1、Kassite dynasty, about 1125-1100 BCProbably from southern IraqA legal statement about the ownership of a piece of landThe cuneiform inscription on thiskudurrurecords the granting by Eanna-shum-iddina, the governor of the Sealand, of five gur of corn land in the district of Edina in south Babylonia t

2、o a man called Gula-eresh. The boundaries of the land are laid out; the surveyor is named as Amurru-bel-zeri and the transfer completed by two high officials who are also named.Nine gods are invoked to protect the monument, along with seventeen divine symbols. The symbols of the important Mesopotami

3、an gods are most prominent: the solar disc of the sun-god Shamash, the crescent of the moon-god Sin and the eight-pointed star of Ishtar, goddess of fertility and war. The square boxes beneath these signs represent altars supporting the symbols of gods, including horned headdresses,the triangular sp

4、ade of Marduk, and the wedge-shaped stylus of Nabu, the god of writing.A prominent snake is shown on many kudurru and may, like many of the symbols, be related to the constellations.The text ends with curses on anyone who removes, ignores or destroys thekudurru .The Sealand was one of the wealthiest

5、 regions of Babylonia. A dynasty called 'Sealand' first appears in recordsdating to the middle of the second millennium BC. It controlled the coastline of the south of Iraq and thus thetrade routes down the Gulf. The Sealand rulers were defeated by the Kassite kings of Babylon in the fifteen

6、th centuryBC and governors like Eanna-shum-iddina were appointed to administer the region.L.W. King,Babylonian boundary stones and (London, Trustees of the British Museum, 1912)Kassite dynasty, about 1100-1050 BCFrom MesopotamiaA legal statement about the ownership of a piece of landMost kudurru hav

7、e a cuneiform inscription giving details of the transfer of land, usually from the king or a high official to another official. It was protected by curses and the names and symbols of gods. However, on this example, it appears that the text has been deliberately erased. This laborious process, here

8、done very neatly, might imply that this was undertaken with the approval of the authorities and so presumably the gods.The gods are represented by the symbols carved in relief on the top. Although some of these have been damaged, it is probably not because of a deliberate act, as it would have been

9、considered impious to damagethem. The crescent of the moon-god Sin, three horned helmets of the supreme gods, and several divine animals survive.British Museum, A guide to the Babylonian and, 3rd ed. (London, British Museum, 1922)Assyria: Lion hunts (Room 10a)Panel of Ashurbanipal, about 645 BC645 -

10、 635 BCIn ancient Assyria, lion-hunting was considered the sport of kings, symbolic of the ruling monarch' s duty to protect and fight for his people. The sculpted reliefs in Room10a illustrate the sporting exploits of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) and were created for

11、his palace at Nineveh (in modern-day northern Iraq).The hunt scenes, full of tension and realism, rank among the finest achievements of Assyrian Art. They depict the release of the lions, the ensuing chase and subsequent killing.The rooms and courtyards of the Neo-Assyrian Southwest Palace of King S

12、ennacherib (704-681 BC) at Nineveh (in modern northern Iraq) were decorated with a series of detailed carved stone panels. Many of them are on display in Room9.PreviousThe panels depict a variety of scenes, including the transport of huge sculptures of human-headedwinged bulls (lamassu) that weigh u

13、p to 30 tons and were intended for the main entrances to the palace.These illustrations provide an insight into ancient quarrying and transport techniques, as well as Sennacherib' skeen inter est in his building projects. Other panels on display depict the king' s military campaigns.Amulet w

14、ith a figure of LamashtuFrom Mesopotamia, around 800 BCA dem on ess who preyson mothersThis is an apotropaic figure of Lamashtu, designed to ward off evil.Although she is usually described in modern works as a 'demoness', the writing of her name in cuneiform suggests that in Babylonia and As

15、syria she was regarded as a kind of goddess. Unlike the majority of demons, who acted only on the commandsof the gods, Lamashtu practised evil apparently for its own sake and on her own initiative.There is a cuneiform incantation on the reverse to frighten her away.Lamashtu's principal victims w

16、ere unborn and new-born babies. Slipping into the house of a pregnant woman, she tries to touch the woman's stomach seven times to kill the unborn baby, or she kidnaps the child. Magical measures against Lamashtu included wearing a bronze head of Pazuzu. Some of these plaques show a bedridden ma

17、nrather than a pregnant woman, so they seem to relate to Lamashtu as a bringer of disease.Lamashtu is described in texts as having the head of a lion, the teeth of a donkey, naked breasts, a hairy body, stained hands, long fingers and finger nails, and the talons of a bird. Plaques also show her suc

18、kling a piglet and a whelp while she holds snakes in her hands. She stands on her sacred animal, the donkey, who is sometimes depicted in a boat, riding through the underworld.H.W.F. Saggs,Babylonians (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)Black serpentinite seal (modern impression)Neo-Assyrian, ab

19、out 900-800 BCFrom MesopotamiaA.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)A battle see ne in mi niatureMany seals of the Neo-Assyrian period reflect the themes of the wall reliefs decorating the royal palaces

