Mesopotamia: the Tigris and
Euphrates
p
from Baghdad to the Arabian Gulf
Version 1.0
These programmes on The World of Ancient Art have been designed
for students and the public.
p
They use material on the web to show the wealth of information that is
available. They are visual with many images and minimal text. The url
given for each image enables users to learn more about any subject.
subject
Particular attention has been given to highlighting both the scholarly
websites
b it and
d the
th public
bli resources off social
i l networking
t
ki sites,
it
Wiki di
Wikipedia
and Google Earth/Maps.
The first p
programmes
g
begin
g with the g
great riverine cultures of antiquity.
q y
Modules on other parts of the ancient world will be phased in during
2011-2012 All programmes will be updated regularly.
2011-2012.
regularly
The World of Ancient Art (www.waa.ox.ac.uk)
(www waa ox ac uk) is being designed as a
web-based collaborative research platform, initially for the School of
Archaeology in the University of Oxford. When firmly established it will
welcome contributions from scholars and the public.
p
As part of ongoing research in ICT for cultural heritage
(www.clarosnet.org), the site will use emerging technologies to deliver
scholarly information in accessible formats to a global community of
users.
Donna Kurtz
C t t
Contents
Chronological charts and maps
(Baghdad)
Sippar
Kish
Babylon
y
Jamdet Nasr
Nippur
Uruk
Eridu
Ur
M
Museum
and
d collections
ll ti
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=02&region=wam
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=04&region=wam
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=06&region=wam
Comparative chronological chart
Art of the First Cities (2003), xx-xxi.
M off Mesopotamia
Map
M
t i
http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/lab/map/maps/iraq.html
ttp //o uc cago edu/ esea c / ab/ ap/ aps/ aq t
Recent plotting of archaeological sites
http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/iraq05a.html
Euphrates
p
River
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates
Archaeological sites and modern cities
http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/lab/map/maps/iraq.html
Ziggurat
gg
at Sippar
pp
http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/asp_meso_sippar/index.php/sippar02.png?action=big&size=original
Hammurabi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clay_cone_Sippar_Louvre_AO3277.jpg
Mace head with inscription of a king
who ruled 2217-2193
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/s/stone_mace_head.aspx
Bust thought
g to be of Sargon
g of Akkad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sargon_of_Akkad.jpg
htt //
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Akkadkings.jpg
iki di
/ iki/Fil Akk dki
j
Stele of Naram Sin
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stele_Naram_Sim_Louvre_Sb4.jpg
A h
Archaeological
l i l sites
it and
d modern
d
cities
iti
http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/lab/map/maps/iraq.html
p
g
p
p
q
Panorama of the reconstructed Babylon
y
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/The_historical_city_of_Babylon.jpg
US Marines at Babylon 2003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babylon_Ruins_Marines.jpeg
http://www.iraqimage.com/pages/browse/Babylon.html
An artist’s
artist s view (1936) of ancient Babylon
http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/TRC/MESO/cities_large.html
Detail of the ancient gate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babylon_relief.jpg
Reconstructed Ishtar Gate
http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/asp_meso_babylon/index.php/
babylon02.png?action=big&size=original
Ishtar Gate in Berlin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ishtar_Gate_at_Berlin_Museum.jpg
Model of the gate complex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pergamon_Museum_Berlin_2007110.jpg
Model of the processional way
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pergamon_Museum_Berlin_2007109.jpg
The gate as excavated 1930s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ishtar-gate-‫ﻋﺸﺘﺎر‬-‫ﺑﻮاﺑﺔ‬.jpg
Dragon
g tiles in Berlin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
Pergamonmuseum_Ishtartor_02.jpg
Auroch (now extinct)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ur-painting.jpg
Ishtar Gate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ish-tar_Gate_detail.jpg
Ancient depiction of gardens and canals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babylons
http://en
wikipedia org/wiki/File:Babylons
_hængende_haver.png
16th century
t
coloured
l
d
Engraving of the gardens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon.jpg
Hammurabi’s
Hammurabi
s Law Code
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/dossiers/detail_oal.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229909&CURRENT_LLV_OAL%3C
%3Ecnt id=10134198673229909&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder
%3Ecnt_id
10134198673229909&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id
id=0&bmLocale=en
0&bmLocale en
Top
p of the stele with figures
g
in relief
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/dossiers/detail_oal.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229909&CURRENT_LLV_OAL%3C%3
Ecnt_id=10134198673229909&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=0&bmLocale=en
_
_
Archaeological sites
and modern cities
http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/lab/map/maps/iraq.html
Jemdet Nasr style
y p
pottery
y
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/introduction.asp
Kish excavations 1928-9
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/introduction.asp
Excavations at Kish
http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/iraq03iraqenl.html
Kish
http://www fieldmuseum org/kish/past place asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_place.asp
Pl off the
Plan
th site
it
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past place.asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_place.asp
http://www fieldmuseum org/kish/past 2004 asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_2004.asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_2004_4.asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_future.asp
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/kish/past_2004.asp
p
g
p _
p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hammurabi%27s_Babylonia_1.svg
//
/
/
%
Computer-generated
p
g
model of the site
