 1970s-early 1990s, with collection reference no.P105. Accompanied by a copy of a scholarly note, typed and signed by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.