20、. Thisexample mirrors hunting scenes from scenes on reliefs at Nimrud, where the king runs over the body of an enemy while firing arrows. The hunter depicted on seals is almost always an archer, either shown kneeling, standing, or shooting from a chariot at his prey which is generally a bull, someti

21、mes a winged bull or sphinx. However, this is probablya battle scene, as his victim is not an animal but a headless man.A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)D. Collon, First impressions: cylinder se(Lo

22、ndon, The British Museum Press, 1987)A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)from the South-West Palace of SennacheribNineveh, northern Iraq Neo-Assyrian, 704-681 BCA Phoenician shipMost of the rooms in t

23、he state apartments of King Sennacherib's palace were decorated with scenes of warfare. Many scenes survive only in small fragments.This fragment shows a Phoenician ship. 'Phoenician' is the Greek name given to the inhabitants of Canaanite cities along the Levant coast. They were an extr

24、emely wealthy people, profiting from the trade that linked Mesopotamia and Egypt and the Mediterranean. The Assyrians expanded westwards to control these trade routes and acquire the wealth of the cities through tribute, booty and taxation. The demandby the Assyrians for materials led the Phoenician

25、s to explore the Mediterranean and establish trading colonies at such places as Sicily, Carthage in North Africa, and Spain.At some point during the eighth century BCships were designed with the rowers split into two tiers, upper and lower. In the earliest examples the lower tier rows from the gunwa

26、le, and the upper tier from the height of the deck. By700 BC, as this fragment shows, naval architects had improved the design, to a compact galley with a deepened hull, in which the upper tier rows from the gunwale and the lower through ports cut in the side. To fit everybody in with economical use

27、 of space, the oars of the two tiers are staggered.J.E. Reade, Assyrian sculpture-1 (London, The British Museum Press, 1998)L. Casson, Ships and seafaring-7；FAssyria: Siege of Lachish (Room 10b)700 - 692 BCLachish was one of the chief cities of the kingdom of Judah in the southern Levant and in 701

28、BC it was capturedby the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681 BC). The siege followed the refusal of Lachish to pay tribute to the AssyrianEmpire (based in modern northern Iraq) and is mentioned in the Bible.Many of the relief sculptures on display in Room 10b depict the capture of the city, alongside

29、 a selection of items700 - 692 BCLachish was one of the chief cities of the kingdom of Judah in the southern Levant and in 701 BC it was capturedby the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681 BC). The siege followed the refusal of Lachish to pay tribute to the AssyrianEmpire (based in modern northern Ira

30、q) and is mentioned in the Bible.Many of the relief sculptures on display in Room 10b depict the capture of the city, alongside a selection of itemsand weaponry us ed in the siege. Aprism ” inscribed with an Assyrian account of the campaign is also on show.Assyria: Siege of Lachish (Room 10b)700 - 6

31、92 BCLachish was one of the chief cities of the kingdom of Judah in the southern Levant and in 701 BC it was capturedby the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681 BC). The siege followed the refusal of Lachish to pay tribute to the AssyrianEmpire (based in modern northern Iraq) and is mentioned in the B

32、ible.Many of the relief sculptures on display in Room 10b depict the capture of the city, alongside a selection of items700 - 692 BCVE*/I'/AL 、Lachish was one of the chief cities of the kingdom of Judah in the southern Levant and in 701 BC it was capturedby the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681

33、 BC). The siege followed the refusal of Lachish to pay tribute to the AssyrianEmpire (based in modern northern Iraq) and is mentioned in the Bible.Many of the relief sculptures on display in Room 10b depict the capture of the city, alongside a selection of itemsand weaponry used in the siege. Aprism

34、 ” inscribed with an Assyrian account of the campaign is also on show.Assyrian Life (Room 89)9th 7th century BCClosed until further noticeThe display cases contain objects mostly originating from the excavations at Nimrud and Nineveh.The reliefs from the palaces of the last great Assyrian king, Ashu

35、rbanipal (668-631 BC) at Nineveh include huge panels illustrating the defeat of the Elamite king Teumman at the Battle of Til Tuba (about 650 BC) and the famous Garden Party relief with the Assyrian king and queen feasting after the victory.Assyrian Life (Room 89)9th 7th century BCClosed until furth

36、er noticeThe display cases contain objects mostly originating from the excavations at Nimrud and Nineveh.The reliefs from the palaces of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) at Nineveh include huge panels illustrating the defeat of the Elamite king Teumman at the Battle of Til Tub

37、a (about 650 BC) and the famousGarden Party relief with the Assyrian king and queen feasting after the victory.Assyrian Life (Room 89)9th 7th century BCClosed until further noticeThe display cases contain objects mostly originating from the excavations at Nimrud and Nineveh.The reliefs from the pala

38、ces of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) at Nineveh include huge panels illustrating the defeat of the Elamite king Teumman at the Battle of Til Tuba (about 650 BC) and the famousGarden Party relief with the Assyrian king and queen feasting after the victory.-40 minutes)Mesopot

