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Pazuzu Demon

Iraq; ca. 800-600 B.C. Bronze. Oriental Museum. Purchased in New York, 1943. "The demon Pazuzu represented by this figurine stands like a human but has a scorpion's body, feathered wings and legs, talons, and a lion-like face on both front and back. Pazuzu, the "king of the evil wind demons," was not entirely unfriendly to mankind. As an enemy of t...

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Two Assyrian Court Officials

Two Assyrian Court Officials is a bas-relief sculpture from the palace of King Sargon II at Khorsabad, dating to the 8th century BCE. It depicts two high-ranking Assyrian officials, who are likely eunuchs, standing side by side. The figures are dressed in elaborate robes and jewelry, and they both carry ceremonial staffs. The figure on the left is ...

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Crater with Ibexes

Iran: Chogha Mish; Middle Susiana 3; Late 5th millennium B.C. Baked clay. Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1965-6. "The geographical term "Susiana," referring to the area ruled in the historical period by the city of Susa, is also applied to the prehistoric cultures of lowland southwestern Iran. Representational designs such as the stylized wil...

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Four-Faced God and Goddess

Iraq: Ishchali (?); Old Babylonian Period, 18th-17th century B.C. Bronze. Purchased in Baghdad, 1930. "Illicit diggers found these four-faced statuettes, which may represent a god of the four winds and a goddess of rainstorms. The god wears a low cap with a pair of horns meeting above each face. He carries a scimitar in his right hand and places hi...

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Cheekpiece from Horse Bit

Cheekpiece from Horse Bit. Western Iran, Luristan ca. 8th - 7th centuries B.C. Bronze....

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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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