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Ancient Near East & Levant · c. 6000 BCE – 650 CE

Other & unsorted Ancient Near East

What it is

Objects from this tradition that do not fit the types above, or whose catalogue records are too brief to sort further. Browse them for unusual forms.

History

Mesopotamian protection grew out of a world crowded with named demons, each with a job: Lamashtu killed infants, the utukku haunted, fever demons struck. Exorcists (ashipu) wrote incantation series such as Maqlû and the Lamashtu texts, and amulets put those texts and images to work. Carved stone animal seals of the Uruk period (c. 3500 BCE) are among the oldest amulet-seals anywhere. In the first millennium BCE, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian households hung Pazuzu heads and Lamashtu plaques. Phoenician traders spread Egyptianising amulets and glass faces across the Mediterranean, and in Sasanian Mesopotamia Jews, Christians and Mandaeans buried inscribed incantation bowls under their floors.

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Ancient Near East & Levant: the tradition

Mesopotamian protection grew out of a world crowded with named demons, each with a job: Lamashtu killed infants, the utukku haunted, fever demons struck. Exorcists (ashipu) wrote incantation series such as Maqlû and the Lamashtu texts, and amulets put those texts and images to work. Carved stone animal seals of the Uruk period (c. 3500 BCE) are among the oldest amulet-seals anywhere. In the first millennium BCE, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian households hung Pazuzu heads and Lamashtu plaques. Phoenician traders spread Egyptianising amulets and glass faces across the Mediterranean, and in Sasanian Mesopotamia Jews, Christians and Mandaeans buried inscribed incantation bowls under their floors.

