This cruciform monument from Iraq, claims to be a record of grants and privileges bestowed by the Akkadian king Manishtushu (2279-2255 BCE) upon the Shamash Temple, but it’s actually an ancient forgery, most likely created during the Neo-Babylonian period (8th-6th century BCE) [2333×2135]

All twelve sides of the monument are covered with an inscription, the bulk of which deals with the renovation of the temple of Shamash and the very substantial increases in revenue that the temple received from the king. It ends: ‘this is not a lie, it is indeed the truth . . . He who will damage this document let Enki fill up his canals with slime . . .’
The monument comes into the category known as a fraus pia, or ‘pious fraud’. It was probably produced by the temple priests in order to establish the great antiquity of the privileges and revenues of their temple, thus strengthening the temple’s claim to them.

Now housed at the British Museum.

[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1881-0428-118-b](https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1881-0428-118-b)

So, is this still an authentic artefact ? 🤔

Wonder if it served as a sort of propaganda in it’s time. Can’t really think of another reason for why it was made.