http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/nip/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hammurabi%27s_Babylonia_1.svg
//
/
/
%
http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk
http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.1.8.1*#
Uruk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:City_context.svg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/City_context.svg
//
/
/
/ / 9/C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ishtar_vase_
http://en
wikipedia org/wiki/File:Ishtar vase
Louvre_AO17000-detail.jpg
http://upload wikimedia org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Eanna4composite svg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Eanna4composite.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anu_district.svg
Cylinder seal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cylinder_seal_lions_Louvre_MNB1167_n2.jpg
Jemdet Nasr period stone bull
htt //
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bull_Warka_Louvre_AO8218.jpg
iki di
/ iki/Fil B ll W k L
AO8218 j
A king
ki off Uruk
U k
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Male bust Louvre AO10921.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Male_bust_Louvre_AO10921.jpg
Berlin, VA
14536
Recumbent calf from Uruk,
Uruk
limestone and lapis (l. 5.2cm), 3300-2900BC
Art of the First Cities 2b
Zurich, Univ., 1942
‘Priest-king’
Priest king from Uruk
limestone (h. 29cms), 3300-3000BC
A t off the
Art
th First
Fi t Cities
Citi 8
Berlin, VA 11094
Necklace of lapis, gypsum and shell beads
Modern stringing, from Uruk, 3300-2900BC
A t off the
Art
th First
Fi t Cities
Citi 3
‘Lady
Lady of Warka/Uruk
Warka/Uruk’
http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=451
procession arrives at temple of Inanna
men in processison
animals in procession - oxen and sheep
vegetation of the Tigris/Euphrates delta
W k vase
Warka
http://www usyd edu au/news/84 html?newsstoryid=451
http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=451
http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/dbfiles/objects/14_2.htm
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Sumer1.jpg
Eridu
Erid
http://atlastours.net/iraq/eridu.html
p
q
Reconstruction of Eridu mound with temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eridu_mound4c.8.png
Reconstruction of the temple
http://babel massart edu/ tkelley/v5 0/eridu/
http://babel.massart.edu/~tkelley/v5.0/eridu/
http://babel massart edu/ tkelley/v5 0/eridu/eridu map mounds htm
http://babel.massart.edu/~tkelley/v5.0/eridu/eridu_map_mounds.htm
http://babel.massart.edu/~tkelley/v5.0/eridu/mound_1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hammurabi%27s_Babylonia_1.svg
//
/
/
%
The ziggurat of Ur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ziggurat_of_ur.jpg
htt //
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/ziggurats/explore/temple.html
t i
k/ i
t /
l /t
l ht l
Ziggurat in Gulf War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Soldiers_
climbing_the_Ziggurat_of_Ur.jpg
li bi
th Zi
t f U j
Ziggurat reconstructed
by Sadam Hussein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat of Ur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat_of_Ur
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/tombs/story/sto_set.html
W ll ’ excavation
Woolley’s
ti 1933
1933-1934
1934
http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesopotamiaarchaeology/ss/woolley
p
gy
p
gy
y_at_ur_3.htm
The ‘Great
Great Death Pit
Pit’
http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesopotamiaarchaeology/ss/woolley_at_ur_5.htm
Philadelphia, UMus B17694
‘Great lyre’
y from Ur
gold, silver, lapis, shell, bitumen, wood
(h 1 40mcs) 2550-2400BC
(h.1.40mcs),
Art of the First Cities 58
Puabi’s grave
g
The King’s
King s grave
http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesopotamiaarchaeology/ss/woolley_at_ur_6.htm
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raminathicket2.jpg
Pl off Puabi’s
Plan
P bi’ Tomb
T b
http://www arthistory upenn edu/522/puabi/puabi html
http://www.arthistory.upenn.edu/522/puabi/puabi.html
Queen’s
Queen
s headdress
http://www.penn.museum/long-term-exhibits/267-iraq.html
Queen’s
Queen
s gold cup
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Puabi_gold_vase.gif
Sil
Silver
vessels
l ffrom th
the queen’s
’ ttomb
b
http://en wikipedia org/wiki/File:Silver puabi jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Silver_puabi.jpg
Philadelphia UMus B17065
Philadelphia,
B ll’ h
Bull’s
head
d ffrom U
Ur
Silver lapis
Silver,
lapis, shell (h
(h. 16
16.5cms),
5cms) 2500
2500-2400BC
2400BC
Art of the First Cities 65
The Queen’s
Queen s lapis cosmetic box
http://www.penn.museum/long-term-exhibits/267-iraq.html
The Royal Tombs of Ur
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/tombs/story/sto_set.html
London,
BM 121201
The ‘Standard of Ur’
shell, lapis, limestone (l.47cms), 2550-2400BC
Art o
of the
e First
s C
Cities
es 5
52
The Queen’s Lyre
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/hig
hlights/highlight_image.aspx?image=ps24
7114 jpg&retpage 18926
7114.jpg&retpage=18926
L
Lyre
on Th
The St
Standard
d d off U
Ur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ur_lyre.jpg
Philadelphia, UnivMus CBS 17086
Wall plaque from Ur
limestone (l. 27cms), mid 3rd millennium BC
Art o
of the
e First
s C
Cities
es 3
31
London, BM 120834
Game board from Ur
shell, red linestone, lapis (l. 30.1cms.), 2550-2400BC
Art of the First Cities 53
Rules tablet for the game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Game_of_Ur_rules.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mesopotamia.PNG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mesopotamian_
Chronology 2 png
Chronology_2.png
Museum collections
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/ancient_near_eastern_art
g
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html
http://www.louvre.fr
http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum/virtual/me/
http://www britishmuseum org/the museum/departments/middle east aspx
http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/departments/middle_east.aspx
http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/ancientneareast.asp
htt //
http://www.smb.museum/smb/kalender/details.php?lang=en&objID=17497&typeId=10
b
/ b/k l d /d t il h ?l
& bjID 17497&t
Id 10
http://www.baghdadmuseum.org/wmcd_index.htm
http://www.virtualmuseumiraq.cnr.it/noflash.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/cultures/mesopotamia
p
y
p
_g
gallery.shtml
y
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHneareast.html#AncNearEast