Babylonian Tablet

Relief Tablet of Nabu-apla-iddina, Babylonian, 870 BC

This stone tablet is a copy of a deed recording the restoration of certain lands by the Babylonian king Nabu-apla-iddina to a priest of the same name. On the top of the stone are 13 symbols of the gods designed to protect the legal statement. Both the king, wearing the typical Babylonian royal hat, and the priest, who has hand raised in salute, are shown on the obverse with labels identifying them. The cuneiform text dates the deed to the 20th year of Nabu-apla-iddina's reign and says it was sealed with the royal seal in Babylon in the presence of five high officials.