Victory Stele of Naram-Sin

Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
Victory of Naram-Sin over the mountain tribe of the Lullubi and their king Satuni, Louvre Museum
Material	Limestone
Height	c. 3 meters (original) 2 meters
Width	1.5 meters
Created	c. 2250 BC in Sippar
Discovered	1898 Shush, Khuzestan, Iran
Discovered by	Jacques de Morgan
Present location	Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Identification	Sb 4

Sippar

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Original location of the stele, in Sippar, Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, before being moved to Susa, Iran, by Shutruk-Nakhunte in the 12th century BC

The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin is a stele that dates to approximately 2254–2218 BC, in the time of the Akkadian Empire, and is now at the Louvre in Paris. The relief measures 2 meters in height (6' 7")^[1] and was carved in pinkish sandstone,^[2] with cuneiform writings in Akkadian and Elamite. It depicts King Naram-Sin of Akkad leading the Akkadian army to victory over the Lullubi, a mountain people from the Zagros Mountains.

The stele shows a narrative scene of the king crossing the steep slopes into enemy territory; on the left are the ordered imperial forces keeping in rank while marching over the disordered defenders that lie broken and defeated. Naram-Sin is shown as by far the most important figure, towering over his enemy and troops and all eyes gaze up toward him. The weak and chaotic opposing forces are shown being thrown from atop the mountainside, impaled by spears, fleeing and begging Naram-Sin for mercy as well as being trampled underfoot by Naram-Sin himself. This is supposed to convey their uncivilized and barbaric nature making the conquest justified.^[1] Though currently about two meters in height, estimates of its original height range up to three meters.^[2]