Weld-Blundell Prism

Weld-Blundell Prism
Gts-tg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Weld-Blundell Prism
Material	Clay
Discovered	1922
Discovered by	Herbert Weld Blundell
Present location	Ashmolean Museum

Weld-Blundell Prism

The Weld-Blundell Prism is a significant archaeological artifact from Ancient Mesopotamia, specifically from the region of Babylonia. It is a clay prism that contains a Sumerian King List, which provides valuable information about the rulers of Sumer and their lengths of reign. The prism is named after its discoverer, Herbert Weld Blundell, and is now housed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. The Weld-Blundell Prism is an important tool for understanding the history and chronology of Ancient Babylon and the surrounding regions.

● Introduction to

the Weld-Blundell Prism The Weld-Blundell Prism is a well-preserved clay prism that measures approximately 20 cm in length and 9 cm in width. It was created during the Isin-Larsa period, around 2100 BC, and contains a list of Sumerian kings and their lengths of reign. The prism is written in Cuneiform script and provides important information about the history of Sumer and Babylonia. The Weld-Blundell Prism is one of several Sumerian King Lists that have been discovered, including the Weld-Blundell Prism's counterpart, the Taylor Prism. These lists are significant because they provide a framework for understanding the chronology of Ancient Mesopotamia and the relationships between different city-states and kingdoms. Scholars such as Thorkild Jacobsen and Piotr Michalowski have studied the Weld-Blundell Prism and other Sumerian King Lists to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of Ancient Babylon.

● Historical Context

in Ancient Babylon The Weld-Blundell Prism was created during a time of significant turmoil in Ancient Babylon. The Isin-Larsa period was marked by conflict between different city-states and the rise of new kingdoms. The prism provides information about the rulers of Sumer during this time, including Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, who were important figures in the development of Babylonian civilization. The Weld-Blundell Prism also mentions the Akkadian Empire, which was a major power in Ancient Mesopotamia during the Akkadian period. The prism's historical context is closely tied to the Sumerian city-states and the Babylonian Empire, which were major centers of power and culture in Ancient Mesopotamia. Scholars such as Marc Van De Mieroop and Mario Liverani have studied the historical context of the Weld-Blundell Prism and its significance for understanding the development of Ancient Babylon.

● Discovery and Preservation

The Weld-Blundell Prism was discovered in 1922 by Herbert Weld Blundell, a British archaeologist and collector. Blundell was a prominent figure in the field of Assyriology and had a strong interest in the history and culture of Ancient Mesopotamia. The prism was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, where it is currently housed. The museum has taken steps to preserve the prism and make it available for study by scholars. The Weld-Blundell Prism has been the subject of several studies and publications, including works by Cuneiform script experts such as Rykle Borger and Hermann Hunger. The prism's discovery and preservation are closely tied to the work of institutions such as the British Museum and the University of Oxford, which have played a significant role in the study and preservation of Ancient Mesopotamian artifacts.

● Inscriptions and Significance

The Weld-Blundell Prism contains a list of Sumerian kings and their lengths of reign, which provides important information about the history and chronology of Ancient Babylon. The prism is written in Cuneiform script and includes the names of several important rulers, including Sargon the Great and Hammurabi. The inscriptions on the prism are significant because they provide a framework for understanding the relationships between different city-states and kingdoms in Ancient Mesopotamia. The Weld-Blundell Prism is also important because it provides information about the Sumerian language and the Cuneiform script, which were used to write the inscriptions. Scholars such as Jean-Jacques Glassner and Walter Farber have studied the inscriptions on the Weld-Blundell Prism and other Sumerian King Lists to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of Ancient Babylon.

● Chronology and Dating

The Weld-Blundell Prism is significant because it provides a framework for understanding the chronology of Ancient Babylon. The prism contains a list of Sumerian kings and their lengths of reign, which can be used to date events and periods in Ancient Mesopotamian history. The prism is dated to the Isin-Larsa period, around 2100 BC, and provides information about the rulers of Sumer during this time. The Weld-Blundell Prism is also important because it provides information about the Akkadian Empire and the Ur-III Dynasty, which were major powers in Ancient Mesopotamia during the Akkadian period and the Ur-III period. Scholars such as William Hallo and William Moran have studied the chronology and dating of the Weld-Blundell Prism and other Sumerian King Lists to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of Ancient Babylon.

● Relationship to

the Sumerian King List The Weld-Blundell Prism is one of several Sumerian King Lists that have been discovered, including the Taylor Prism and the Weld-Blundell Prism's counterpart, the Sumerian King List from Ur. These lists are significant because they provide a framework for understanding the chronology of Ancient Mesopotamia and the relationships between different city-states and kingdoms. The Weld-Blundell Prism is closely tied to the Sumerian King List from Ur, which provides information about the rulers of Sumer during the Ur-III period. The prism is also related to the Babylonian King List, which provides information about the rulers of Babylonia during the Old Babylonian period. Scholars such as Aage Westenholz and Klaus Wagensonner have studied the relationship between the Weld-Blundell Prism and other Sumerian King Lists to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of Ancient Babylon.