Old Babylonian
The term is used to describe the culture of southern Mesopotamia between approximately 2000 BC-1600 BC.
Description:
The Old Babylonian Period describes southern Mesopotamia where a number of important sates dominated the region, including Isin, Larsa, Eshnuna, and Babylon. The sixth ruler of Babylon, Hamurabi, unified the southern states and expanded his control into north Mesopotamia. After his death, the empire gradually shrank, but remained an important power until it was sacked by the Hittite king Mursili I. During the Old Babylonian period, literary activity flourished with scribes composing and recording religious, poetic, and ‘scientific’ works in Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform. The state retained the Akkadian language for official use, and the Sumerian language for religious use, but Amorite was the spoken language. The earlier Akkadian and Sumerian traditions played a major role in Babylonian culture.
Ultra-Low Chronology: 1798-1499 BCE
Short/Low Chronology: 1830-1531 BCE
Middle Chronology: 1894-1595 BCE
Long/High Chronology: 1950-1651 BCE
Objects: Old Babylonian Export: JSON - XML - CSV
Object | U Number | Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) | Museum Number (BM Registration Number) | Museum Number (UPM B-number) | Description (Catalog Card) |
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655A | (none) | (none) | B14974 | Fragment of a bowl with fine white limestone, virtually marble; rather more than 1/2 preserved. Flat base. (below) RC.19L. [drawing] | |
420 | (none) | (none) | B15324, B15324 | Basalt hinge-socket of GIMIL ILISHU. | |
![]() | 1355 | (none) | (none) | B15614, B15614 | Fragment from top of stem of large clay cone apparently of (Nur)-Adad, King of Ur and Larsa. Ends of 8 lines. P. |
![]() | 6362 | (none) | (none) | B16207, B16207 | Fragment of alabaster vase. To Ningal, his lady, for the life of Sumuili, the mighty man, king of Ur?(P/16207) H.C. E |
6352 | (none) | (none) | B16229 | Steatite(?) [diorite is struck through] statue of Ningal. Presented by Enannatum son of Ishme-Dagan For his life. Upper part broken. Inscript. on 3 sides of the throne. Ur Texts, Vol. I, No. 103 E. CLW. Enter in catalog, Vol. VII HC. | |
7000 | (none) | (none) | B16309 | Cylinder seal. Black steatite. Rampant lion attacked by two heroes - (like Gilgamesh) 2 posts (supports for emblems) | |
![]() | 7136 | (none) | (none) | B16433 | Bowl. Bronze. Mouth chipped. Oval shaped. Cf. U.7135. E. [drawing 1:2] |
![]() | 6743A | (none) | (none) | B16543A | [A-E] Bricks of Enannatum. The usual stamp (U.2569) has a variant 1.2: En-sal-me-nunuz-zid dNannar. the pure zirru priest of Nannar (cf. SAKI. P.206 note [illegible]) One 1/2 to B. 4 wholes to B. |
6743B | (none) | (none) | B16543B, B16543A | [A-E] Bricks of Enannatum. The usual stamp (U.2569) has a variant 1.2: En-sal-me-nunuz-zid dNannar. the pure zirru priest of Nannar (cf. SAKI. P.206 note [illegible]) One 1/2 to B. 4 wholes to B. | |
6743C | (none) | (none) | B16543C | [A-E] Bricks of Enannatum. The usual stamp (U.2569) has a variant 1.2: En-sal-me-nunuz-zid dNannar. the pure zirru priest of Nannar (cf. SAKI. P.206 note [illegible]) One 1/2 to B. 4 wholes to B. | |
3191 | (none) | (none) | B16546 | Brick of Libit-Ishtar Fragment. Same inscription as on Cone (Cf. SAKI. P.204) probably shorter. Libit-Ishtar, the humble shephard of Nippur, the just husbandman of Ur, who takes an unceasing care for Eridu, the high priest of uruk? H.C. | |
![]() | 6324A | (none) | (none) | B16548 | (none) |
7776B | (none) | (none) | B17226 | Clay cone Sumuilum Fragment Inscription nearly complete = variants of U.7772 (U.2634, etc.) (in last 3 lines) Another fragment of this type. With text on head complete. And a fragment of stem which may belong with preceding. HC 22 |
Location | Context Title | Context Description | Description (Modern) |
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![]() | House III | Excavation designation for a portion of area AH that was eventually published as No. 1 Church Lane and No. 1 Straight Street. It was also called the Pa-Sag or Hendur-Sag chapel. This space was identified as a neighborhood or wayside chapel at the NW edge of Carfax. | (none) |
![]() | House I | Excavation house designation on the southeast side of Straight Street (originally called Division Street as it divided the first excavation house designations I, II, and III). This unit covered published houses No.2 and No. 4 Straight Street. | (none) |
![]() | House II | Excavation house designation on the northwest side of Straight Street (originally called Division Street because it divided the initial excavation units of House I, II, and III). This unit may have initially contained some rooms in No. 3 Straight Street. | (none) |
![]() | House IV | Excavation designation in area AH mostly covering No. 1 Old Street but likely containing parts of No. 7 Church Lane as well. | (none) |
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Related Terms
Ubaid - Uruk - Jemdat Nasr - Early Dynastic / Sumerian - Akkadian Dynasty - Guti/Post Akkadian - Ur III - Middle Assyrian - Kassite - Neo-Assyrian - Neo-Babylonian - Achaemenid Empire (Persian) - Seleucid - Parthian