back to overview
 


Ancient Middle East


Oriental Antiquities.



2,022 photos
Stone panel from the South-West palace of Sennacherib, Ninveh, northern Iraq, Neo-Assyrian, 700-695 BCE. The two figures on this panel formed part of the king's bodyguard. The archer on the left is a lightly-armed soldier who was probably drawn from the Aramaic-speaking communities, while the spear-man on the right, with a turban and kilt, comes from around Palestine. See also 08-02-05/23,47. ANE, 124901
#030302 6

Stone panel from the South-West palace of Sennacherib, Ninveh, northern Iraq, Ne...

Stone panel from the South-West Palace of King Sennacherib Niniveh,northern Iraq. This alabaster panel was part of a series on the siege of Lachish. On the left, inhabitants of Lachisch leave to be resettled elsewhere in the Assyrian Empire. On the right foreigners (possibly Nubians) are tortured and probably flayed alive. See also 08-02-03, 08-02-05, 08-05-12 and 08-05-13. ANE 124909
#030302 7

Stone panel from the South-West Palace of King Sennacherib Niniveh,northern Ira...

The Taylor-Prism, Neo-Assyrian, from Niniveh,northern Iraq, 691 BCE. This six-sided baked clay document is a foundation record, intended to preserve Sennacherib's achievements for posterity and the gods.The prism records Sennachrib's third campaign, the destruction of 46 cities in Judah and the deportaion of 200.150 people. Hezekiah, king of Judah, is said to hve sent tribute to Sennacherib. ANE 91032
#030302 8

The Taylor-Prism, Neo-Assyrian, from Niniveh,northern Iraq, 691 BCE. This six-si...

Bronze statuette of a rider, Achaemenid, 5th-4th century BCE, a rare representation of a Persian horseman. He wears a short Iranian sword, an akinakes, known from Achaemenid art, particularly from reliefs at Persepolis. The use of trousers is Median, or Parthian of the third to second century and makes it difficult to date the figurine. ANE,117760
#030302 9

Bronze statuette of a rider, Achaemenid, 5th-4th century BCE, a rare representat...

Ivory cosmetic box in the shape of a fish, Canaanite, from Tell es-Sa'idiyeh, Jordan, 13th century BC. This ivory fish-shaped cosmetic box was found inside a bronze bowl which had been strapped, using Egyptian linen, to the genitals of a body found in a grave at Tell es-Sa'idiyeh. Most unusually, the body had been placed face down in the grave, and over the back of the skull were found the skeletons of three fishes. The site of Tell es-Sa'idiyeh controlled a shallow ford across the river Jordan. In the 13th century it was under Egyptian control. This was the final phase of Egypt's domination of the Levant. Most of the graves at Sa'idiyeh consist of simple, sub-rectangular pits, but the items found in them either show strong Egyptian influence or are purely Egyptian. ANE, 1987-7-27,138
#03030210

Ivory cosmetic box in the shape of a fish, Canaanite, from Tell es-Sa'idiyeh, Jo...

Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carving on this vessel is particularly fine. The design is probably linked to Iranian mythology. A man in a net skirt kneels on two humped-backed bulls, or zebus, standing back to back, and grasps streams watering vegetation and a palm tree; above are two undulating lines, a crescent moon and a rosette sun. A similar figure with a rosette grasps two snakes and stands between two felines lying back to back. A lion and eagle attack a bull with a small animal below. The zebus are not native to Mesopotamia, and their presence here indicates a connection with the civilization which was developing at this time along the Indus Valley in Pakistan and north-west India. This vessel was found in Mesopotamia on a major trade route though the mountains on to the Iranian plateau. ANE, 128887
#03030211

Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carvi...

Crushed skull of a soldier with a copper helmet from Ur, Mesopotamian, southern Iraq, c2600-c2400 BC. This skull comes from the 'King's Grave' in the cemetery at Ur. The main tomb was in a rough stone chamber at the bottom of a large pit. The bodies of six soldiers wearing copper helmets and carrying spears lay at the foot of the ramp which descended to it, over eight metres below the modern surface. The helmets were broken and crushed flat by the weight of the soil which had been thrown back into the grave during the burial. The soldiers were presumably intended to be the guardians of the tomb for eternity. If so, they failed in their duty because the central tomb had been robbed in antiquity. The soldiers' helmets closely resemble those worn by the soldiers on the Standard of Ur. ANE, 121414
#03030212

Crushed skull of a soldier with a copper helmet from Ur, Mesopotamian, southern...

Necklaces of faience beads and pendants, Canaanite, from Lachish (modern Tell ed-Duweir), Israel, c1500-c1200 BC. These fine necklaces from the Fosse Temple at Lachish illustrates the strongly Egyptianizing style of Cannanite art of the Late Bronze Age. During this period the southern Levant was under Egyptian domination. The ruler of Lachish was Shipti-ba'al, a vassal king, subject to the firm control of Egypt, and enjoying the wealth and security that such political domination provided. The so-called Fosse Temple was a small sanctuary first built around 1550 BC in the disused moat (fosse) that had formed part of the fortifications of Lachish in the early second millennium. A sudden destruction in about 1200 BC left remarkable contents in position in the building. These included many vessels containing the bones of animal offerings, and also rich finds of glass, faience and alabaster, imported pottery, ivories and jewellery in many materials, including gold and silver. ANE, 132125-6
#03030213

Necklaces of faience beads and pendants, Canaanite, from Lachish (modern Tell ed...

Wallpainting: "L'investiture" Beginning 2nd millenium BCE; Mari, amorrite palace Fresco on clay coating AO 19826
#03030216

Wallpainting: "L'investiture" Beginning 2nd millenium BCE; Mari, amorrite pala...

Winged spirit (Génie protecteur) 7th century BCE; Tell Ahmar; reign of Ashurbanipal ? Element of a decorative frieze; on coating of clay, colours posed on a whitewash (chalk milk): ochre, red, carbon black, Egyptian blue H.: 49cm; W.: 55cm AO 23009
#03030217

Winged spirit (Génie protecteur) 7th century BCE; Tell Ahmar; reign of Ashurban...

Blue goat Approximately 8th century BCE; Tell Ahmar Element of a decorative fieze; on coating of clay; colours posed on a whitewash (chalk milk): ochre red, carbon black, Egyptian blue H.: 51,60cm; W.:63,50cm AO 23010
#03030218

Blue goat Approximately 8th century BCE; Tell Ahmar Element of a decorative fi...

Two assyrian dignitaries placed behind the royal throne, scene of audience Tell Ahmar; approximately 8th century BCE; on clay coating with colours posed on whitewash (chalk, milk): ochre red, carbon black, Egyptian blue H.:65cm; W.: 62,50cm AO 23011
#03030219

Two assyrian dignitaries placed behind the royal throne, scene of audience Tell...