Sumerian Clay Nail of Entemena (c. 2400 BCE)
This clay nail displayed at the Louvre is one of a handful of examples of Sumerian art remaining remarkably intact. The nail, a thick spike with cuneiform lettering inscribed in the head, isn’t a nail in the traditional sense. Ancient Sumerians crafted the spike, baking an inscribed cuniform dedication to a god. The nail would then be embedded into the mud brick walls or foundation of a temple building. To Sumerians, this gave the building over to the intended god as their divine property.
This nail, found in Telloh (ancient Girsu), was dedicated by Lagash king Entemena to the god of Bad-Tibira. Its wording includes one of the earliest known diplomatic writings, stating “Those were the days when Entemena, ruler of Lagash, and Lugal-kinishe-dudu, ruler of Umma, concluded a treaty of fraternity.” This indicates Entemena used diplomatic relations with neighboring city states, building alliances rather than forcefully taking their territory.
