Metropolitan Museum V

Female Figure Ceramic Southwestern Iran, possibly Susa Early 1st millennium BC Accession # 51.7.1 Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Head of a ruler, Akkadian (?), Early Bronze Age; 2300–2000 B.C. Iran or Mesopotamia Arsenical copper; H. 34.3 cm Rogers Fund, 1947 (47.100.80) During the later third millennium B.C., Mesopotamia was ruled by successive territorial empires. The first—the Akkadian Empire (2350–2150 B.C.)— was centered at Agade, a city still not located by archaeologists but probably near modern Baghdad. The official language of this empire was Akkadian, a Semitic language that differed greatly from Sumerian, which previously had been the predominant language of Mesopotamia. In addition to its political and economic innovations in administering a large territory, the Akkadian court produced innovative art in a powerful and naturalistic style. This magnificent head portrays a king of the late third millennium B.C. Its heavy-lidded eyes, prominent but unexaggerated nose, full lips, and enlarged ears all suggest a portrait of an actual person. While the date and place of manufacture of this piece have been much debated, its close similarity to the magnificent bronze head found at Nineveh make a late third millennium date most likely. The head is cast almost solid (making it extremely heavy), but a dowel hole at the base would have served to join it to a body or other support, most likely for display in a temple setting. Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/viewOne.asp?dep=3&view...

Foundation Peg in the Form of the Forepart of a Lion Bronze Northeast Syria, probably Tell Mozan (ancient Urkish) 2200-2100 BC Accession # 48.180 Inscribed in Hurrian, "Tish-atal, endan [king] of Urkish." This figure would have been put in a ritual deposit under the wall of a temple, perhaps of the god Nergal. Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Title: Foundation peg in the form of the forepart of a lion Period: Early Bronze Age Date: 2200–2100 B.C. Geography: Syria, probably from Tell Mozan (ancient Urkesh) Medium: Copper alloy Dimensions: H. 4 5/8 x W. 3 1/8 in. (11.7 x 7.9 cm) Classification: Metalwork-Sculpture, Inscribed Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1948 Accession Number: 48.180 On View Description: After the collapse of the Akkadian Empire and a brief period of decentralized rule, a dynasty ruling from the southern Mesopotamian city of Ur took over a large area of Mesopotamia, including areas in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, and ruled for about one hundred years (2100–2000 B.C.). During this period, a number of minor rulers maintained their independence at the margins of the empire. Among them were the kingdoms of Urkish and Nawar in northern Mesopotamia, a Hurrian-speaking area. Based on its inscription, this bronze foundation peg in the form of a snarling lion almost certainly comes from the city of Urkish, modern Tell Mozan. On a very similar piece now in the Louvre, the lion holds under its paws a white stone tablet with an inscription that names the temple of the god Nergal. Pegs of this and other forms were placed in foundation deposits under temple walls as a dedication to the god. Their appearance in northern Mesopotamia represents the adoption of a practice from the south. Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/ancien...

Title: Head of Gudea Period: Neo-Sumerian Date: ca. 2090 B.C. Geography: Mesopotamia, probably from Girsu (modern Tello) Medium: Diorite Dimensions: H. 10 1/16 x W. 7 9/16 x D. 9 15/16 in. (25.5 x 19.2 x 25.3 cm) Classification: Stone-Sculpture Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1949 Accession Number: 49.26 Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/ancien...

Seated statue of Gudea, 2150–2100 B.C.; Neo-Sumerian period Probably Tello (ancient Girsu), southern Mesopotamia Diorite; H. 17 3/8 in. (44 cm) Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1959 (59.2) The Akkadian empire collapsed after two centuries of rule, and during the succeeding fifty years, local kings ruled independent city-states in southern Mesopotamia. The city-state of Lagash produced a remarkable number of statues of its kings as well as Sumerian literary hymns and prayers under the rule of Gudea (ca. 2150–2125 B.C.) and his son Ur-Ningirsu (ca. 2125–2100 B.C.). Unlike the art of the Akkadian period, which was characterized by dynamic naturalism, the works produced by this Neo-Sumerian culture are pervaded by a sense of pious reserve and serenity. This sculpture belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted his energies to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many inscribed with his name and divine dedications survive. Here, Gudea is depicted in the seated pose of a ruler before his subjects, his hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer. The Sumerian inscription on his robe lists the various temples that he built or renovated in Lagash and names the statue itself, "Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long." Text from: www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/02/wam/hod_59.2.htm

