Urkesh
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Urkesh, also transliterated Urkish, is a tell, or settlement mound, located in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains in Al-Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria. It was founded during the third mill
View of Tell Mozan from the north
The Louvre lion and accompanying stone tablet bearing the earliest known text in Hurrian
General view of the Palace at Urkesh
Foundation tablet. Dedication to God Nergal by Hurrian king Atalshen, king of Urkish and Nawar, Habur Bassin, circa 2000 BC. Louvre Museum AO 5678. "Of Nergal the lord of Hawalum, Atal-shen, the caring shepherd, the king of Urkesh and Nawar, the son of Sadar-mat the king, is the builder of the temple of Nergal, the one who overcomes opposition. Let Shamash and Ishtar destroy the seeds of whoever removes this tablet. Shaum-shen is the craftsman."
Hurrian foundation pegs
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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 in Syria. The pegs were plac
Urkesh
…city god of Urkesh was Kumarbi, father of Teshup. The site of Tell Shermola in the modern city of Amuda lies about 7 kilometers away and was where the Hurrian foundation pegs ("Urkish lions") were thought to have been sold into the antiquities market. There are other contemporary ancient sites in this area of upper Khabur…
Foundation peg in the form of the forepart of a lion, Metropolitan Museum of Art