Ancient Near East

A Scene from The "Epic of Gilgamesh" (Ur)

The "Epic of Gilgamesh" is perhaps the oldest known story in the world. It centered on a legendary king from the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. Later Mesopotamian civilizations adopted this myth as their own. It was finally written down on clay tablets like the one above, in the wedge-shaped written language of cuneiform. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [N...

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Tower of Babel 3D Remake

A truly enormous ziggurat dominated the skyline of the capital city of Babylon. It was referred to as "E-temen-enki", the "foundation of heaven and earth", or the Tower of Babel. [BABYLONIA] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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Tomb of Cyrus the Great

(c. 550-529), near his palace at PasargadÃ". Cyrus, founder of the Persian Empire, won independence from the Media and expanded his control to Mesopotamia. He drew from Mesopotamia some ideological elements for a reconstructed monarchy. Tombs are above ground to prevent the corpse's being defiled. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid architec...

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Head from a statue of an archer

from the walls of the palace at Persopolis. Typical AchÃ"menid aesthetic interest in repeated patterns. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid stone carving]...

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Statue Figurines (Ur)

These statues were placed in Sumerian temples by worshippers. The statues were believed to pray for the person who put them there. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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The Ishtar Gate

was the triumphant entry-way into the city of Babylon. It was dedicated to Ishtar, the goddess of carnal love. [BABYLONIA] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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Stone relief from doorway of Cyrus' palace at Pasargadæ

. A winged figure, probably a protective spirit of the royal household. The crown resembles a Near Eastern figure that wards off evil spirits. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid stone carving]...

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Soldiers from the Ten Thousand Immortals.

Glazed tile relief showing soldiers from the Ten Thousand Immortals. This imperial guard was an élite force made up of trustworthy ethnic Persians. From the AchÃ"menid winter palace at Susa, Elam. 520-500 B.C. (Paris: Louvre) [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid glazed tile relief]...

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Cylinder Seals (Ur)

Sumerian merchants used cylinder seals to mark the completion of a trade agreement. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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The lions that adorn the Ishtar Gate

Close up of the lions that adorn the Ishtar Gate. [BABYLONIA] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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