UR

CLAY TABLETSCLAY TABLETS

EPIC OF GILGAMESHEPIC OF GILGAMESH

The one who saw all [The one who saw all [Sha nagba imuru Sha nagba imuru ]I will ]I will declare to the world,declare to the world,The one who knew all I will tell aboutThe one who knew all I will tell about[line missing][line missing]He saw the great Mystery, he knew the Hidden:He saw the great Mystery, he knew the Hidden:He recovered the knowledge of all the times He recovered the knowledge of all the times before the Flood.before the Flood.He journeyed beyond the distant, he journeyed He journeyed beyond the distant, he journeyed beyond exhaustion,beyond exhaustion,And then carved his story on stone. [And then carved his story on stone. [naru naru : : stone tablets ] stone tablets ]

URUK VASE

HARP OF UR

Head of an Akkadian Ruler, from Nineveh, Iraq. 2300-2200 B.C. Bronze, Iraq Museum, Baghdad

Head of Gudea (King of Lagash; the last Akkadian survivor) c.a. 2200 B.C.

ZIGGURAT

STELE OF HAMMURRABI

1792-1750 B.C.

2. If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser. 14. If persons are stolen, then shall the community and . . . pay one mina of silver to their relatives. 110. If a "sister of a god" open a tavern, or enter a tavern to drink, then shall this woman be burned to death. 118. If he give a male or female slave away for forced labour, and the merchant sublease them, or sell them for money, no objection can be raised.

ASSYRIAN CULTUREASSYRIAN CULTURE

LAMASSIMARDUKMARDUK

ANCIENT PERSIAANCIENT PERSIA

FRIEZE AT THE PALACE OF DARIUS (PERSEPOLIS)

CYRUS’S TOMB

ZOROASTRIANISM: THE RELIGION OF THE PERSIANS