Foundation Nail of Gudea, about 2100 BC, Neo-Sumerian, probably Lagash, copper alloy, Cleveland Museum of Art

A SUMERIAN MARBLE CYLINDER SEAL EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2600-2400 B.C. With a contest scene of six figures, a nude hero with spiky hair...

Stele of Ushumgal Period:Early Dynastic IDate:2900–2700 B.C.Geography:Mesopotamia, probably from Umma (modern Jokha)Culture:SumerianMediu...

The Gudea cylinders are a pair of terracotta cylinders dating to circa 2125 BC, which are inscribed in cuneiform with the Sumerian myth...

Aristocratic noblemen Ancient Sumer male statues, in rack focus. Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization by the Western world,...

Statue of the so called 'wife of Gudea' or the 'First lady of Lagash'. She has a distinguished face and her hair is tied back with a...

A statue of a Sumerian worshipper. Marble, early dynastic period, 2800-2300 BCE, Mesopotamia, Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq.

Relief panel Period: Neo-Assyrian Date: ca. 883–859 B.C. Geography: Mesopotamia, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu) Culture: Assyrian Medium: Gypsum...

Inscribed brick Period: Ur III Date: ca. 2112–2095 B.C. Geography: Mesopotamia, Nippur Culture: Neo-Sumerian Medium: Ceramic, glaze...

En-anna-tum I succeeded his brother Eannatum as king of Lagash. During his rule, Umma once more asserted independence under Ur-Lumma, who...

Gilgamesh is the semi-mythic King of Uruk in Mesopotamia best known from The Epic of Gilgamesh (written c. 2150 - 1400 BCE) the great...

Ninurta (identified with Ningirsu, Pabilsag, and the biblical Nimrod) is the Sumerian and Akkadian hero-god of war, hunting, and the...

Susa is one of the oldest cities in the world. Excavations have uncovered evidence of continual habitation dating back to 4200 BCE. Susa...

Zakutu (c. 701-c.668 BCE) was the Akkadian name of Naqia, a wife of King Sennacherib of Assyria, who reigned between 705-681 BCE. Though...

Tukulti-Ninurta I (reigned 1244-1208 BCE) was a king of the Assyrian Empire during the period known as the Middle Empire. He was the son...

Sargon of Akkad (also known as Sargon the Great, Shar-Gani-Sharri, and Sarru-Kan, meaning "True King" or "Legitimate King") reigned in...

Dur-Sharrukin (modern day Khorsabad, Iraq) was a city built by Sargon II of Assyria (reigned 722-705 BCE) as his new capital. The name...

Babylon is the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia whose ruins lie in modern-day Iraq 59 miles (94 kilometres) southwest of...

Nineveh (modern-day Mosul, Iraq) was one of the oldest and greatest cities in antiquity. The area was settled as early as 6000 BCE and,...

Ashurbanipal (668-627 BCE, also known as Assurbanipal) was the last of the great kings of Assyria. His name means "the god Ashur is...