Hurrian foundation pegs
The Hurrian foundation pegs, also known as the Urkish lions, are twin copper foundation pegs each in the shape of a lion that probably came from the ancient city of Urkesh (modern Tell Mozan) in Syria. The pegs were placed at the foundation of the temple of Nergal in the city of Urkesh as mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions on them. The inscription on the two pegs and the associated stone tablet is the oldest known text in the Hurrian language. One of the lions is now housed, along with its limestone tablet, in the Musée du Louvre in Paris. The second lion is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
| Hurrian foundation pegs | |
|---|---|
The Louvre lion and accompanying stone tablet | |
| Material | Copper, limestone |
| Size | Louvre lion: 12.2 cm × 8.5 cm (4.8 in × 3.3 in) Limestone tablet: 10 cm × 9 cm (3.9 in × 3.5 in) Met lion: 11.7 cm × 7.9 cm (4.6 in × 3.1 in) |
| Writing | Cuneiform inscription in Hurrian |
| Created | c. 2300 – c. 2159 BCE |
| Period/culture | Akkadian/Hurrian |
| Discovered | Unknown |
| Place | Temple of Nergal, Urkesh, Syria |
| Present location | Musée du Louvre, Paris Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
| Identification | Louvre lion: AO 19938 Louvre tablet: AO 19937 Met lion: 48.180 |
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