Image Details

British Museum

False lead. The even maskit has been identified with any number of ancient objects, including sacred meteoric stones, instruments of prayer and prostration, kneeling posts and kudurru stones. Pictured at right is a 12th-century B.C.E. kudurru stone recording a grant of land to a chariot commander as a reward for his service on a campaign led by the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadrezzar I. Kudurru stones stood in temples, reminding the gods of royal gifts to faithful servants and calling down dire maledictions against anyone who would dare infringe the grants.