Images

The stele was found at Tell Abu Sheeja, north of modern-day Amarah city, Maysan Governorate, Iraq. The Old Akkadian cuneiform inscription on the left side of the viewer mentions the name of the city of...

This scene is part of a long one depicting Sumerians milking cows and preparing dairy products. The scene once decorated a frieze on the facade of the Temple of Ninhursag at Tell al-'Ubaid, in modern-day...

The Zen rock garden of Ryoanji temple, Kyoto, Japan. The garden dates to c. 1500 CE but the exact significance of its 15 stones is unknown except that they are designed to promote meditation.

A water basin in the form of a Chinese coin, Ryoanji temple, Kyoto, Japan. The Zen Buddhist temple was first built in the 15th century CE. The basin's inscription translates as ‘Learn only satisfaction’, meaning learning should...

A map of the Kingdom of Mauretania, circa late 1st Century BCE.

This alabaster stele (with different registers) was fragmented when originally found and only three fragments have survived; two are in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad and one is in the Museum of Fine...

This recumbent cow once decorated the facade of the Temple of Ninhursag at Tell al-'Ubaid, in modern-day Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. Early Dynastic period, 2800-2600 BCE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic...

This alabaster stele (with different registers) was fragmented when originally found and only three fragments have survived; two are in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad and one is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA...

This colossal lamassu, one of a pair, was found at one of the north-west corridors of the North-West Palace of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (r. 884-859 BCE) at the city of Nimrud, Iraq. Created c. 883-859 BCE. On display...

This small limestone lamassu (which is one of a pair) was found in the city of Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Iraq. Neo-Assyrian period, 911-612 BCE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.