Building Inscription of King Sin-Kashid of Uruk

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Building Inscription of King Sin-Kashid of Uruk

Place of OriginIraq, Uruk (modern Warka)

Date18th century BCE

Dimensions2 1/4 × 1 7/8 × 7/8 in. (5.7 × 4.8 × 2.2 cm)

MediumClay

ClassificationUtilitarian Objects

Object number

1916.65

Not on View

DescriptionRectangular clay tablet with cuneiform inscription in Sumerian, bearing an official or display inscription of Sin-kashid, king of Uruk. Text arranged in horizontal lines on obverse and reverse.

Label TextThis clay tablet, inscribed in Sumerian cuneiform, dates to the Early Old Babylonian period (ca. 1900 BCE) and comes from Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq). It bears an official inscription of Sin-kashid, King of Uruk, commemorating a royal construction project, likely his palace. Sin-kashid was an Amorite ruler who proclaimed himself leader of the Amnanum tribe, linking him to Babylon and Mari. Sin-kashid’s inscriptions appear on bricks, cones, and tablets, all commemorating his architectural projects. These texts were often deposited in walls or foundations as a record of his building efforts, directed both to the gods and future rulers. His reign was part of a broader Mesopotamian tradition where kings used inscriptions to assert legitimacy, document achievements, and reinforce religious devotion.Published ReferencesDuncan, George S., “The Sumerian Inscriptions of Sin-Gâšid, King of Erech. Transliterated, Translated, and Annotated,” American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, vol. 31, no. 3, 1915, p. 216, type A.

Frayne, Douglas R., Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 BC), Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Early Periods 4, University of Toronto Press, 1990, no. 04.01.02, ex. 031.

“RIME 4.04.01.02, Ex. 031 Artifact Entry.” (2012) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). September 21, 2024. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P433544.