Images

This ball-body jar was found in the Faida district of the modern city of Musil, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. It dates back to the Hassuna period, 6th millennium BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

Inscribed on this rounded terracotta tablet is a cadastral text which registers real estate at Sippar. It was written in Akkadian language. Old Babylonian era, 18th century BCE. From Sippar (modern Tell Abu Habbah, Babil Governorate, Iraq...

This law code is considered the oldest known law code surviving today. Many terracotta tablets of this law code have been excavated at several archaeological sites in Mesopotamia. This tablet was found at Nippur (modern Nuffar, Al-Qadisiyah...

In this wall relief, the Assyrian archers begin the assault on Lachish's city towers. In front of archers, a siege engine is being pushed up slowly on an artificial ramp, which was built by the Assyrians. The siege engine has a long battering...

This terracotta tablet is a smaller version of the original Code of Hammurabi to be used in schools and courts. The tablet was found at Nippur (modern Nuffar, Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq), southern Mesopotamia. Old Babylonian era, 1790...

This piece was found at the throne of Akurgal, King of Lagash. First dynasty of Lagash, early dynastic period, circa 2500 BCE. From Girsu (modern Tell Telloh), Sumer, southern Mesopotamia, Iraq. (Istanbul Archaeological Museums/Ancient Orient...

This mortar was an offering from Gudea (ruler of Lagash) to the god Enlil. Neo-Sumerian era, 2141-2122 BCE. From Nippur (modern Nuffar, Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq), southern Mesopotamia.(Istanbul Archaeological Museums/Ancient Orient...

The cuneiform inscriptions on this tablet narrate the story of "Lugalbanda and the Mountain Cave." Lugalbanda was Gilgamesh's father. This large literary document inscribed in Sumerian tells us how Lugalbanda was lost in the Kurdistan mountains...

This clay tablet (with its clay envelope) was a legal document which documented the purchase of a house property. From Nippur (modern Nuffar, Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq), southern Mesopotamia. Old-Babylonian era, 1757 BCE. (Istanbul Archeological...

Cuneiform inscriptions on foundation cones record the building and rebuilding of various god and goddesses temples in Mesopotamia. One of these cones records the building of the temple of the god Numushda in the city of Kiritab by Enlil-Bani...