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A Middle Assyrian Fragment Mentioning Iron from Kassite Nippur

  • Jacob Jan de Ridder EMAIL logo and Leonhard Sassmannshausen
Published/Copyright: June 12, 2021
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Abstract

In this study, a fragment from the Hilprecht Collection in Jena will be discussed. The tablet was previously identified as Middle Babylonian and published as TMH NF 5, 59. Closer inspection reveals Middle Assyrian palaeography. The fragmentary tablet deals with metals used for precious objects and was part of a larger inventory or letter. Noteworthy is a reference to iron, a metal rarely attested in Kassite Nippur but better known from the archaeological material and philological evidence from the Middle Assyrian Empire. An overview of philological evidence for iron in 2nd millennium Assyria will be given in this study.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Eckart Frahm for providing photos of Ass.2001.D-2217 and allowing them to quote part of it. The photo of HS 179 was made by Carmen Gütschow, the line drawing by Jacob Jan de Ridder.

Abbreviations

Bibliographical abbreviations follow those of the Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie.

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Published Online: 2021-06-12
Published in Print: 2021-06-08

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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