Ur-Nammu

Ur-Nammu (seated) bestows governorship on Ḫašḫamer, patesi (high priest) of Iškun-Sin (cylinder seal impression, c. 2100 BCE).

Greenstone seal(clay impression of the cylinder seal) of Hashhamer, Governor of Ishkun-Sin.

Third Dynasty of Ur, about 2100 BCE, from Babylon, southern Iraq.

Length: 5.28 cm Diameter: 2.87 cm

Obtained at Babylon some time before 1820 CE by John Hine and presented to the British Museum by C.D. Cobham by 1880 CE.

British Museum, ME 89126, Room 56, Early Mesopotamia, case 20

This seal is typical of the last century of the third and of the early second millennium BCE. The scene depicts Hashhamer being led by a lamma (minor deity), before the seated king, and another lamma follows. The king is probably bestowing the governorship on Hashhamer. The accompanying inscription translates:

"Ur-Nammu, the mighty hero, king of Ur; Ḫašḫamer, patesi of Iškun-Sin, his servant."