Images

Gypsum wall relief depicting the Assyrian king Sargon II, who holds a long staff, greets a high official (who still holds a sword at his side), in very close proximity, almost touching him. This official is probably his son, Sennacherib...

This gypsum relief, which depicts an archer, was part of a larger wall relief that demonstrates the Assyrian army and Sargon II's attack on the city of Amqaruna (Biblical Ekron) in central Palestine, probably in 720 BCE. The archer holds...

This gypsum wall relief of a protective spirit (sage) was found at the palace of Sargon II at the city of Khorsabad (ancient Dur-Sharrukin), northern Mesopotamia. Iraq. Neo-Assyrian period, 710-705 BCE. (The British Museum, London).

Painting by Reginald Arthur from 1892 CE, depicting the legendary death of Cleopatra by snakebite.

The first tablet of Maqlu (Akkadian, which means burning), the Akkadian series of incantations directed against demons and witches. The spells involved the manufacturer of wax figurines; these would then be burned in certain ceremonies. From...

Since very ancient inscriptions would often come to light during building and restoration work, Mesopotamian scribes possessed some understanding of the pictographic origin of their script. The text on this clay tablet is an attempt to provide...

Mesopotamian clay tablet with the episodes of the epic of creation. It narrates how the god Anshar summons the gods together for a banquet. They celebrate Marduk's appointment as champion; Marduk defeated Tiamat in the primeval chaos. From...

Occasionally, cuneiform text scribes encounter difficult or rare words. The list on this clay tablet explain such words. From the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (modern-day Ninawa Governorate, Iraq), northern Mesopotamia. Neo-Assyrian...

Two almost similar letter tablets relaying the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal's orders to his employees to find local copies of particular compositions, which the royal library at Nineveh lacked. Sent from Nineveh and found at the city of Borsippa...

This large and partially broken clay tablet tells us how Ishtar, goddess of love and war, decided to descend and enter the underworld. During her long journey, she was gradually stripped of her attributes, therefore, she lost all of her...