Ancient Near East

Achæmenid gold plaque from the Oxus Treasure.

A Persian magus carries the barsom - the sacred twigs associated with priesthood. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid metal working and coinage]...

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A harp, made in the image of a bull (Ur)

[THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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A torque pair with lion-head terminals.

Some of the cloisonne inlays survive. Achaemenid grave at Susa, 4th c. B.C. (Paris: Louvre). 20 cm. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid metal working and coinage]...

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Ram-in-the-thicket (Ur)

[THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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Gold coin.

AchÃ"menid daric showing a warrior, perhaps based on Elam model. [AchÃ"mids and Medes] [images] [AchÃ"menid metal working and coinage]...

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Ubaid terracotta figurine from Ur

, c. 4500 B.C., of a woman suckling a child. Painted jewelery, body paint or tattoos. Slim figure (in contrast to the North), elongated head and protruding eyes characterize the Ubaid figure style. [images] [Al-`Ubaid] (6-4th millenium, South Mesopotamia)...

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Headdress (Ur)

This headdress belonged to a Sumerian queen. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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IRANSAGA Persian History and Culture

From the dawn of history, Persia has been a distinct and important cultural entity. Its position as a vast natural fortress, with mountain ranges, enabled the Persians to preserve their individuality inspite of the conquests by the Arabs (7th century), the Turks (10th century), and the Mongols (13th to 15th centuries). Today, Iran remains a countr...

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Map of Achaemid Empire

Map shows the extent of the empire from Libya, Ethiopia, Thrace, and Macedonia in the West to India in the East. [images] [AchÃ"mids - Medes] [Maps]...

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The Standard of Ur (two mosiac panels)

The Standard of Ur is comprised of the two mosiac panels of an inlaid box. The Standard is important because it portrays the 3 main social levels in the city of Ur. [THE ROYAL TOMBS OF UR] [Near East] [Art] [Archaeology] [Architecture]...

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