Ancient Near East

Iraq

Fertile Cressent

Cuneiform Tablet 2400 BCE Library of Congress

White Temple and ziggurat, Urak, ca. 3200 – 3000 BCE

Choghazanbi ziggurat, Iran (present day)

Ziggurat (northern façade with restored stairs), Ur (Modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq, ca. 2100 BCE

Diagram of a ziggurat from Ur in Sumer

Two statuettes from the Square Temple at Eshnunna, 2700 BCE

Wide Eyes in Church

Standard of Ur war panel

Standard of Ur Peace Panel

Victory Stele of Naram-Sin (detail of upper portion)

detail

Stele with law code of Hammurabi, from Susa, Iran, ca 1780 BCE. Basalt, approx. 7’ 4” high.

Stele of Hammurabi (detail of upper portion)

Assyrian Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II, 720-705 BCE, Limestone 13’ 10” high

Ashurbanipal hunting lions, relief from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, ca. 645-640 BCE. Gypsum, 5’ 4” high

Processional frieze (detail) on the terrace of the royal audience hall (apadana), Persepolis, Iran, ca 521-465 BCE