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Duck Weights

Iraq: Ishchali(?); Early second millennium B.C. Hematite. Oriental Museum. Purchased in Baghdad, 1930. "The Mesopotamians used sets of standard weights in conducting business and set stiff penalities for those who used false weights. The weights themselves were usually made of a very hard stone like hematite. A simple barrel shape was the most comm...

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Ancient Lamps from the Levant

Ancient lamps from the Levant are a diverse and fascinating group of artifacts. They were used for a variety of purposes, including lighting homes, temples, and tombs. They were also used in religious rituals and ceremonies. Levant lamps were made from a variety of materials, including clay, metal, and glass. They were often decorated with elaborat...

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Diety Holding a Flowing Vase

Iraq: Khorsabad, Nabu Temple; Neo-Assyrian Period; Reign of Sargon II, 721-705 B.C. Gypsum (?). Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1932-33. "These two statues once flanked a doorway leading into the temple of Nabu, the god of writing and of knowledge. Each of these gods holds a small vessel from which flow four streams of. Figures of this type ar...

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Painted Bowl

Iran: Tall-i-Bakun A, Level III; Bakun A Period; Early 4th millennium B.C. Baked clay. Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1932-4. "Many of the pottery vessels from the site of Tall-i-Bakun in the plain of Persepolis show a highly sophisticated use of negative designs in conjunction with more usual painted patterns. On this bowl, two patterns alte...

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Sumerian Statuette

Iraq: Tell Asmar, Square Temple I, Shrine II; Early Dynastic I-II, ca. 2900-2600 B.C. Gypsum (?) inlaid with shell and black limestone(?). Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1933-4. "During the Early Dynastic Period in Mesopotamia, statuettes were placed in sanctuaries as votive offerings and were later buried when the temple was remodelled or re...

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Disc-Headed Pin

Iran: Surkh Dum-i-Luri, Sanctuary, Level 2B; Early Iron Age III, ca. 750-700 B.C. Copper. Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1938. "Large numbers of decorated disc-headed pins were found in the sanctuary at Surkh Dum-i-Luri. They may have been votive offerings to a fertility goddess. The pins were worn with the head hanging down and the shaft poi...

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Quiver Plaque Luristan Bronze

Quiver Plaque. Western Iran, Luristan, 8th - 7th centuries B.C. Bronze. 8TH-6TH CENTURY B.C. The sheet bronze decorated with three rectangular compartments divided by moulded ribs, each bordered by rows of repouss"š bosses, similar bosses contained within the rectangles and between the dividing ribs, the narrow everted edges and each end pierced wi...

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Plaque Showing a Harpist

Iraq: Ishchali (?); Isin-Larsa / Old Babylonian Period, ca. 2000-1600 B.C. Baked clay. Oriental Museum. Purchased in Baghdad, 1930. "Harps are known from the earliest period of written history, but the fringed robe and close-fitting cap of this harpist are typical for the early second millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia. Clay plaques from this period de...

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Persepolis and Ancient Iran

Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire of ancient Iran (Persia), from 522 to 330 BC. It is situated in the plains of Marvdasht, encircled by southern Zagros mountains of the Iranian plateau. Modern day Shiraz is situated 60 km (37 mi) southwest of the ruins of Persepolis. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 B...

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Bronze Band

Iraq: Khorsabad, Shamash Temple; Neo-Assyrian Period; Reign of Sargon II, 721-705 B.C. Bronze. Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1931. "The fortress of Sargon II at Khorsabad included a complex of temples, one of which was devoted to the sun god Shamash. This bronze band encircled one of a pair of cedar poles-possibly supports for divine emblems...

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