The Weeping Goddess: Sumerian Prototypes of the Mater Dolorosa Author(S): Samuel Noah Kramer Source: the Biblical Archaeologist, Vol
The Weeping Goddess: Sumerian Prototypes of the Mater Dolorosa Author(s): Samuel Noah Kramer Source: The Biblical Archaeologist, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring, 1983), pp. 69-80 Published by: The American Schools of Oriental Research . The Weeping Goddess: Sumerian Prototypes of the Mater Dolorosa by Samuel Noah Kramer Some time about 2000 B.c., a devasta- ting calamity befell Sumer, a disaster that well-nigh ended the existence of Sumer as a political entity. What made this catastrophe partic- Ur-Nammu, the founder of the ThirdDynasty, erected this stele at Ur. Only fragments of the stele werepreserved, but it has been restored to its original size of approximatelyten feet high ularly tragic, was and five feet wide. The top decorative zone shows the king pouring libations before an enthroned deity. The scene is repeated in the second zone with Ur-Nammu appearing the poignant fact twice-once before the moon-god Nanna and once before the goddess Ningal. The heavily damaged, lower zones of the stele originally depicted the king engaged in building that it marked operations. University Museum, University of Pennsylvania. BIBLICALARCHAEOLOGIST/SPRING 1983 69 the end of a Sumerian renaissance of at bay,but to no avail. They contin- Finally,in the twenty-fourth year political and economic power,a ued their inroads into Sumer dur- of his reign, the Elamites and their periodwhen learning, literature, and ing the reign of Ibbi-Sin,the last allies, the Su-people, overwhelmed music flourished throughout the king of the dynasty,who suc- and destroyedUr and led off Ibbi-Sin, land.
[Show full text]