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Ancient Middle East


Oriental Antiquities.



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Emperor Valerian (ca. 200-260 CE) kneels in front of Sassanid King Shapur I (241 to 272 CE). After the battle of Edessa, Valerian was forced to seek terms with Shapur I. Sometime towards the end of 259, or at the beginning of 260, Valerian was defeated and made prisoner by the Persians (making him the only Roman Emperor taken captive). It is said that he was subjected to the greatest insults by his captors, such as being used as a human stepladder by Shapur when mounting his horse. After his execution, his skin was stuffed with straw and preserved as a trophy in the chief Persian temple. Only after the Persian defeat in the last Persia-Roman war three and a half centuries later, was his skin destroyed.
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Emperor Valerian (ca. 200-260 CE) kneels in front of Sassanid King Shapur I (24...

Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE) in his chariot fighting Hittite soldiers of King Muwatalli. 1294 BCE, New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE) in his...

Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing the army of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE) fighting Hittite soldiers of King Muwatalli. 1294 BCE, New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing the army of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224...

Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing soldiers of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE) fighting Hittite soldiers of King Muwatalli. 1294 BCE, New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing soldiers of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224...

Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing soldiers of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224 BCE) fighting Hittite soldiers of King Muwatalli. 1294 BCE, New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Relief of the battle of Kadesh showing soldiers of Pharaoh Ramses II (1290-1224...

Painted cramic vase, Bronze Age, 1500 BCE.Tripod-footed pot with chequer-board design. The pattern resembles designs, possibly inspired by contemporary textiles, found on Early Iron Age pottery. Acquired by Sir Marc Aurel Stein at Chigha Sabz in the Rumishkan area of southern Luristan, Iran. ANE 131072
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Painted cramic vase, Bronze Age, 1500 BCE.Tripod-footed pot with chequer-board d...

Glass jar, Mesopotamian, from Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq, possibly Poenician, 750-550 BCE. The jar was cast, probably by the lost wax technique, and then ground and polished. ANE 91461
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Glass jar, Mesopotamian, from Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq, possibly Po...

The god Harpokrates, Phoenician, 6th-5th century BCE. Bronze figurine representing the god Harpokrates, the Greek version of the Egyptian child god Horus. It is described on the right side of the base in Egyptian hieroglyphs "Harpokrates grant ...to Us-ankh, son of Pethy" and on the other three sides in Phoenician "May Harpokrates give life to Amos, son of Esmunyaton, son of Azarmikk". A votive offering to a deity with prayers for the god's favour or help. ANE 13908
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The god Harpokrates, Phoenician, 6th-5th century BCE. Bronze figurine represent...

Tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, southern Iraq, Neo-Babylonian, 550-400 BCE. This tablet is one of a series that summarizes the principal events of each year from 747 BCE to at least 280 BCE. Each entry is separated by a horizontal line and begins with a reference to the year of reign of the king in question. ANE 21901
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Tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, southern Iraq, Neo-Babylonian, 55...

Tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, southern Iraq, Neo-Babylonian, 550-400 BCE. This tablet is one of a series that summarizes the principal events of each year from 747 BCE to at least 280 BCE. Each entry is separated by a horizontal line and begins with a reference to the year of reign of the king in question. ANE 21946
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Tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, southern Iraq, Neo-Babylonian, 55...

Cylinder of Nebuchadnezzar II, southern Iraq, Neo- Babylonian dynasty, 604 - 562 BCE. The cuneiform text describes the three palaces which Nebuchadnezzar built for himself in Babylon. The first palace was a rebuilding of the palace used by his father Nabopolassar. When it did not seem grand enough, he built himself a new palace on the northern edge of Babylon. Later, Nebuchadnezzar erected new city walls around the east side of Babylon and built a third palace. Cylinders of this type were buried in the corners of all large buildings by Nebuchadnezzar and his successors. They were meant to be found and read by future kings.
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Cylinder of Nebuchadnezzar II, southern Iraq, Neo- Babylonian dynasty, 604 - 562...

Ivory figurine Hittite, from Anatolia, 14th-13th century BCE. The proportions of the figure, lacking curves, show her youth. The pubic triangle was originally inlaid and other parts of the ivory may have been covered in precious metal. The funcion of the figurine is unknown, but ivory was widely used to decorate furniture and there is a dowel hole in the square base of the figure, suggesting it was once attached to something. ANE, 38185
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Ivory figurine Hittite, from Anatolia, 14th-13th century BCE. The proportions o...