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Bassetki Statue

The Bassetki Statue is a monument from the Akkadian period (2350–2100 BCE)[2] in Mesopotamia. It was discovered in the 1974 during road construction near the site of the village Bassetki (located near the road between Duhok and Zakho Duhok Governorate, northern Iraq) for military purposes.[3] The pedestal contains an inscription in Akkadian, indicating that the statue once stood in the doorway of a palace of the Akkadian ruler Naram-Sin (reigned c. 2254–2218 BCE).

Bassetki Statue
The Bassetki statue in its display case at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, March 2019. The inscription is in old Akkadian cuneiform.[1]
MaterialCopper
SizeDiameter: 67 cm (26 in)
Height: 43 cm (17 in)
Weight: 150 kg (330 lb)
WritingOld Akkadian cuneiform
CreatedAkkadian period (2350–2100 BCE)
DiscoveredBassetki, Duhok Governorate, Iraq
Present locationIraq Museum, Baghdad
IdentificationIM77823

The statue consists of a seated nude, male figure on a round base. The upper body and the head of the figure have not been preserved.[4] It was cast from 98.2% pure copper using the lost-wax process.[5] The statue's base has a diameter of 67 centimetres (26 in) and is 25 centimetres (9.8 in) high. The preserved part of the figure itself is 18 centimetres (7.1 in) high.[6] The statue weighs 150 kilograms (330 lb).[7]

The Bassetki Statue contains a cuneiform inscription written in Old Akkadian. The inscription deals with the Akkadian ruler Naram-Sin (2254–2218 BCE), grandson and third successor of Sargon of Akkad, the founder of the Akkadian Empire. It recounts that, after Naram-Sin crushed a large-scale revolt against his rule, the inhabitants of the city of Akkad asked the gods to make Naram-Sin the god of their city, and that they built a temple for him in the middle of the city.[5]

"Naram-Sin, the mighty, king of Agade, when the four quarters together revolted against him, through the love which the goddess Astar showed him, he was victorious in nine battles in one in 1 year, and the kings whom they (the rebels[?]) had raised (against him), he captured. In view of the fact that he protected the foundations of his city from danger, (the citizens of his city requested from Astar in Eanna, Enlil in Nippur, Dagan in Tuttul, Ninhursag in Kes, Ea in Eridu, Sin in Ur, Samas in Sippar, (and) Nergal in Kutha, that (Naram-Sin) be (made) the god of their city, and they built within Agade a temple (dedicated) to him. As for the one who removes this inscription, may the gods Samas, Astar, Nergal, the bailiff of the king, namely all those gods (mentioned above) tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny."[8]

According to several scholars, the statue stands out for its naturalistic rendering of the human body.[7][5] This naturalism was a new development characteristic for the Akkadian period.[4]

Loss and recovery in 2003 invasion edit

 
Bassetki statue

The Bassetki Statue was among the many artifacts that were looted from the Iraq Museum during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the theft, it had been dropped several times, as could be determined from a trail of cracks in the floor of the museum. It was listed number 2 on a list of the 30 most-wanted antiquities that were stolen from the museum. Its recovery came about after the American 812th Military Police Company raided a house and arrested three people in October 2003. They revealed the location of the Bassetki Statue, which turned out to be coated in axle grease and hidden in a cesspool. It was subsequently fished out and displayed in the Iraq Museum on 11 November, together with over 800 stolen small objects that had also been retrieved.[7][9]

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
  2. ^ Dates according to the so-called Middle Chronology.
  3. ^ A. H. al-Fouadi., "Bassetki Statue with an Old Akkadian Royal Inscription of Naram-Sin of Agade (2291-2255 BC)", Sumer, vol. 32, no. 1-2, pp. 63 - 76, 1976
  4. ^ a b Collins, Paul (2005). "From Village to Empire: The Rise of Sumer and Akkad". In Polk, Milbry; Schuster, Angela M.H. (eds.). The Looting of the Iraq Museum, Baghdad. New York: Abrams. pp. 82–99. ISBN 0-8109-5872-4.
  5. ^ a b c van de Mieroop, M. (2007). A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC. Malden: Blackwell. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0-631-22552-2.
  6. ^ "Lost Treasures from Iraq--Objects". Iraq Museum Database. Oriental Institute. 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Russell, John M. (2003). "The MPs do it Again: Two more Antiquities from the Top 30 are back in the Iraq Museum" (PDF). Publications and New Media. AIA: 1–3. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  8. ^ Douglas R. Frayne, The Sargonic and Gutian Periods (2334-2113), University of Toronto Press, 1993, ISBN 0-8020-0593-4
  9. ^ Bogdanos, Matthew (2011). "Thieves of Baghdad: The Global Traffic in Stolen Iraqi Antiquities". In Manacorda, S.; Chappell, D. (eds.). Crime in the Art and Antiquities World: Illegal Trafficking in Cultural Property. New York: Springer. pp. 143–171. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7946-9_9. ISBN 978-1-4419-7946-9.

