Akkadian Empire · later Elamite reuse
Naram-Sin Stele The stele of Naram-Sin also became war booty
A monument can tell of a victory and end up celebrating another conquest.
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History and context Evidence and facts Objects connected through time Further reading Location and territory Where it is held Sources and references Comments Museum documentation · free public access, no account required.
⛶ Enlarge imagePHOTOGRAPH OF THE ORIGINAL · Musée du Louvre, Oriental Antiquités · CC BY 2.0 Documentary original · Exact correspondence
Frontal photograph of the original Naram-Sin stele; photo clipping by Fred Romero distributed in Commons.
Fred Romero · Musée du Louvre, Oriental Antiquities · Inventory: SB 4 · AS 6065 · CC BY 2.0
History and context Naram-Sin occupies the dominant position in a victory scene. The composition directs the gaze towards the king and presents the conquest as an affirmation of his authority. It is an Akkadian monument, different from the works of the first Sumerian cities.
Much later, in the 12th century BCE, Shutruk-Nahhunte took it to Susa as loot and added an inscription. That is why a piece created to remember the power of a king ended up incorporated into the memory of another victor. The place of discovery is not enough to determine its culture of origin.
Evidence and interpretation Inscriptions from different times are preserved. The original dedication to Shamash is probable, not certain. The move to Susa does not convert his original stature into an Elamite one.
Catalogue facts
Date of piece Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE
Culture and period Akkadian Empire · later Elamite reuse
Provenance Found in Susa, Iran; ancient provenance linked to Sippar
Material Pink and beige limestone
Inventory SB 4 AS 6065
In this grouping Akkadian Victory Stele: Represents a campaign from the king's perspective, not a combat scene recorded without interpretation. Limestone12 Sculpture54 Inscriptions34 Arms and military equipment29 Kingship and power33
The order uses the midpoint of each approximate date range; ranges can overlap. Spacing does not represent elapsed time. Swipe, scroll or use the arrows. With the sequence focused, use ← / →, Home or End.
Earlier Later
≈29,500 years
Willendorf Prehistory
Approximate catalogue age; editorial reference 2026 for ordering only, not calibrated dating.
Read the record ≈23,000–21,000 years
Kostenki I Prehistory
Approximate catalogue age; editorial reference 2026 for ordering only, not calibrated dating.
Read the record Eighth millennium BCE · context dating, not direct dating of the stone
Nahal Hemar mask Prehistory
Context dating, not direct dating of the stone.
Read the record Mid-3rd millennium BCE · reign of Ur-Nanshe
Overlapping dates Ur-Nanshe relief Sumer
The full 3rd millennium BCE provides broad limits for chronological ordering; the record specifies the middle of the millennium, in the reign of Ur-Nanshe.
Read the record Towards 2450–2425 BCE
Stele of the Vultures Sumer
Approximate dating according to the record.
Read the record You are viewing Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE
Naram-Sin Stele Sumer
Reign interval associated with the piece; the Elamite reuse is later.
Current record c. 11th–10th century BCE
The voice of Ahiram Phoenicians
Approximate dating according to the record.
Read the record 825 BCE
Black Obelisk Sumer
Approximate dating according to the record.
Read the record 6th–5th centuries BCE, mainly under Darius and Xerxes
Twenty-three delegations Achaemenid Persia
Interval of the monumental programme under several reigns.
Read the record 1st century BCE–1st century CE
Betatun altar Iberians
Interval crossing the era change; there is no year zero.
Read the record 292 CE
The date of 292 Maya worlds
Long Count date translated into the Common Era.
Read the record 6 / 11 In the centre: Naram-Sin Stele
Also connected, without a comparable date (1) These objects are not placed after the others: an unknown date does not mean a more recent object.
Before Persia Achaemenid Persia · Central core c. seventeenth century BCE; Neo-Elamite additions between the ninth and sixth centuries BCE You can scroll the first group without JavaScript. The other topics are also available below.
