ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

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 A fine trapezoidal clay bulla from the Old Babylonian period, dated to the reign of Ishme-Dagan. Cuneiform scripts have been incised on the obverse and reverse, transcribing an administrative text. Seal impressions have been imprinted to the sides of the piece; however, some of the markings have faded due to age and the name of the official is now illegible. The bulla is pierced on one side, suggesting it would have once been attached to a document as a seal or a tag. It dates back to approximately 1900BCE.

This statue is a cast replica of the original that is found in the Louvre in Paris. Gilgamesh is the world's first super hero! Do you want to know more? Click here!

This is a Louvre reproduction of the top section of the famous Hammurabi Law Code, a 7' tall carved black diorite stele recovered in 1901 and kept at the Louvre Museum.

This is another Louvre Museum cast replica of the original. It's from 2550 BCE. It describes the transaction of a house and land that includes a free male slave. Do you want to know more? Click here!

This coin is from the kingdom of Elam, which was east of Babylon. Some think that the palm fronds on the coin are proof that the Hanging Gardens existed. What do you think? Do you want to know more? Click here!

In 1977, my Aunt Sonni and Grandma & Grandpa Hodges visited Turkey. While there, Aunt Sonni purchased this statue. It is a miniature version of the Hittite King Tarhunazi. The original is found at the ruins of a place called Aslantepe.