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An Episode from the Story of the Sasanian King Khusrau and His Beloved Shirin, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209) (verso)An Episode from the Story of the Sasanian King Khusrau and His Beloved Shirin, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209) (verso)Iran, probably Shiraz, Safavid period (1501-1722) · 1540–70Silver pendant, partly gilded, with St George killing the dragon, South Germany, 1800-1870Silver pendant, partly gilded, with St George killing the dragon, South Germany, 1800-1870Germany · 1800-1870King Anushirwan and the Owls, from the Khamsa of NizamiKing Anushirwan and the Owls, from the Khamsa of NizamiIran · Safavid dynasty (1501–1722), c.1535Three statuettes, Votive, Sumerian, C. 3,000-2,800 B.C. London, British MuseumThree statuettes, Votive, Sumerian, C. 3,000-2,800 B.C. London, British MuseumBritish Museum · ca. 1920sVotive plaque inscribed with Sabaean dedicationVotive plaque inscribed with Sabaean dedicationSouthwestern Arabia · ca. late 1st millennium BCEBullaBullaParthian, Iran · Parthian, 2nd century BC–1st century ADBullaBullaAchaemenid, Iran · Achaemenid, mid 6th–late 4th century BCEBahram Visits the White Domed Pavilion on Friday, illustrated with text in Khamsa of Nizami (verso), from a Haft Paykar (Seven Portraits) of NizamiBahram Visits the White Domed Pavilion on Friday, illustrated with text in Khamsa of Nizami (verso), from a Haft Paykar (Seven Portraits) of NizamiIran, Shiraz, Safavid period (1501-1722) · c. 1560–80Cow amuletCow amuletcirca 2700 date QS:P571,+2700-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2600 B.C.BEK 1961.12BEK 1961.12TurkeyWeight, AmuletWeight, AmuletIraqExvoto masculino procedente del oppidum de Giribaile (Vilches, Jaén, España)Exvoto masculino procedente del oppidum de Giribaile (Vilches, Jaén, España)Oppidum del GiribaileAn Episode from the Story of the Sasanian King Khusrau and His Beloved Shirin, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209) (verso); Persian verses from a Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones) of Jami (d. 1492) (recto)An Episode from the Story of the Sasanian King Khusrau and His Beloved Shirin, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209) (verso); Persian verses from a Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones) of Jami (d. 1492) (recto)Iran, probably Shiraz, Safavid period (1501-1722) · 1540–70BullaBullaParthian, Iran · Parthian, 2nd century BC–1st century ADGold ring with chalcedony scaraboidGold ring with chalcedony scaraboidca. 6th century B.C.BullaBullaParthian, Iran · Parthian, 2nd century BC–1st century ADFrog AmuletFrog Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Seated Bird AmuletSeated Bird Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Scaraboid with Icon of a Sphinx (?)Scaraboid with Icon of a Sphinx (?)Ovoid: 9th-7th century BC; Setting: Modern (IA II)Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. early 1st millennium B.C.Owl AmuletOwl Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Amulet, PentagonalAmulet, PentagonalCirca 4th century B.C. and laterAmulet casesAmulet casesca. mid-1st millennium A.D.Amulet depicting a woman giving birth-AO 31921-IMG 8727-gradientAmulet depicting a woman giving birth-AO 31921-IMG 8727-gradientAmulet of a lionAmulet of a lioncirca 3300 date QS:P571,+3300-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2900 B.C.Fish amuletFish amuletcirca 2000 date QS:P571,+2000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1785 B.C.Gold ring with glass scarabGold ring with glass scarab6th–5th century B.C.Frog AmuletFrog Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Owl AmuletOwl Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Scaraboid with Icon of a Sphinx (?)Scaraboid with Icon of a Sphinx (?)Ovoid: 9th-7th century BC; Setting: Modern (IA II)Ring with scarabRing with scarab6th–5th century B.CScarab seal and modern impression: Osiris flanked by protective deitiesScarab seal and modern impression: Osiris flanked by protective deitiesca. 6th–5th century B.C.Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. 7th century B.C.Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. 6th–5th century B.C.Silver pendant ring with scarabSilver pendant ring with scarab6th–5th century B.CSilver swivel ring with glazed steatite scarab in a gold settingSilver swivel ring with glazed steatite scarab in a gold setting7th–early 5th century B.C.Hedgehog amuletHedgehog amuletca. 9th–7th century B.C.Amulet, PrismaticAmulet, PrismaticCirca 4th century B.C. and laterAmulet with fighting demons; on reverse: Ishtar enthroned and worshiperAmulet with fighting demons; on reverse: Ishtar enthroned and worshiperca. 8th–7th century B.C.Gold hoop with plasma scarabGold hoop with plasma scarab6th–5th century B.C.Gold swivel ring with agate scaraboidGold swivel ring with agate scaraboid6th–5th century B.C.Head amulet (?)Head amulet (?)7th–6th millennium B.C.Lion amulet with human headLion amulet with human head1 st millennium BC date QS:P571,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6Bull's Head AmuletBull's Head Amuletcirca 3000 BC date QS:P571,-3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 (Prololiterate)Ring with scarabRing with scarab6th–5th century B.C.Scarab sealScarab sealca. 8th–7th century B.C.Scarab seal with human headScarab seal with human headca. 6th–5th century B.C.Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. 6th century B.C. (?)Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. 7th–6th century B.C.Scaraboid sealScaraboid sealca. late 2nd millennium B.C.Scaraboid seal with peakedScaraboid seal with peakedca. 6th–4th century B.C.Silver pendant ring with agate scarabSilver pendant ring with agate scarab5th–4th century B.C.Silver swivel ring with sard scarabSilver swivel ring with sard scarab7th–early 5th century B.C.Cow amuletCow amuletcirca 2900 date QS:P571,+2900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2350 B.C.Amulet Kadashman-Turgu Louvre AO 4633Amulet Kadashman-Turgu Louvre AO 4633between circa 1297 and circa 1280 BC date QS:P571,-1250-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,-1297-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1280-00-0Amulet inscribed in Middle Persian scriptAmulet inscribed in Middle Persian scriptca. 4th century A.D.Calf amuletCalf amuletcirca 2700 date QS:P571,+2700-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2600 B.C.Cow amuletCow amuletcirca 3000 date QS:P571,+3000-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 B.C. (?)Duck amuletDuck amuletcirca 2700 date QS:P571,+2700-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2600 B.C.Gold ring with chalcedony scaraboidGold ring with chalcedony scaraboidca. 6th century B.C.

More from Ancient Near East & Levant: Pazuzu heads & figures · Lamashtu plaques · Stamp-seal & animal amulets · Eye idols · Phoenician & Punic glass faces · Aramaic incantation bowls · Luristan & Iranian bronze charms
Every type in the gallery

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