Ancient Near Eastern Art
William V. Ganis, PhD
Sumerian Art
White Temple and ziggurat
Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.mud brick
White Temple and ziggurat
Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.mud brick
Female head (possibly Inanna)
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.marbleapproximately 8 in. high
RECOVERED
Warka Vase
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.alabasterapproximately 3 ft. high
RECOVERED
Warka Vase
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.alabasterapproximately 3 ft. high
Statuettes of worhippers
from Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) Iraq
ca. 2,700 B.C.E.gypsum, shell, black limestonetallest 30 in. high
SOME MISSING
Statuettes of worhippers
from Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) Iraq
ca. 2,700 B.C.E.gypsum, shell, black limestonetallest 30 in. high
Statuettes of worhippers
from Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) Iraq
ca. 2,700 B.CE.gypsum, shell, black limestonetallest 30 in. high
Standard of Ur
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestoneapproximately 8 x 19 in.
Standard of Ur (war side)
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestoneapproximately 8 x 19 in.
Standard of Ur (peace side)
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestoneapproximately 8 x 19 in.
Bull-headed lyre
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar)
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.wood, gold leaf, lapis lazuliapproximately 65 in. high
Bull-headed lyre
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar)
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.wood, gold leaf, lapis lazuliapproximately 65 in. high
Ram in a thicket
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen 42.6 cm. high
Ram in a thicket
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen 42.6 cm. high
Cylinder seals
ca. 2,600-2,000 B.C.E.approximately 2 in. high
MANY MISSING
Cylinder sealfrom the tomb of Pu-abi Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraqca. 2,600 B.C.E.approximately 2 in. high
Akkadian Art
Head of an Akkadian ruler
from Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 2,250-2,200 B.C.E.copper14 3/8 in. high
MISSING
Victory stele of Naram-Sin
from Susa, Iran
ca. 2,254-2,218 B.C.E.sandstone79 in. high
Victory stele of Naram-Sin
from Susa, Iran
ca. 2,254-2,218 B.C.E.sandstone79 in. high
Neo-Sumerian Art
Ziggurat
at Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.mud brick
Ziggurat (restored)
at Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.mud brick
Seated statue of Gudea holding temple plan
from Girsu (modern Telloh) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.diorite29 in. high
Babylonian Art
Stele with code of Hammurabi
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,780 B.C.E.basalt88 in. high
Stele with code of Hammurabi
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,780 B.C.E.basalt88 in. high
Elamite Art
Statue of Queen Napir-Asu
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,350-1,300 B.C.E.bronze and copper50 3/4 in. high
Statue of Queen Napir-Asu
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,350-1,300 B.C.E.bronze and copper50 3/4 in. high
Assyrian Art
Reconstruction drawing
of the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) Iraq
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.
Lamassu (winged human headed bull)
from the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) Iraq
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.limestone13 ft. 10 in. high
Gilgamesh? Wrestling Lion
from the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.limestone13 ft. 10 in. high
Assyrian archers pursuing enemies
from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud)
ca. 875-860 B.C.E.gypsum2 ft. 10 3/8 in. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.gypsumapproximately 5 ft. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.gypsumapproximately 5 ft. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.gypsumapproximately 5 ft. high
Neo-Babylonian Art
Ishtar Gate (restored)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.glazed brick
Ishtar Gate (restored)details of dragon (Marduk) and bull (Adad)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.glazed brick
Ishtar Gate (restored)details of lion (Ishtar)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.glazed brick
Achaemenid Persian Art
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Sasanian Art
Palace of Shapur I
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 250 C.E.
Palace of Shapur I
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 250 C.E.
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian
from Bishapur, Iraq
ca. 260 C.E.rock-cut relief
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian
from Bishapur, Iraq
ca. 260 C.E.rock-cut relief
Shapur I drachim
ca. 260 C.E.cast silver coins
Head of Sasanian King (Shapur II?)
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 350 C.E.silver with mercury gilding15 3/4 in. high