External links edit

  • Video about the current excavations - August 18, 2020

bassetki, statue, monument, from, akkadian, period, 2350, 2100, mesopotamia, discovered, 1974, during, road, construction, near, site, village, bassetki, located, near, road, between, duhok, zakho, duhok, governorate, northern, iraq, military, purposes, pedest. The Bassetki Statue is a monument from the Akkadian period 2350 2100 BCE 2 in Mesopotamia It was discovered in the 1974 during road construction near the site of the village Bassetki located near the road between Duhok and Zakho Duhok Governorate northern Iraq for military purposes 3 The pedestal contains an inscription in Akkadian indicating that the statue once stood in the doorway of a palace of the Akkadian ruler Naram Sin reigned c 2254 2218 BCE Bassetki StatueThe Bassetki statue in its display case at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad March 2019 The inscription is in old Akkadian cuneiform 1 MaterialCopperSizeDiameter 67 cm 26 in Height 43 cm 17 in Weight 150 kg 330 lb WritingOld Akkadian cuneiformCreatedAkkadian period 2350 2100 BCE DiscoveredBassetki Duhok Governorate IraqPresent locationIraq Museum BaghdadIdentificationIM77823The statue consists of a seated nude male figure on a round base The upper body and the head of the figure have not been preserved 4 It was cast from 98 2 pure copper using the lost wax process 5 The statue s base has a diameter of 67 centimetres 26 in and is 25 centimetres 9 8 in high The preserved part of the figure itself is 18 centimetres 7 1 in high 6 The statue weighs 150 kilograms 330 lb 7 The Bassetki Statue contains a cuneiform inscription written in Old Akkadian The inscription deals with the Akkadian ruler Naram Sin 2254 2218 BCE grandson and third successor of Sargon of Akkad the founder of the Akkadian Empire It recounts that after Naram Sin crushed a large scale revolt against his rule the inhabitants of the city of Akkad asked the gods to make Naram Sin the god of their city and that they built a temple for him in the middle of the city 5 Naram Sin the mighty king of Agade when the four quarters together revolted against him through the love which the goddess Astar showed him he was victorious in nine battles in one in 1 year and the kings whom they the rebels had raised against him he captured In view of the fact that he protected the foundations of his city from danger the citizens of his city requested from Astar in Eanna Enlil in Nippur Dagan in Tuttul Ninhursag in Kes Ea in Eridu Sin in Ur Samas in Sippar and Nergal in Kutha that Naram Sin be made the god of their city and they built within Agade a temple dedicated to him As for the one who removes this inscription may the gods Samas Astar Nergal the bailiff of the king namely all those gods mentioned above tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny 8 According to several scholars the statue stands out for its naturalistic rendering of the human body 7 5 This naturalism was a new development characteristic for the Akkadian period 4 Contents 1 Loss and recovery in 2003 invasion 2 See also 3 Footnotes 4 External linksLoss and recovery in 2003 invasion edit nbsp Bassetki statueThe Bassetki Statue was among the many artifacts that were looted from the Iraq Museum during the 2003 invasion of Iraq During the theft it had been dropped several times as could be determined from a trail of cracks in the floor of the museum It was listed number 2 on a list of the 30 most wanted antiquities that were stolen from the museum Its recovery came about after the American 812th Military Police Company raided a house and arrested three people in October 2003 They revealed the location of the Bassetki Statue which turned out to be coated in axle grease and hidden in a cesspool It was subsequently fished out and displayed in the Iraq Museum on 11 November together with over 800 stolen small objects that had also been retrieved 7 9 See also editArt of MesopotamiaFootnotes edit CDLI Archival View cdli ucla edu Dates according to the so called Middle Chronology A H al Fouadi Bassetki Statue with an Old Akkadian Royal Inscription of Naram Sin of Agade 2291 2255 BC Sumer vol 32 no 1 2 pp 63 76 1976 a b Collins Paul 2005 From Village to Empire The Rise of Sumer and Akkad In Polk Milbry Schuster Angela M H eds The Looting of the Iraq Museum Baghdad New York Abrams pp 82 99 ISBN 0 8109 5872 4 a b c van de Mieroop M 2007 A History of the Ancient Near East ca 3000 323 BC Malden Blackwell pp 68 69 ISBN 978 0 631 22552 2 Lost Treasures from Iraq Objects Iraq Museum Database Oriental Institute 2005 Retrieved 23 August 2011 a b c Russell John M 2003 The MPs do it Again Two more Antiquities from the Top 30 are back in the Iraq Museum PDF Publications and New Media AIA 1 3 Retrieved 23 August 2011 Douglas R Frayne The Sargonic and Gutian Periods 2334 2113 University of Toronto Press 1993 ISBN 0 8020 0593 4 Bogdanos Matthew 2011 Thieves of Baghdad The Global Traffic in Stolen Iraqi Antiquities In Manacorda S Chappell D eds Crime in the Art and Antiquities World Illegal Trafficking in Cultural Property New York Springer pp 143 171 doi 10 1007 978 1 4419 7946 9 9 ISBN 978 1 4419 7946 9 External links editVideo about the current excavations August 18 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bassetki Statue amp oldid 1214263259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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