Images

This necklace was found inside a grave that dates back to the old Babylonian period, 2000-1500 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

This large pottery basin was decorated with a human face and dates back to the Akkadian period, 2350-2156 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

This dish was found at the city of Nimrud (ancient Kalhu, Biblical Calah), modern Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. Neo-Assyrian era, 934-612 BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

The outer surface of this large, partially broken, pottery dish is painted in black geometric shapes and pelicans ,while the inside (not shown) is painted with ibex figures. Uruk period, 3500-2800 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya...

This foundation cone records the building of a temple at Girsu by Gudea, ruler of Lagash. From Girsu (modern Tell Telloh, Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq), Southern Mesopotamia, Iraq. Reign of Gudea, 2144-2124 BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq...

This shaft-hole axe dates back to the early dynastic period,2800-2350 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

This mascot is made of white marble and represents the "goddesses of the eye." Jemdet Nasr period, circa 3000 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

This piece of wall decoration (mosaic) was part of one of the walls of the white temple at Warka (Uruk) city. Stone cones are inlaid on a gypsum background. Uruk period, 3500-2800 BCE, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

This pottery jar has two bronze handles and was found in the Nzara area near Pangween village of modern Sulaimaniya Governorate, Iraq. The Hellenistic period, 323-30 BCE. (The Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq).

Sappho of Lesbos (c. 630-570 BCE). Painting by John William Godward (1904). Through her poetry which included love between women, she gave the term "lesbian" its modern meaning.