TABLETTE CUNÉIFORME Art sumérien, vers 2027 avant... Lot 9

TABLETTE CUNÉIFORME Art sumérien, vers 2027 avant J.C. Matériau Argile H. 7,9 cm, L. 4,6 cm SUMERIAN CUNEIFORM TABLET Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 2027 BC Medium: Clay Dimensions: 3.1'' high, 1.8'' wide ?The tablet is an administrative document from the period of the Third Dynasty of Ur, dated to the second year of Ibbi-Sin, last king of the dynasty, c. 2027 B.C. It lists rations issued to official messengers: Translation: 15 sila of beer, 15 sila of bread: Puzur-Sin, son of the Grand vizier. 5 sila of beer, 5 sila of bread: Puzur- Mamma, king's messenger. 5 sila of beer, 5 sila of bread: Sharrum-bani, king's messenger when they went to call up workers for thrashing sesame. 5 sila of beer, 5 sila of bread: Elumma'e, king's messenger when he went from Kimash to the king. 3 sila of beer, 2 sila of bread: Baya, king's messenger when he went to Kimash. 3 sila of beer, 2 sila of bread: Ahuni, [king's messenger] when [he went] for barley.... [....]. 3 silaof beer, 2 sila of bread: Erra-..... [.....]. when he went from Der to the king. 3 sila of beer, 2 sila of bread: Dadamu, king's messenger when he went for fine copper. 2 sila of beer, 2 sila of bread: Lugal- amarku, the..... when he went for spices. 12 sila: offerings: the..... men when they went to Anshebaranzikum. Disbursement of the month of the Plow. Year: the highest priestess of Inanna of Uruk was chosen by divination. 6th day. The sila was a measure of capacity, about.85 of a litre. It is an obvious way of measuring beer, but not bread, something the ancient never explained. Perhaps the flour rather than the baked product was measured. This tablet is important for giving the purpose of many of these trips, since previously published tablets of this kind do not give such details