39、amia 6000-500 BC (Room 56)The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery eyeOpener gallery tour / Free / Daily, 11.45 (for 30Between 6000 and 1550 BC, Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (now Iraq, north east Syria and part of south east Turkey) witnessed crucial advancements in t

40、he development of human civilization during the evolution from small agricultural settlements to large cities.Objects on display in Room56 illustrate economic success based on agriculture, the invention of writing, developments in technology and artistry, and other achievements of the Sumerians, Akk

41、adians, and Babylonians, who lived inMesopotamia at this time.Objects found at the Royal Cemetery at Ur are of particular importance.Mesopotamia 6000 -500 BC (Room 56)The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery-40 minutes)右 eyeOpener gallery tour / Free / Daily, 11.45 (for 30developmentsBetween 6000 and

42、 1550 BC, Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (now Iraq, north east Syria and part of south east Turkey) witnessed crucial advancements in the development of human civilization during the evolution from small agricultural settlements to large cities.Objects on display in Ro

43、om56 illustrate economic success based on agriculture, the invention of writing, in technology and artistry, and other achievements of the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia at this time.Objects found at the Royal Cemetery at Ur are of particular importance.Mesopotamia 6

44、000 -500 BC (Room 56)The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery« eyeOpener gallery tour / Free / Daily, 11.45 (for 30- 40 minutes)Between 6000 and 1550 BC,Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (now Iraq, north east Syria and part of south east Turkey) witnessed crucial adva

45、ncements in the development of human civilization during the evolution from small agricultural settlements to large cities.Objects on display in Room56 illustrate economic success based on agriculture, the invention of writing, developments in technology and artistry, and other achievements of the S

46、umerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia at this time.Mesopotamia 6000 1500 BC (Room 56)The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery-40 minutes)developmentseyeOpener gallery tour / Free / Daily, 11.45 (for 30Between 6000 and 1550 BC, Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euph

47、rates rivers (now Iraq, north east Syria and part of south east Turkey) witnessed crucial advancements in the development of human civilization during the evolution from small agricultural settlements to large cities.Objects on display in Room56 illustrate economic success based on agriculture, the

48、invention of writing, in technology and artistry, and other achievements of the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia at this time.Objects found at the Royal Cemetery at Ur are of particular importance.Alabaster headFrom the Grey Eye Temple, Tell Brak, north-eastern Syria,

49、about 3500-3300 BCProbably a votive objectMost Mesopotamian buildings were made of mud brick. Over time they needed to be restored or replaced as the bricks decayed. Over the years, a building might be rebuilt many times. The buildings were thus gradually raised higher by resting on the remains of t

50、he earlier structures, forming a 'tell'.Max Mallowan excavated a temple at Tell Brak(known today as the Eye Temple), which had been rebuiltmany times. Because temples were placeswhere valuable offerings were either left for the gods or buried in the structure of the building, they were targe

51、ts for robbers. A robbers' tunnel, cutting through the remains of the earlier temples, was discovered, and in the remains was this small stone head.It is likely that the head originally had attachments, perhaps of precious metals and stones. A head-dress may have been attached over the hair, whi

52、ch is shown with a centre parting. As is typical of Mesopotamian sculpture, theeyebrows join over the nose. A vertical groove at the back of the head with nail holes on the sides suggests it was originally attached to a pole.There is nothing to indicate whether it represents a god, goddess or worshi

53、pper.J.E. Reade, Mesopotamia (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)Iraq-1 , 9 (1947)M.E.L. Mallowan, 'Excavations at Brak and Chagar Bazar, Syria',Alabaster jarNeo-Assyrian, 8th century BCFrom Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern IraqFound on the site of the palace of King Ashu rn asirpal IITh

54、e archaeologist Henry Layard discovered this jar, with a leaf pattern around its shoulder, during his excavations at Nimrud in the nin etee nth cen tury. Although it comes from the palace of King Ashurnasirpal II (reigned 883-859 BC), it dates to a later period. A cuneiform inscription on it reads:

55、'Palace of Sargon Ki ng of Assyria'. The inscription is accompanied by an engraving of a lion. A lion is often depicted with inscriptions of Sargon II (722-705 BC), and is probably an official mark of his palace or treasury.In his best-selling account of the Nimrud excavations published in 1

56、849, Layard describes his find of thousands of broken fragments of alabaster vessels beneath fallen relief slabs. After one of the workmendiscovered a complete vase which was then accidentally broken with a pick-axe,Layard apparently took the pick-axe himself and, working carefully, found this compl

57、ete vase, and the glass vaseof Sargon.A.H. Layard, Nineveh and its remains , 2 volumes (London, J. Murray, 1849)J.E. Curtis and J.E. Reade (eds),Art and empire: treasures from (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)The Sargon VaseNeo-Assyria n, 8th cen tury BCFrom Nimrud, n orther n IraqJ.E. Curtis and J.E. Reade (eds),Art and empire: treasures from(Lo ndon. The British Museum Press, 1995)A.H. Layard, Discoveries in the ruins of Ni(London, J. Murray, 1853)J.E. Curtis and J.E. Reade (eds),Art and empire: treasures from(Lo ndon. The Br