Seated statue of Gudea, 2150–2100 B.C.; Neo-Sumerian period Probably Tello (ancient Girsu), southern Mesopotamia Diorite; H. 17 3/8 in. (44 cm) Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1959 (59.2) The Akkadian empire collapsed after two centuries of rule, and during the succeeding fifty years, local kings ruled independent city-states in southern Mesopotamia. The city-state of Lagash produced a remarkable number of statues of its kings as well as Sumerian literary hymns and prayers under the rule of Gudea (ca. 2150–2125 B.C.) and his son Ur-Ningirsu (ca. 2125–2100 B.C.). Unlike the art of the Akkadian period, which was characterized by dynamic naturalism, the works produced by this Neo-Sumerian culture are pervaded by a sense of pious reserve and serenity. This sculpture belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted his energies to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many inscribed with his name and divine dedications survive. Here, Gudea is depicted in the seated pose of a ruler before his subjects, his hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer. The Sumerian inscription on his robe lists the various temples that he built or renovated in Lagash and names the statue itself, "Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long." Text from: www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/02/wam/hod_59.2.htm

Seated statue of Gudea, 2150–2100 B.C.; Neo-Sumerian period Probably Tello (ancient Girsu), southern Mesopotamia Diorite; H. 17 3/8 in. (44 cm) Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1959 (59.2) The Akkadian empire collapsed after two centuries of rule, and during the succeeding fifty years, local kings ruled independent city-states in southern Mesopotamia. The city-state of Lagash produced a remarkable number of statues of its kings as well as Sumerian literary hymns and prayers under the rule of Gudea (ca. 2150–2125 B.C.) and his son Ur-Ningirsu (ca. 2125–2100 B.C.). Unlike the art of the Akkadian period, which was characterized by dynamic naturalism, the works produced by this Neo-Sumerian culture are pervaded by a sense of pious reserve and serenity. This sculpture belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted his energies to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many inscribed with his name and divine dedications survive. Here, Gudea is depicted in the seated pose of a ruler before his subjects, his hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer. The Sumerian inscription on his robe lists the various temples that he built or renovated in Lagash and names the statue itself, "Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long." Text from: www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/02/wam/hod_59.2.htm

Human-headed bison Serpentine (lizardite) Southern Mesopotamia, probably Tello (ancient Girsu) Reign of Ur-Ningirsu of Lagash, 2150-2100 BC Accession # 1996.353 This creature, known as a kusarikku and associated with the sun god Shamash, wears the horned headdress of a divinity. Originally, another figure or element must have been set into the cavity on the back. The sculpture is dedicated to the goddess Nanshe for the life of the Sumerian ruler Ur-Ningirsu. The name of the donor is not preserved. Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Shaft-hole Axe Head with a Bird-Headed Demon, a Boar, and a Dragon Silver, gold foil Central Asia (Bactria- Margiana) Late 3rd- early 2nd millennium BC Accession # 1982.5 The bird-headed demon depicted on both sides of the axe (rather than being double-headed) holds a winged dragon in one claw and a boar, which forms the cutting edge of the axe, in the other. The image possibly represents the bird-demon as a hero mastering chaos in the form of the boar and the dragon. Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Nude standing female Ceramic Central Mesopotamia, excavated at Tell Asmar (ancient Eshnunna) Ur III, or Isin-Larsa period, 2100-1900 BC From the expedition of the Oriental Insitute of the University of Chicago to Iraq, 1930-38. Accession # 51.25.12 Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Title: Fish-shaped vessel Period: Middle-Late Bronze Age Date: 2nd millennium B.C. Geography: Syria Medium: Gypsum alabaster, shell Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (6.4 x 23.4 cm) Classification: Stone-Vessel Credit Line: Gift of Sheldon and Barbara Breitbart, 1984 Accession Number: 1984.453.2 On View Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/ancien...

Seated female Steatite or chlorite, limestone Central Asia (Bactria-Margiana) Late 3rd, early 2nd millennium BC Accession # 1989.281.41 a,b Three-dimensional composite figures of seated females wearing voluminous sheepskin robes probably represented divinities. This type of figure was also engraved on seals of the Old Elamite period (2000-1800 BC) from southern Iran. Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Spouted Jug with Raised Concentric Circles Ceramic Northwestern Anatolia Early Bronze Age II, 2700-2400 BC Accession # 60.83.7 Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

Spouted Jug With a Mottled Surface Ceramic Northwestern Anatolia Early Bronze Age II, 2700-2400 BC Acccession # 62.65.3 Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label