LaurieAnnie's photos

Tumbler Electrum 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq, (PG800, Tomb Chamber) # B17691 This drinking vessel has been hammered out of a single piece of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver. It most likely would have been used at a royal banquet. Although it is made out of a precious metal, its design and fluted shape are typical of Mesopotamian drinking vessels. Examples can be seen in representations on cylinder seals and lyre panels. The loop on the rim suggests that the tumbler may have been hung around the neck or looped around the wrist with string or wire. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label

Helmet Electrotype 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG755) # 29-22-2 Woolley had a series of electrotype reproductions made of all of the gold objects from the Royal Cemetery. The originals of the pieces seen here are in the Iraq Museum, Baghdad. The bull's head belonged to an elaborately decorated lyre from PG1237. The helmet was discovered in an extremely lavish burial, PG755. Several objects in the tomb mention Meskalamdug. A cylinder seal of Meskalamdug, the king, was found in another royal tomb. There is disagreement over whether or not the burial in PG755 was the king of that name. Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels.

Helmet Electrotype 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG755) # 29-22-2 Woolley had a series of electrotype reproductions made of all of the gold objects from the Royal Cemetery. The originals of the pieces seen here are in the Iraq Museum, Baghdad. The bull's head belonged to an elaborately decorated lyre from PG1237. The helmet was discovered in an extremely lavish burial, PG755. Several objects in the tomb mention Meskalamdug. A cylinder seal of Meskalamdug, the king, was found in another royal tomb. There is disagreement over whether or not the burial in PG755 was the king of that name. Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels.

Harp Ornament Electrotype 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG1237) # 31-18-10 Woolley had a series of electrotype reproductions made of all of the gold objects from the Royal Cemetery. The originals of the pieces seen here are in the Iraq Museum, Baghdad. The bull's head belonged to an elaborately decorated lyre from PG1237. The helmet was discovered in an extremely lavish burial, PG755. Several objects in the tomb mention Meskalamdug. A cylinder seal of Meskalamdug, the king, was found in another royal tomb. There is disagreement over whether or not the burial in PG755 was the king of that name. Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels.

Wreath Gold, Lapis lazuli, and carnelian 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG789) # B16740 Text from the U. Penn. Museum label. Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Choker Gold and lapis lazuli 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG1237, Body No. 16) # 30-12-706 Text from the U. Penn. Museum label. Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Bowl Gold 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG800, Tomb Chamber) B17693 These gold containers were found in Queen Puabi's tomb chamber. The oval shape of the two bowls is a common metal vessel form. The fluted bowl shares many design elements with the fluted tumbler, and they may be thought of as a set. The cosmetic container, shaped as a cockleshell, was filled with a green pigment. The pieces are in such good condition because gold is a stable metal. Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels. Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Bowl Gold 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG800, Tomb Chamber) B16707 These gold containers were found in Queen Puabi's tomb chamber. The oval shape of the two bowls is a common metal vessel form. The fluted bowl shares many design elements with the fluted tumbler, and they may be thought of as a set. The cosmetic container, shaped as a cockleshell, was filled with a green pigment. The pieces are in such good condition because gold is a stable metal. Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels. Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

(top) Earring Gold 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG 1237) # 30-12-442 A and (bottom) Earring Gold 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG 1237) # 30-12-442 B Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Vessel in the Form of an Ostreich Egg Gold, lapis lazuli, red limestone, shell, and bitumen 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG779) B16692 Text from the U. Penn. Museum label. Gold Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Statue Fragment (female) Alabaster 2600-2350 BCE Khafaje, Iraq # 38-10-51 Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Cosmetic Box Alabaster 2550-2450 BCE Ur, Iraq (PG1100) # 30-12-697 Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Model Shrine Ceramic Amathus, Cyprus ca. 600 BC # MS 156 Model shrines such as this one are associated with the Phoenicians and their expansion westward into the Mediterranean. Note the typical Phoenician stylistic features like the crescent moon and sun-disk above the doorway and the proto-Aeolic column capitals. Text from the U. Penn Museum label.

Offering Stand Ceramic Beth Shean, stratum V, south temple Iron IB, 1150-1000 BCE # 29-103-830 This offering stand is decorated with birds and snakes. These animals commonly appear on ritual objects throughout the eastern Mediterranean, though their symbolic significance remains unknown. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Marble Portrait of Agrippina the Elder Probably from near Troy ca. AD 38-54 # MS 213 Agrippina the Elder (circa 14 BC- AD 33) was the daughter of Agrippa, Augustus's wealthy, lifelong friend and supporter, and Julia, his daughter. She married Germanicus, great-nephew of Augustus, and bore nine of his children. One of these was the future emperor, Caligula. When her husband died suddenly, perhaps of poisoning, Agrippina was banished from Rome and died of starvation in exile. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.

Marble Portrait of Agrippina the Elder Probably from near Troy ca. AD 38-54 # MS 213 Agrippina the Elder (circa 14 BC- AD 33) was the daughter of Agrippa, Augustus's wealthy, lifelong friend and supporter, and Julia, his daughter. She married Germanicus, great-nephew of Augustus, and bore nine of his children. One of these was the future emperor, Caligula. When her husband died suddenly, perhaps of poisoning, Agrippina was banished from Rome and died of starvation in exile. Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.