Images

A red-figure vessel depicting Xanthias, the slave of Dionysos in the 405 BCE Greek comedy play 'The Frogs' by Aristophanes. Mid-4th century BCE, Campania. (British Museum, London)

Cast in copper alloy, this Hurrian foundation peg dates to circa 2200-2100 BCE. It measures 11.7 cm high x 7.9 cm wide. Artist unknown, from Syria. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).

Inscribed by an unknown author, this portion of a clay tablet comprises eleven lines with a list of gods in Hurrian. It measures 50 mm in height and 49 mm in width. (British Museum, London)

Certain types of figurines were commonly placed within foundations of buildings during the third dynasty of Ur (2100-2000 BCE) of the Neo-Sumerian Period, to commemorate the building of temples by the ruler. These three peg-shaped copper...

This is a stone tablet, inscribed with a cuneiform text. This was a dedication to the Temple of Nin-Sun at Ur by Ur-Nammu. Ur-Nammu was king of Ur III dynasty. From Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. Neo-Sumerian Period, reign of Ur-Nammu...

This is a black steatite stone tablet, inscribed with a cuneiform text. This was a dedication to the Temple of Dimtabba (Nimintaba) at Ur by Shulgi. Shulgi was king of Ur III dynasty. It was found buried with a copper alloy foundation figurine...

This jar was dedicated to Shulgi, king of Ur III dynasty, by the priestess Shuqurtum. There are two incised channels at the upper half; between them, the cuneiform inscription was placed. The inscription also curses anyone who tries to deface...

This is only known bronze/copper alloy vessel inscribed with the name of Utu-Hegal, King of Uruk. Utu-Hegal was considered a hero, who drove the hated Gutian invaders out of Southern Mesopotmia. The inscribed cuneiform text mentions the name...

This partially mutilated head mace was inscribed with an Akkadian cuneiform script, which mentions that this stone head mace is a votive offering dedicated by La-arab, king of Gutium. Although they left little evidence of their rule, it appears...

This bronze bust is usually attributed to the Ptolemaic king Ptolemy II Philadelphus (r. 283-246 BCE) although alternative identifications of the bust have been made. It was discovered in the Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum in 1754 CE and...