Sculpture Lion-man · ≈40,000 years · Aurignacian · PrehistoryLespugue · ≈28,000 years · PrehistoryZaraysk Bison · ≈23,000–21,000 years · PrehistoryShigir Idol · C. 10,000 BCE · approximation; debated dating · PrehistoryWarka Mask · End of the 4th millennium BCE · SumerGebel el-Arak knife · 3600–3200 BCE · Naqada II C–D · Ancient EgyptUruk Vase · ca. 3300–3000 BCE · SumerNarmer Palette · ca. 3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptBefore Yayoi · Middle Jōmon, ca. 3000 BCE · Yayoi JapanUr-Nanshe relief · Mid-3rd millennium BCE · reign of Ur-Nanshe · SumerThe goat from PG 1237 · ca. 2600–2400 BCE · SumerStele of the Vultures · Towards 2450–2425 BCE · SumerAkkadian sovereign head · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerBassetki Statue · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerNaram-Sin Stele · Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE · Sumer — You are viewingBefore Pre-Inca Cultures · Kotosh-Mito Tradition, c. 2200–1500 BCE; the enclosure is usually situated around 1800 BCE. · Pre-Inca culturesQueen of the Night · 19th–18th centuries BCE · SumerBull-leaping · c. 1600–1450 BCE · Greek worldsWooden faces · c. 1600–1000 BCE, in several phases · Maya worldsHead 2 · c. 1200–900 BCE · Maya worldsThe voice of Ahiram · c. 11th–10th century BCE · PhoeniciansBefore the Scythians and Sakas · Final Bronze–Initial Iron, ca. 1200–600 BCE · Scythians and SakaBlack Obelisk · 825 BCE · SumerIvory in Nimrud · 9th–8th centuries BCE · PhoeniciansLas Limas · c. 1000–600 BCE · Maya worldsAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · PhoeniciansAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · IberiansLamassu of Khorsabad · Reign of Sargon II · 721–705 BCE · SumerThe Lanzón · c. 900–500 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesStele of Esarhaddon · 7th century BC C. · 671 campaign BCE · SumerThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · IberiansThe Tello Obelisk · c. 800–500 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesAshurbanipal Hunt · 645–635 BCE · SumerHeads on the wall · c. 800–300 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesTwo voices in an urn · 530–520 BCE · Etruscans and RomeThe god on the roof · Towards 510–500 BCE · Etruscans and RomeGlazed brick guards · 522–486 BCE · Achaemenid PersiaTwenty-three delegations · 6th–5th centuries BCE, mainly under Darius and Xerxes · Achaemenid PersiaSarcophagus of Eshmunazar · first quarter of the 5th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe statue was the urn · First half of the 4th century BCE · IberiansThe Raimondi Stele · c. 400–200 BCE according to MNAAHP · Pre-Inca culturesTorreáguila fountain spout · 101–125 CE · Etruscans and RomeThe date of 292 · 292 CE · Maya worldsArticulated doll from Tarragona · Late 3rd–4th century CE · Etruscans and RomeSeven heads · c. 500–700 CE · Bantu-speaking worldsSeated figure · 13th century, date attributed by the museum · Mande WorldsGold rhinoceros · ca. 1220–1290; found in 1933 · Bantu-speaking worldsZimbabwe birds · main period of Great Zimbabwe, c. 12th–15th centuries · Bantu-speaking worldsKongo crucifix · 16th–17th centuries · Bantu-speaking worldsKuba ndop · ca. 1760 · Bantu-speaking worldsWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
Before Persia · Central core c. seventeenth century BCE; Neo-Elamite additions between the ninth and sixth centuries BCE · Achaemenid PersiaLararium of Vilauba · Roman period · Etruscans and RomeThe Thracian Horseman · Roman era · diffusion especially in the 2nd–3rd centuries CE · ThraciansInscriptions Naqada labels · ca. 3300–3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptNarmer Palette · ca. 3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptUr-Nanshe relief · Mid-3rd millennium BCE · reign of Ur-Nanshe · SumerStele of the Vultures · Towards 2450–2425 BCE · SumerBassetki Statue · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerIndus seals · ca. 2600–1900 BCE · Indus civilisationNaram-Sin Stele · Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE · Sumer — You are viewingStele of Hammurabi · Towards 1750 BCE · SumerPhaistos Disc · ≈1700–1650 BCE · Greek worldsLinear A · c. 1700–1500 BCE · Greek worldsThe voice of Ahiram · c. 11th–10th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe Cascajal Block · Proposed c. 1000–900 BCE · Maya worldsBlack Obelisk · 825 BCE · SumerAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · PhoeniciansAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · IberiansStele of Esarhaddon · 7th century BC C. · 671 campaign BCE · SumerIvory with names · End of the 7th century–first half of the 6th century BCE · PhoeniciansShabti of Psamtek · 570–526 BCE · Ancient EgyptUni was also Astarte · Towards 510 BCE · Etruscans and RomeSarcophagus of Eshmunazar · first quarter of the 5th century BCE · PhoeniciansEzerovo Ring · 5th century BCE · chronology discussed in the bibliography · ThraciansTwenty-six voiceless signs · 5th–4th centuries BCE · Scythians and SakaThe inscription of Pistiros · 4th century BCE · ThraciansYan knife-money in the Gojoseon sphere · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · Ancient ChinaLead tablet · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · IberiansA coin with the memory of a blade · 323–222 BCE · Gojoseon and early KoreaA sky over the liver · End of the second–beginning of the first century BCE · Etruscans and RomeHand of Irulegui · First third of the 1st century BCE · IberiansBetatun altar · 1st century BCE–1st century CE · IberiansThe date of 292 · 292 CE · Maya worldsKilwa coin · 1482–1493 · Bantu-speaking worldsWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
