You are bidding on a large and important brick inscription dedicated to the most famous of all Kings of Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar II, dating to 605 - 562 BC.This inscribed brick mentions an important Babylonian Temple.
The importance of this inscribed Clay Record is reflected by the fact that the inscription has been personally deciphered by Professor W G Lambert of Birmingham University, an internationally renowned expert in this field.
Professor Lambert's hand written records read as follows:
"Brick Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon, 560 BC:
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, provisioner of Esagil and Ezida, prime son of Nabopolassar, King of Babylon, am I. Ebabbara, the Temple of Shamash in Larsa I restored as it was before, for Shamash, my Lord.
Cut from complete brick, but inscription complete."
Dimensions of brick: 8 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches by 7/8 of an inch thick.
Completely intact and unrestored - superb.
Provenance: Acquired from a retired English Gentleman. Collected 1960's from the London Art Market. Please compare a brick of the same inscription and apparently from the same temple (although fragmentary and only partially translated), previously in a Private New York collection and auctioned through Arteprimitivo, catalogue number 30, lot 370.
Babylonian Artefacts are extremely desirable and command very high prices at major North American Auction houses. This foundation Brick represents a particularly fascinating written account from one of the most famous of all ancient kings, Nebuchadnezzar II - a king whose exploits are extensively recorded in the Bible.
Although the book of Daniel depicts Nebuchadnezzar as a conceited and domineering king, even telling of him going mad and eating grass, he was in fact one of the greatest Babylonian and indeed Ancient Kings to ever reign. Under his rule, he sucessfully put down two Jewish revolts, and defeated in battle the Great Egyptian King Necho, thus becoming the undisputed master of Wester Asia. The time of Nebuchadnezzar was a golden age for Babylon, with its cosmopolitan status and Famous Hanging Gardens, it was arguably the finest City of the Ancient world.
Inferior quality foundation bricks, from lesser Babylonian rulers, reliably sell for over $5000 at top American auction houses. A brick of this quality and rarity should be insured for over $8000.
The temple of Shamash was located in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It was common practice for cunnning Kings such as Nebuchadnezzar to win favour by restoring well established temples such as that of Larsa, in so doing appeasing the gods and local population. To mark these restorations, the King would stamp special bricks with inscriptions outlining his full name and achievments, as with the present example.
Relevant Literature:
Cradle Of Civilization. By Samuel Noah Kramer and The Editors of Time Life Books. Publishers: Time Life International (Nederland) B V.
Good Luck with this treasure which is offered here in a NO RESERVE auction!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73464&item=7313744069&rd=1
I've got a funny feeling that this item may sell for more than I'm prepared to pay.
Note: "Professor Lambert's hand written records read as follows: "Brick Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon, 560 BC"
Insight book vol 2 page 480: " Nebuchadnezzar ruled as king for 43 years (624-582 B.C.E.)"