Cairo III
In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 31):
The ancient sage examined the object. He turned it over, translated the inscriptions on the back with the help of some recent German-Sumeria dictionaries he had in his library.
"This is Babylonian-era Sumerian. The common language of diplomatic correspondence in the ancient near east."
He spoke to himself as the academic in him took over and he took notes as he spoke.
“An ornate mirror with a golden frame. The frame is subtly asymmetric; strange figures have been worked into it.”
"From the ancient Sumerian: “en-en ___ gal”, “The Mirror/Wrath of the Great ____” The Mirror of Gal is a Babylonian artefact and more than 3000 years old. It is made of speculum metal (a grey-white mix of 2/3 copper, 1/3 tin, adulterated with arsenic, which will hold a high polish), and so lacks a glass. The golden frame is a much more recent addition, being French Rococo of the early 19th century (the mirror was retrieved from an Egyptian tomb by Napoleonic archaeologists). Unpleasant, asymmetrical demons replace the more conventional cherubs.
"There is an inscription in cuneiform on the back, made with punches before the metal was completely hardened, which identifies the Mirror as “The Mirror (or Wrath) of the Great ___” but the symbol where the God or King’s name should go has been chiselled out. The cuneiform inscription continues that the Mirror was made in Lagash and is a gift from King (Lu-gal) Bur-ra Bu-ri-ia-a to his “brother”, King of Egypt, Ne-Nefer-Ka-____ (the symbol which should represent the patron god of this pharaoh is likewise destroyed). “When the King my Brother wishes to view his enemy, anoint the mirror with Ub-ra-an (The sound of the drum of heaven: ub – drum; ra - to strike, bang; an - sky, heaven). When he wishes to strike his enemy, anoint the mirror with Ga-bé-se-gal (the milk sacred to/from the shrine of the great howling/buzzing one: ga – milk; bé - buzz or howl; se – shrine, sacred, dedicated to a god; gal – great, supreme). Let there be no misunderstanding between us.”