06 HERODOTUS-ACHAEMENID, I: BEHISTUN
Inscriptions on stone marked dedications on monumental architecture and served the propagandistic purpose of promoting the status of the emperors and their empires. The local resources for inscriptions on stone include a monumental relief at the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), and another (Washington/Baltimore inscription) with versions at both the Catholic University Semitics / Institute of Christian Oriental Research (ICOR) Library and at the Walters Art Museum (WAM).
Our main literary souce for this section is the History (“inquiry”) of Herodotus, and we rely upon the digital humanities resources Hestia (Open University) and Herodotos Project (Ohio State University).

learning goals:
  1. identify unique accession numbers
  2. catalog artifacts by standard categorical descriptions (e.g. material, size, color, decoration)
  3. catalog artifacts by type (e.g. standard formula, dedications)
  4. catalog artifacts by narrative style
  5. record provenance (point of origin) whenever possible–particularly archaeologcal context
  6. include results of laboratory analysis and/or conservation, whenever possible

Fill out the .pdf worksheet (here) with the information below
Behistun Inscription
Find images and data concerning the following five stone/gypsum monuments from two sets of monumental inscriptions from DMV institutions. Limit your analysis to these Neo-Assyrian carved reliefs and inscriptions, meeting the following criteria:
  • provide the acession number (unique museum identifying number–sometimes not applicable)
  • provide formal or stylistic comments from the online description
  • provide the provenance/archeological context, or note absence and estimated point of origin
  • find this set of three: one matched pair at the Virginia Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary (VTS) as well as another formerly there (now sold)
  • find this set of two: one from The Walters Art Museum (WAM) and one from the Semitics/Institute of Christian Oriental Research (ICOR) at Catholic University
  • find panels related the Standard Inscription of of Ashurnasirpal from the NW Palace at Kahlu (mod. Nimrud), from parallel museum collections (with accession numbers)

1-2. STANDARD INSCRIPTION WITH WINGED GENII (VTS RIMA 2 A.0.101.23)
image (paired inscribed panels):
date/period:
provenance/point of origin: NW Palace of Assurnasirpal II, room S
form/style/description:
material: gypsum
accession number (if possible):
parallel/comparison (how is it simiar?):