Images

A male torso from a stone votive statue. From Sippar, 2100-1900 BCE. (The British Museum, London).

This is a fragment of a female votive statue and was carved from diorite. The site and date of excavation are unknown. This piece was purchased from Captain H. V. Cowley in 1896 CE. Neo-Sumerian period, Ur III, 2100-2000 BCE. From Mesopotamia...

On the back of this piece, there are cuneiform inscriptions that mention that this headdress was commissioned by a Bau-Ninam on behalf of King Shulgi of Ur. It is most likely that this headdress was to be put on the god Lamma. Neo-Sumerian...

The cuneiform inscriptions on this fragment of a stone monument mention the name of Utu-Hegal, King of Uruk. 2125 BCE, from Ur, Mesopotamia, Iraq. The British Museum, London.

This copper alloy foundation deposit records the rebuilding of the temple of the god Nanshe in the city of Sirara (modern Zerghul, southern Iraq) by Gudea, ruler of Lagash. It features a bull in a reed marsh. C. 2130 BCE, probably from Sirara...

This stone bowl has two sets of cuneiform inscriptions. The first one says that the bowl was booty brought to Mesopotamia from Magan (modern Sultanate of Oman) by the Akkadian king Naram-Sin (2254-2218 BCE). The second inscription mentions...

This is a symbolic weapon which was dedicated to a temple in order to receive gods' blessings. The lions' heads represent power and reflect the fact the donor was a royal person. Early dynastic period, 2500 BCE, from Sippar, Mesopotamia...

The inscriptions on this stone plaque mention the name of Enannatum I, king (or ruler) of Lagash. The plaque was fixed to a wall of a shrine or temple. The king's hands are folded in a worship position. c. 2420 BCE, from Girsu (modern Tell...

The decoration on both lizard-headed female figurines might well represent tattoos or jewelery. The one on the right side appears to breastfeed an infant. Such figurines were probably made for ritual purposes. Ubaid period, 5200-4200 BCE...

Sheep played an important role in the ancient Sumerian economy. Images and figurines of sheep were especially common during the late prehistoric era in Uruk. This piece was probably decorating a shrine or a temple. From the late Uruk period...