Mesopotamia Museum

Collections of artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia are can be seen and found all around the world. There are various world museums that give us a lot of knowledge about various antiques relating to this period. The Mesopotamian collection of the Oriental Institute Museum was acquired almost exclusively through archaeological excavations and there are other such museums.

A few of the many artifacts were the Winged Guardian Bookends. The sculpture combines elements of the noblest animals beginning with the head of a man, the body of a lion–ancient symbol of fertility (some versions use a bull’s body) and an eagle’s wings. It was made from compound stone with limestone finish. Then there was the Babylonian Sumerian School Tablet.

Student scribes practiced on clay tablets. Sumerian Legal Tablet-This Sumerian law tablet dates from about 1860 BC and depicts one of the oldest documented laws in history. It was recovered in Nippur.

The writing is cuneiform, an ancient style of writing used by five distinct languages over a period of 3000 years. These clay tablets were used for recording administrative, economic and legal matters.

Then the Mesopotamian Sumerian Medical Tablet was the reproduction of a Sumerian medical tablet, one of the oldest found, dated 2400 BCE, excavated at the site of the ancient city of Nippur in Mesopotamia. The writing is cuneiform, the tablet was unlike other later medical tablets, no ailment or treatment is listed. This tablet listed prescriptions perhaps used by an early pharmacist.

The front of the tablet is damaged. The reverse side is relatively undamaged and lists 15 prescriptions. Then the Mesopotamian Pouring Vessel which is an authentic reproduction of a 5,000 year old Mesopotamian pouring vessel. This versatile piece can hold little treasures, sweets, jewelry or adorn your desk holding paper clips.

Ziggurat Designer Candleholder with Tealights-This ancient Mesopotamian design dates all the way back to the late 6th century BC. The very simple tier shape creates an elegant and historical ambiance. Ur, Ancient Mesopotamian wood game with pyramid shaped dice-The Mesopotamian “UR” Game was a 5,000 year old game which featured 8 pyramid shaped dice and 14 playing pieces.

Then the clay figurines of the Mesopotamian Ishtar/Inanna/Ashtart in her characteristic breast-offering pose has come to be known among archaeologists as “The Ishtar Pose”. This pose suggests her function as the Goddess of all nourishment and fertility, and as Mother of the Fruitful Breast, Queen of Heaven, Light of the World, Creator of People, Mother of Deities, River of Life.

Then there was the Assyrian leaping stag cylinder seal relief. This Leaping Stags in a Landscape Relief is taken from a cylinder seal or roller stamp. The relief is the impression one sees when the original cylinder seal is rolled across clay. Cylinder seals were engraved with visual stories about mythology, historical events and scenes from everyday life.

There many such artifacts around the world that depict the rich ancient Mesopotamian civilization.