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Ancient Middle East


Oriental Antiquities.



2,022 photos
Steatite jar, from Ur,southern Iraq, 2600-2400 BCE. This bowl demonstrated the extensive trade network that linked the cities of southern Mesopotamia with the rest of the Near East. It was found in one of the graves in the cemetery at Ur and may have been made in Iran, at Tepe Yahya, known for such carved chlorite vessels. ANE 121697
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Steatite jar, from Ur,southern Iraq, 2600-2400 BCE. This bowl demonstrated the e...

Stone basin, Ur, southern Iraq, early Dynastic period, 2600-2400 BCE. Soft stone, such as steatite or chlorite, are found in both Iran and Arabia and such vessels have been found from the Gulf to Pakistan. Nothing is known of what was transported in these pots,but this one was found in the tomb of Pu-Abi, one of the richest in the cemetery of Ur, and most probably held luxury goods. ANE 121695
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Stone basin, Ur, southern Iraq, early Dynastic period, 2600-2400 BCE. Soft stone...

Silver jar, from Ur, southern Iraq, 2600-2400 BCE. This spouted silver jug comes from the "Queen's Grave" in the Royal cemetery at Ur,southern Iraq. The jug may have been used for serving wine at banquets; the silver probably came from Iran or Anatolia,brought down the river Euphrates. ANE, 12450
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Silver jar, from Ur, southern Iraq, 2600-2400 BCE. This spouted silver jug comes...

A set of Hematite weights from Ur, southern Iraq, 1900-1600 BCE. Hematite was consistently used in Mesopotamia for weights from the late 3rd milennium BC; it is a hard stone which wears well and it would be obvious if it had been tampered with. A system of weights and measures was adopted, so that payments to workers could be reckoned, and also in order to calculate the value of precious objects. ANE 117891, ANE 117.
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A set of Hematite weights from Ur, southern Iraq, 1900-1600 BCE. Hematite was co...

Gypsum head of a man, from Sippar, southern Iraq, early Dynastic period, 2500 BCE. This very worn head was probably once part of a votive figurine, set up in a temple in Sippar to pray on behalf of the donor. The eyes would originally have been inlaid; traces of bitumen survive in the sockets. ANE 91877 (1882.9-18.a.5.)
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Gypsum head of a man, from Sippar, southern Iraq, early Dynastic period, 2500 BC...

Stone statue of Kurlil, responsible for building work on the temple of Ninhursag, Tel al-Ubaid, southern Iraq. A sign in cuneiform on the right shoulder of this statue forms part of Kurlil's name. The statue is typical of figurines set up in a temple to pray on behalf of the donor. ANE, 114207 (1919.10-11.2607)
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Stone statue of Kurlil, responsible for building work on the temple of Ninhursag...

Pottery jar, Mitannian, from Alalakh (modern Tel Atchana,Syria. Thie distinctive style of painted pottery appears across north Syria and north Mesopotamia from around 1500 to the 13th BCE. Atchana ware dates from a time when north Mespotamia and Syria were dominated by Mitanni,the name for a lose confederation of Hurrian city states. ANE,126193
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Pottery jar, Mitannian, from Alalakh (modern Tel Atchana,Syria. Thie distinctive...

Stele of King Ashurbanipal, from Borsippa,southern Iraq; Neo-Assyrian, 668-655 BCE. Wearing the Assyrian king's headdress, Ahurbanipal is shown in the pose of much earlier kings,lifting up a large basket of earth for the ritual molding of the first brick for a new temple. The cuneiform inscription records the restoration of Rzida, temple of Nabu, god of writing, in Borsippa. ANE,90865
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Stele of King Ashurbanipal, from Borsippa,southern Iraq; Neo-Assyrian, 668-655 B...

Amulet with a figure of Lamashtu, designed to ward off evil, from Mesopotamia, around 800 BCE. Lamashtu has the head of a lion, the teeth of a donkey, naked breasts and the talons of a bird. She holds snakes in her hands and stands on her sacred animal, the donkey. Lamashtus principal victims were unborn and new-born babies. ANE 117759
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Amulet with a figure of Lamashtu, designed to ward off evil, from Mesopotamia,...

Gold and silver horn-shaped drinking cup from Marash,Syria. 5th BCE. The vessel dates to the time of the Achemenid Empire of the 6th to 4th centuries,created by Cyrus the Great. It stretched from Egypt and the Aegean to Afghanistan and the Indus valley. ANE 116411
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Gold and silver horn-shaped drinking cup from Marash,Syria. 5th BCE. The vessel...

This stele comes from the Tophet in Carthage (today Tunisia) Such grave markers were set up over burial urns for small children and animals which had been sacrificed to the goddess Tanit and her consort Baal Hammon.Canaanite symbolism: sun,crescent moon and triangle; the goddess below. ANE 125117
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This stele comes from the Tophet in Carthage (today Tunisia) Such grave markers...

Terracotta figure of a tambourine player, Phoenician, from Tharros, Sardinia, 7th-6th century BCE. From a tomb at Tharros, the most important Phoenician trading centre on Sardinia.Phoenician colonies were established on the island as of the 8th BCE. ANE, 133133
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Terracotta figure of a tambourine player, Phoenician, from Tharros, Sardinia, 7t...