Weights, Royal lion-shaped

Inscriptions on these seated lions give the name of their royal owner and the weight, which ranges from 15 mina (about 15kg) to 3 shekels (0.05 kg). From the North-West Palace, Nimrud, northern Iraq. Small bronze lion shaped measuring-weight with ring: inscribed in Assyrian and in Aramaic. Five lines are incised on the flank of the lion, presumably to represent 'one-fifth'. The lion, when originally cast, was too light, and the ring around its neck brought its weight up to the desired amount.