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This is an example of a kudurru (kudurrus are small stelae recording royal gifts of land). This particular kudurru records a grant of land from King Melishipak II to his son, Marduk-apal-iddina. Kudurrus were an innovation of the Kassite period, and King Melishipak was a Kassite. One side of the kudurru shows the King presenting his son to the goddess Nanaya beneath the symbols of the astral deities, Shamash (sun-god), Sin (moon-god), and Inana (goddess of love and war, but also representing Venus). On the other side of the kudurru the major gods are depicted in symbol form in hierarchical registers. It is interesting to note that the Kassite deities, Shuqamuna and Shumalia, are included among the major deities.

Spindle Whorl

Name: Kudurru of King Melishipak II

Material: Black limestone

Size:
Height: 65 cm (2 ft 1.6 in)
Length: 30 cm (11.8 in)
Depth: 19 cm (7.5 in)

Date: 1186-1172 BCE

Place of Origin: Susa, Iran

Location: Louvre

Source and Registration#: Jacques de Morgan excavations Link to resource (accessed May 7. 2010).

For more information: Link to resource

Jennie Myers

Research Associate, University of Chicago