Art of the Ancient Near East

Hammer Building, Level 3: Artworks on view

The collection consists of over two thousand objects spanning more than four thousand years and an area extending from the eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan, with a particular focus on Iran. Holdings—including cylinder seals, pottery, bronze horse-trappings, silver vessels, and a group of large Assyrian stone reliefs—bear witness to some of the major cultural achievements and historical events associated with the ancient Near East.

Iran, Luristan
Persepolis Relief: A Gift Bearer
Southern Iran, Persepolis
c. 5th century B.C.
Persepolis Relief: A Gift Bearer
Southern Iran, Persepolis
c. 5th century B.C.

Limestone
H. 19 x 14 x 3 in
49.5 x 37.5 cm

Gift of Carl Holmes (63.36.17)

Vase with Dancing Female Figures
Iran
c. 6th century
Vase with Dancing Female Figures
Iran
c. 6th century

Hammered silver with gilding
Height: 6 5/8 in.
(16.83 cm)

Gift of Varya and Hans Cohn (AC1992.152.82)

Prehistoric Painted Pottery Vessel
Central Iran
c. 5000-4500 B.C.
Prehistoric Painted Pottery Vessel
Central Iran
c. 5000-4500 B.C.

7 x 9 in.
(17.78 x 22.86 cm)

Gift of Nasli M. Heeramaneck (M.76.174.156)

Seated Female Figure
Northern Afghanistan, Ancient Bactria
c. 2500-1500 B.C.
Seated Female Figure
Northern Afghanistan, Ancient Bactria
c. 2500-1500 B.C.

Chlorite and limestone
Height: 5 1/4 in.
(13.33 cm)

Purchased with funds provided by Phil Berg (M.2000.1a-f)

A Short but Elaborate Journey

April 22, 2010

Our European galleries continue to reopen in phases—the Dutch collection opened a few months ago, and the Northern Italian and Spanish galleries have just gone on view, with the rest of the collection to open in the summer. It’s been a complicated process as we overhaul the flow of the space on the Ahmanson Building’s third floor...

Talk
Darius III
2:00PM Sunday, November 20
View All Upcoming Programs