Mesopotamia 1500-539 BC (Room 55)
The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery
The civilisations of Babylonia and Assyria flourished during the
first millennium BC. Political developments resulted in the
incorporation of the entire Near East into a single empire, while
increased international contact and trade influenced the material
culture of the region.
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Map of the world, 700-500 BC
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Map of the world, 700-500 BC
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The Flood Tablet, relating part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, 7th century BC
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The Flood Tablet, relating part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, 7th century BC
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The Dying Lion, a stone panel from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, around 645 BC
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The Dying Lion, a stone panel from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, around 645 BC
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Cuneiform tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, 605-594 BC
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Cuneiform tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle, 605-594 BC
Room 55 traces the history of Babylonia under the Kassites and
the growth of the Babylonian state and empire until it was taken
over by the Persian King Cyrus in 539 BC.
“Boundary Stones” carved with images of kings and symbols of the
gods record royal land grants. The development of the Assyrian
state and empire, until its fall in 612 BC, is illustrated by
objects excavated in its palaces. Mesopotamia’s highly-developed
literature and learning are demonstrated by clay tablets from the
library of King Assurbanipal (668-631 BC) at Nineveh, written in
cuneiform script.