Ancient Near East

Relief of winged creatures at the gate of Persopolis

. Probably derived from Babylonian supernatural beings who guard the entrances to sacred places, and perhaps Babylonia is also the source for reconstituting the AchÃ"menid dynasty in terms of sacral kingship. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid stone carving]...

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Persian winter palace at Susa

Glazed tile relief originally from the Persian winter palace at Susa, capital of Elam. 520-500 B.C. (Paris: Louvre). Another imperial guard. The light military dress was designed for offensive combat, to rush out to address crises within the far-flung Persian Empire. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid glazed tile relief]...

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Gudea (Ur)

Gudea was an important ensi, or priest-ruler, of the city-state of Lagash. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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Close uo of The lion that adorns the Ishtar Gate

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

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Stone relief from palace of Persopolis.

This typical Persian motif draws it wings and central ring from Egyptian and Mesopotamian prototypes. Traditional view is that the figure represents Ahura Mazda [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid stone carving]...

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Immortal infantry. A lancer and archer.

Frieze of glazed tiles showing Immortal infantry. A lancer and archer. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid glazed tile relief]...

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Female Head (Ur)

This female head originated in the city-state of Uruk. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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Write Like a Babylonian

see your monogram in cuneiform, the way an ancient Babylonian might have written it. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology...

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Bull's head carving from column capital at Persopolis.

[AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid stone carving]...

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A Persian helmet

lost during the Olympia campaign in Greece, 490 B.C. (Olympia Museum). The inscription added by the Greeks indicates that it ended as booty dedicated to the gods. The helmet style is Assyrian. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid metal working and coinage]...

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