Figure from Ain Ghazal, Jordan c. 7000 - 6000 BCE. Clay plaster with cowrie shell, bitumen, and paint. National Museum, Amman, Jordan.

Composite reconstruction drawing of a shrine room at Chatal Huyuk , Turkey, c. 6500 - 5500 BCE.

Reconstruction drawing of the Anu Ziggurat and White Temple , Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq). c. 3100 BCE.

Nanna Ziggurat , Ur (modern Muqaiyir, Iraq). c. 2100 - 2050 BCE.

Face of a Woman from Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq). c. 3500 - 3000 BCE. Marble, height approx. 8 " (20.3 cm). Iraq Museum, Baghdad.

Carved vase (both sides) , from Uruk(modern Warka, Iraq). c. 3500 - 3000 BCE. Alabaster, height 36 " (91 cm). Iraq Museum, Baghdad.

Carved vase (detail).

Votive statues from the Square Temple, Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar, Iraq). c. 2900 - 2600 BCE. Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum. The Oriental Institute of The University of Chicago; Iraq Museum, Baghdad.

Bull lyre , from the tomb of King Abargi, Ur (modern Muqaiyir, Iraq). c. 2685 BCE. Wood with gold, lapis lazuli, bitumen, and shell, reassembled in modern wood support. University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Mythological figures.

Bull lyre (detail).

Stele of Naramsin , c. 2254 - 2218 BCE. Limestone, height 6'6" (1.98 m). Mus ée du Louvre, Paris.

Votive statue of Gudea from Lagash (modern Telloh, Iraq). c. 2120 BCE. Diorite, height 29 " (73.7 cm). Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Stele of Hammurabi, from Susa (modern Shush, Iran). c. 1792 - 1750 BCE. Basalt, height of stele approx. 7' (2.13m), height of relief 28" (71.1 cm). Mus ée du Louvre, Paris.

Stele of Hammurabi (detail).

Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions . From Palace Complex of Assurnasirpal II, Nimrud, Iraq. c. 850 BCE. Alabaster, height approx. 39" (99.1 cm). The British Museum, London.

Reconstruction drawing of the citadel and palace complex of Sargon II , Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad, Iraq). c. 721 - 706 BCE.

Assurbanipal and His Queen in the Garden , from the palace at Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik, Iraq). c. 647 BCE. Alabaster, height approx. 21" (53.3 cm). The British Museum, London.

Reconstruction drawing of Babylon in the 6th century BCE. The Oriental Institute of The University of Chicago.

Ishtar Gate and throne room wall, from Babylon (Iraq). c. 575 BCE. Glazed brick. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Vorderasiatisches Museum.

Standing Lion , c. 6th century B.C.E., is also glazed brick from Neo-Babylonia.

Beaker , from Susa (modern Shush, Iran). c. 4000 BCE. Ceramic, painted in brown glaze, height 11 1/4" (28.6 cm). Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Woman Spinning , from Susa (modern Shush, Iran). c. 8th - 7th century BCE. Bitumen compound, 3 5/8 x 5 1/8" (9.2 x 13 cm). Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Lion Gate , Hattushash (near modern Boghazkeui, Turkey). c. 1400 BCE. Limestone.

Lion Gate (close-up).

Apadana (audience hall) of Darius and Xerxes , ceremonial complex, Persepolis, Iran. c.518 - 460 BCE.

Stairway relief at Persepolis.

Man from Nineveh.

Lamasu guardian figures.

Lamasu (detail).