Illustration
This is the outer cover of the ivory writing-boards (6 in number) incised with four lines of Assyrian cuneiform text, giving the title of the astrological script which was a compilation of omens ordered by Neo-Assyrian king Sargon II (reigned 722-705 BC) to be set up in his palace at Khorsabad. The surface still harbors traces of beeswax; this is the earliest known specimen from Western Asia of writing upon wax.
The text reads"'Palace of Sargon, King of the world, King of Assyria. He caused [the text
beginning with the words] Enuma Anu Enlil to be inscribed on an ivory tablet and set it in his palace of Dur-Sharrukin".
Found inside Well AB at the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Nimrud, Iraq, by the British School of Archaeology in Iraq led by Sir M. Mallowan (1904 - 1978 CE); Well AB was previously discovered by Sir H. Layard (1817 - 1894 CE) in 1851 CE and rediscovered by Sir Max Mallowan in March 1953 CE. Late 8th century BCE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.
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References
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APA Style
Amin, O. S. M. (2019, June 08). Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10892/ivory-writing-board-from-nimrud/
Chicago Style
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 08, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10892/ivory-writing-board-from-nimrud/.
MLA Style
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ivory Writing-Board from Nimrud." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 08 Jun 2019. Web. 21 Feb 2025.