Arms and military equipment Bilateral harpoon · ≈15,000 years · Magdalenian · PrehistoryNahal Hemar Knives · 8th millennium BCE · Pre-Pottery Neolithic B context · PrehistoryHolmegaard bow · ≈7000 BCE · PrehistoryGebel el-Arak knife · 3600–3200 BCE · Naqada II C–D · Ancient EgyptNarmer Palette · ca. 3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptStele of the Vultures · Towards 2450–2425 BCE · SumerNaram-Sin Stele · Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE · Sumer — You are viewingBefore Phoenicia · 20th–18th centuries BCE · PhoeniciansTalayotic sword · ≈1200–1000 BCE · destruction of the talayot towards 790 BCE · IberiansThe lute-shaped dagger · Towards 1000–400 BCE · Gojoseon and early KoreaSteppe kurgans · 7th–4th centuries BCE · Scythians and SakaBow and arrows in a case · 5th–4th centuries BCE · Scythians and SakaCoțofenești helmet · Second half of the 5th century – beginning of the 4th century BCE · ThraciansGrave goods of Baza and Toya · First half of the 4th century BCE · IberiansA battle on a comb · Early 4th century BCE · Scythians and SakaThe Solokha gold comb · 4th century BCE · Greek worlds453 astragali from Alarcos · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · necropolis chronology · IberiansFalcata from Almedinilla · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · IberiansThe blade became straight · 5th–1st centuries BCE · Gojoseon and early KoreaVas dels Guerrers · 3rd–early 2nd century BCE · IberiansWarriors' Vase · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · IberiansThe Shield that Did Not Fight · Around 350–50 BCE · Celtic worldsGladiators Cup of Chavagnes · 25–75 CE · Etruscans and RomeThracian Gladiator from Cádiz · 67–100 CE · Etruscans and RomeWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
Kingship and power Narmer Palette · ca. 3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptPuabi headdress · ca. 2600–2450 BCE · SumerUr-Nanshe relief · Mid-3rd millennium BCE · reign of Ur-Nanshe · SumerStele of the Vultures · Towards 2450–2425 BCE · SumerAkkadian sovereign head · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerNaram-Sin Stele · Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE · Sumer — You are viewingSumerian King List · Towards 1800 BCE · SumerStele of Hammurabi · Towards 1750 BCE · SumerGrave Circle A and Chrysolakkos · 18th–16th centuries BCE · Greek worldsBurial at K IV · circa 1750–1550 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and KushTutankhamun's grave goods · death towards 1323 BCE · Ancient EgyptFu Hao’s burial goods · ca. 1200 BCE · Ancient ChinaTribute to Assyria · c. 848 BCE · PhoeniciansBlack Obelisk · 825 BCE · SumerLamassu of Khorsabad · Reign of Sargon II · 721–705 BCE · SumerKushite king · c. 721–664 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and KushStele of Esarhaddon · 7th century BC C. · 671 campaign BCE · SumerAshurbanipal Hunt · 645–635 BCE · SumerIshtar Gate · 7th–6th centuries BCE · work of Nebuchadnezzar II · SumerTwenty-three delegations · 6th–5th centuries BCE, mainly under Darius and Xerxes · Achaemenid PersiaSarcophagus of Eshmunazar · first quarter of the 5th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe archer in gold · Type introduced from the late 6th century; specimen from the 4th century BCE. · Achaemenid PersiaSusa grave goods · c. 350 BCE · Achaemenid PersiaGolyamata Kosmatka · End of the 4th century – beginning of the 3rd century BCE; ritual burial at the beginning of the III according to Iskra. · ThraciansDenarius of Carisius · ≈25–23 BCE · IberiansThe date of 292 · 292 CE · Maya worldsPakal’s grave goods · sealed on 28 August 683 CE · Maya worldsCatalan Atlas · after 1375 and before November 1380 · Mande WorldsKuba ndop · ca. 1760 · Bantu-speaking worldsWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
A closer look About 1 min to read · 1 section. Further reading and sources · free access. Editorial review recorded: September 14, 2026 .
Reading above the king and over the mountain The remains of the Naram-Sin text are found above the figure of the king and mention victories against the Lullubi. The later inscription occupies the mountain depicted: there Shutruk-Nahhunte states that he moved the stele from Sippar. The catalog distinguishes Akkadian and Middle Elamite. Locating the words on the stone allows us to separate two interventions and two royal voices. Sippar is not the site of the modern find: its role in this story is also known from that ancient statement.
Museum · Louvre · Naram-Sin stele Access recorded: September 14, 2026 . Location and territory Physical world map with routes of human evolution Present-day world coastline from Natural Earth in an equirectangular projection. The overlaid markers let you explore each milestone. Map base: Natural Earth 1:110m · public domain · present-day reference coastline LOCATED SITE
Sousse Iran Achaemenid city and palace marker. Where it is held Item or group in the record · Documented collection
Institution that preserves the piece; Check with the museum about its availability to visit.
Item or group in the record · Documented collection
The holding institution is documented; public display may change. Check its official record before visiting.
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