Inscribed Clay Nail of King Enmetena

Terracotta cone-shaped foundation nail with a cuneiform inscription, written in Sumerian, in the upper half of the object, just below the nail head. The inscription is written in two columns around the shaft of the nail; the first column is the one adjacent to the head of the nail. The nail was broken into two pieces just below the inscription and has been repaired. The inscription commemorates the building of the Emush ("Temple: Foundation [of the land]") for the goddess Inanna ("Lady of Heaven") and the god Lugalemush ("Lord of the Emush-temple"). The latter is probably another title of the god Dumuzi, whose temple, the Emush, was in Bad-Tibira (modern: Tell al-Mada'in). The final seven lines also record a pact between Enmetena and Lugal-kineš-dudu, and may be among the first written evidence for this kind of political accord. The text reads: For Inanna and Lugalemush, Enmetena, ruler of Lagash, built the Emush, their beloved temple, and ordered (these) clay nails for them. Enmetena, who built the Emush--his personal god is Shulutul. At the time Enmetena, ruler of Lagash, and Lugalkiginehdudu, ruler of Uruk, established brotherhood (between themselves). Sumerian text: (Col. I){d}Inanna-ra / {d}Lugal-e2-muš3-ra / En-te:me-na / ensi2 / Lagaš{ki}-ke4 / e2-muš3 e2 / ki-ag2-ga2-ne-ne / mu-ne-du3 / KIBxgunu mu-na-dug4 / En-te-me-na / lu2 e2-muš3 du3-a / (Col. II) dingir-ra-ni / {d}Šul-utul12-am6 / u4-ba En-te-me-na / ensi2 / Lagaš{ki} / Lugal-ki-ne2-eš2-du7-du7 / ensi2 / unug{ki}-bi / nam-šeš e-ak