Stele of Ushumgal

The Stele of Ushumgal is an early Sumerian stone tablet, dating to the Early Dynastic I-II (circa 2900-2700 BCE), and probably originating from Umma.[3][4] It is currently located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.[3][1]

Stele of Ushumgal
The stele, showing the priest Ushumgal (𒀭𒃲𒁔, Dushumgal), 2900-2700 BCE. Probably from Umma.[1][2]
MaterialGypsum alabaster
Size22 cm high
Createdcirca 2900-2700 BCE
DiscoveredPossibly Umma
31.621369°N 45.933406°E / 31.621369; 45.933406
Present locationBritish Museum, London
RegistrationMetropolitan Museum of Art 58.29

The stele is 22 cm high. It is partially deciphered, refers to an early transfer of land ownership. A large man is inscribed with a label, which can be read “Ušumgal, the pab-šeš priest of (the deity) Šara”. On the other side stands a female with an unclear name, probably the daughter of Ushumgal.[3][1]

The stele has been described as a type of "early Kudurru", a sort of stele known from the Kassites period in the 2nd millennium BCE.[5]

The name "Akka" appears in the Stele of Ushumgal, as Ak gal-ukkin, "Ak gal-ukkin official". It has been suggested this could refer to Aga of Kish himself.[6][7]

  • The daughter of Ushumgal.
  • Three men, possibly from a local council
  • The name "Akka" appears in the Stele of Ushumgal, as Ak gal-ukkin, "Ak gal-ukkin official". It has been suggested this could refer to King Aga of Kish himself.[6][8]
  • Another figure
  • Line art of Aga of Kish from the Stele of Ushumgal.

References
  1. "Stele of Ushumgal". www.metmuseum.org.
  2. Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2003. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-58839-043-1.
  3. "Ushumgal Stele CDLI". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
  4. "Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org.
  5. Beaulieu, Paul-Alain (2018). A History of Babylon, 2200 BC - AD 75. John Wiley & Sons. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4051-8898-2.
  6. Frayne, Douglas. The Struggle for Hegemony in "Early Dynastic II" Sumer. pp. 65–66.
  7. "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  8. "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
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