Near East - Mesopotamian

Mesopotamian Art of the ancient Middle Eastern civilizations developed in the between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (now Iraq) from pre-history to the 6th century BC. The first dominant people to control the region and shape its art were the non-Semitic Sumerians, followed by the Semitic Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Control and artistic influences at times extended to the Syro-Palestinian coast, and techniques and motifs from outlying areas had an impact on Mesopotamian centers. As other peoples invaded the region, their art was shaped by native Mesopotamian traditions.

Neo-Assyrian Cylinder Seal Neo-Assyrian / Neo-Babylonian white chalcedony stone cylinder seal, ca. 800-700 B.C., Mesopotamia. Depicts a standing worshipper in front of an altar, with stars in... $995.00 $795.00

Attractive Early Mesopotamian Bead Necklace Quite lovely and wearable! From the ancient Near-East, Mesopotamia, Ca 3rd to 2nd Millennium BC. Created from mixture of small white and green stone "spacers"... $495.00

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The soil of Mesopotamia yielded the civilization's major building material—mud brick. This clay also was used by the Mesopotamians for their pottery, terracotta sculpture, and writing tablets. Few wooden artifacts have been preserved. Stone was rare, and certain types had to be imported - basalt, sandstone, diorite, and alabaster were used for sculpture. Metals such as bronze, copper, gold, and silver, as well as shells and precious stones, were used for the finest sculpture and inlays. Stones of all kinds—including lapis lazuli, jasper, carnelian, alabaster, hematite, serpentine, and steatite—were used for cylinder seals.