Thursday, February 05, 2009

A CUNEIFORM TABLET at the Bible Lands Museum:
Historical treasure at Bible Lands Museum

Rare 4,000 year-old cuneiform tablet that sheds light on beliefs and practices of religious Babylonian customs during Tu B'Shvat now on display at Bible Lands Museum

Ynetnews
Published: 02.04.09, 11:45 / Israel Travel

As part of Tu B'Shvat celebrations the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem reveals a rare 4,000 year old cuneiform tablet that sheds light on the beliefs and practices of the religious Babylonian customs during Tu B'Shvat.

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The connection with Tu B'Shvat, which comes up in a few days, is pretty tenuous, but the tablet is quite interesting in itself.
The rare tablet takes the visitors to the ancient month Shabatu, 4,000 years ago. It is the only known example of a text recording the daily routine followed in the temples of the capital city of Larsa, which neighbored Ur in ancient Mesopotamia. In over six hundred and thirty lines, the tablet registers the rites performed in the temples during the month of Shabatu. This month is identical to the Hebrew month of Shevat and they are both the eleventh month of the year.
Given the troubles over Iraqi antiquities in recent years, it would have been helpful if the article had said more about its provenance and the route that brought it to Jerusalem. I suspect it's from a Larsa archaeological excavation, but I don't know. Anybody out there have information?