Name of Object:

Stele of King Nabonidus

Location:

Tayma, Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia

Holding Institution:

Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Antiquities and Museums Sector, Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography

Date of Object:

Mid 6th century BC (between 552 and 542 BC)

Inventory Number:

Excavation number: TA 488

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Sandstone

Dimensions:

Height: 60 cm, Width: 58.5 cm, Depth/Thickness: 13 cm

Provenance:

Accumulation of debris east of a former temple building

Description:

Upper part of a stele (once approx. 1.3 m high) with the carved representation of a standing royal figure looking towards right in front of a panel with a cuneiform inscription. Above, there are three symbols of Mesopotamian astral gods (moon disc / crescent for the moon god Sîn, the winged sun for the sun god Shamash, the star for the goddess of love and war, Ishtar). Style of the representation and text are Late Babylonian, and although the name is not preserved, the object can be attributed to the last king of Babylon, Nabû-na’id, who, for ten years, stayed at Tayma, when trying to establish control over Northwest Arabia, most probably because of economic reasons, i.e. his interest in the Arabian long distance trade. The preserved part of the inscription, however, reports on activities in his hometown Babylon.

Type of Object

Arched stele of Mesopotamian type with cuneiform inscription

Citation of this web page:

Jamal S. Omar "Stele of King Nabonidus" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;sa;2;en

Prepared by: Jamal S. Omar

MWNF Working Number: SA 002