Mesopotamian doors had large wooden posts that extended past the threshhold.  This post rested in the depression of a gate/door socket.  The door then pivoted on this post, and the sokept kept it in place.  The socket was set into the floor, so the top of the socket was aligned with the floor.  Most sockets were inscribed with a dedicatory inscription from the ruler/govenor to a god/goddess recording achievements and building projects.  

Objects: Door/Gate Sockets Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Object U Number Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) Museum Number (BM Registration Number) Museum Number (UPM B-number) Description (Catalog Card)
18168 (none) (none) (none) Door socket. Diorite with inscription of Bur-Sin.
18300 (none) (none) (none) Gate socket. Diorite. Of Gimil-Sin text partly obliterated.
18525 (none) (none) (none) Door socket. Diorite. With inscription of Ur-Engur.
18724A (none) (none) (none) [DUPLICATE NUMBER] Gate socket. Diorite. Kurigalzu.
2673 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of dGimil-dSin, beloved of Enlil, the king whom Enlil has chosen as the delight of his heart, the mighty king, king of Ur, king of the 4 regions of the world, his god, Lugal-ma-gur-gur-ri, the commandment of the fortress, patesi of Ur, his servant has built his beloved temple. (Another example in Berlin VA.3302)
2674 (none) 1927,1003.60 (none) Door-socket of Sin-balatsu-iqbi (time of Ashurbanapal) shakkanak (vice regent) of Ur son of Ningal-iddinna. Restoration of Elemen-ni-gur. In particular of the gate-way to Esag-dili (the Ziggurat). The gate was built in the middle of the terrace of the temenos, on the procession way (! e hal-la-ta du-a). The door was of boxwood, fixed with bronze pegs in massive walls, had a gold USH, a silverlock, silver plated bronze binding (?). See notes. H.C.
2675 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of Ur-Engur with the usual inscription: UrdEngur, king of Ur who has built the temple of Nannar?
2736 (none) 1927,1003.3 (none) Door-socket of Ur-Engur. Text: To Innina, the great lady, his lady, Ur dEngur, the mighty heero, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, Es-bur her beloved house he has built. Es = shrine, house. Bur = pot, vase H.C.
2749A (none) (none) (none) (A) Diorite Door-socket.; (B) Copper pole shoe} Both same inscription: Ur Engur, king of Ur, who has bult the house of Nannar. in text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace (13)
2749B (none) (none) (none) (A) Diorite Door-socket.; (B) Copper pole shoe} Both same inscription: Ur Engur, king of Ur, who has bult the house of Nannar. in text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace (13)
2750 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of Ur Engur. ?king of Ur, who has built the house of Nannar.
2753 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of Kurigalzu. Surface recut on an older (Ur Engur?) Door-socket and partly destroyed. (To Nan)nar, his (king), (Ku)-ri-gal-(zu), (shak)-kanak of En(lil), the (E)-kis-sir-gal [his erased] ( ) [of erased] his [wall erased] (? written ki-bad-a-ni), he built... Usual lecture w: e-ki-ag-a-ni: his beloved house. H.C.
2768 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of Ur-Engur king of Ur who built the house of Nannar.
2771 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket. Ur-Engur. Bluish stone (flakes easily) usual inscription. In text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace(12)
2772 (none) (none) (none) Ur-Engur Door-socket. Bluish stone. Usual inscription. In text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace(12)
2855 (none) (none) (none) Ur-Engur door-socket. Usual text: builder of E-Nannar.
293 (none) (none) (none) Gate socket. Limestone. Inscription of Kurigalza, badly damaged. Copied.
294 (none) (none) (none) Gate socket. Inscription of Ur-Engur. Illegible
295 (none) 1923,1110.3 (none) Gate socket, Basalt. Inscription on smooth surface, with shoulder below. Records the building of A.A22AG.GA.NI GIG.KISAL[Above] by Bur-Sin I. Copied and transliterated.
3031 (none) 1927,1003.4 (none) Door-socket of Bur-Sin. Blue stone. Same inscription U.295 (Photo 24) To Nin-gal, his lady Bur-Sin mighty hero king of Ur, king of the 4 regions of the world has built her beloved house, Gi(g)-par azag for his life he has dedicated.
3032 (none) (none) (none) Ur-Engur Door-socket. Common in scripot: builder of E-Nannar. In text: Kassite period(13)
3037 (none) (none) (none) Bur-Sin. Door-socket. Blue stone. Flaking off. To Ningal. Builts Gig-par azag. Duplicate of U.3031. In text: Neo-Babylonian period (8).
3059 (none) (none) (none) Gimil-Sin. Door-socket. (Perhaps to Ningal?? But the name of the god is almost illegible) ?Gimil-Sin, beloved of Enlil, king whom Enlil has chosen in his heart, mighty king, king of Ur, king of the 4 regions of the world, (her or his?) house he has built. H.C.
3102 (none) (none) (none) dGimil-Sin Door-socket. Of shrine erected by Lugal ma-gur-ri patesi of Ur. Same inscription: U.2673.
3103 (none) (none) (none) Ur-Engur Door-socket. Same old inscription: Iron hinge still on stone.
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Related Terms

Bricks - Cones - Drain Pipes

Child Terms

Socket

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Parent Terms

Architectural Elements > Door/Gate Sockets


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British Museum Semantic Web Collection Online