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Wall Plaque
Decorative element from the exterior walls of the Ziggurat of Tchoga-Zanbil with cuneiform inscription for Untash Napirisha.
Middle Elamite Period , Dynasty of the Igihalkides, 1340-1300 BC
Height 19 cm ( 7 1⁄2 in )
Width 37.5 cm ( 14 3⁄4 in )
Depth 37.5 cm ( 14 3⁄4 in )
Former private collection Roman Ghirshman Paris, France since circa 1946; Boisgirard 7th November 1982; private collection F.A. Paris, France; private collection Germany, acquired from the above
F. Antonovich: Les métamorphoses divines d’Alexandre, Paris 1996 : p. 365-366, fig. p. 145
R. Ghirshman: MDAI, XXXIX, Tchoga-Zanbil (Dur Untash), I, La ziggourat, Paris 1966
P. Amiet: Marlik et Tchoga Zanbil: Revue d'Assyriologie et d'Archéologie Orientale, vol. 84, Paris 1990 : no. 1, p. 44-47
D. T. Potts: The Archaeology of Elam, Cambridge University Press, 1999
A. Benoit: Les Civilisations du Proche Orient ancien, Manuels de l’École du Louvre, Paris 2003 : p 351-359
British Museum London, acc. no. 132225, Donation of R. Ghirshman
Musée du Louvre Paris, acc. no. SB 23747, R. Ghirshman
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Large square enamelled plaque with pommel. Decorative element from the exterior walls of the Ziggurat of Tchoga-Zanbil, ancient Dur-Untash the holy city of Elam which suddenly disappeared at the end of the 12th century BC. This piece was probably found in room XXVI of the Ziggurat of Tchoga- Zanbil itself. It certainly comes from Kukunum, a summit temple now disappeared that once formed the fifth floor of the Ziggurat of which only inscriptions remain.
Untash Napirisha was married to Napir Asu, the daughter of the king of Babylon, Burnaburiash II, who reigned in the first half of the 14th century BC. This fact helped to better date the reign and the period of constructions of king Untash Napirisha.
Translation of Prof. Lambert: ‘e un-tas-an.gal – Untash-Napirisha (King of Elam)’
