Images

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...

There is a hole on the back of this stone calf for vertical posts or other attachments. Late Uruk period, 3300-3000 BCE, from Ur, Mesopotamia, Iraq. (The British Museum).

Frieze from the base of the temple of the goddess Ninhursag at Tell Al-Ubaid. The lion-headed eagle monster, or Imdugud, grasps a pair of deer. Imdugud represents the Sumerian god Ningirsu, and it is unknown why it was placed at the temple...

The upper register shows a naked priest followed by three worshippers. The priest pours an unknown liquid offering from a spouted vessel into a stemmed dish or stand, in front of a horned god figure. In the lower register, there are three...