ancient near east

White Temple and its ziggurat. Uruk (modern
Warka, Iraq). Sumerian.
c. 3500–3000 B.C.E.

Mud brick

Statues of votive figures, from the Square
Temple at Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar, Iraq).
Sumerian.
c. 2700 B.C.E. Gypsum inlaid with shell and black
limestone

Standard of Ur from the Royal Tombs at Ur
(modern Tell el-Muqayyar, Iraq). Sumerian.
c. 2600–2400 B.C.E. Wood inlaid with shell, lapis
lazuli, and red limestone, 

Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur
Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad, Iraq).
Neo-Assyrian. c. 720–705 B.C.E.
Alabaster

The Code of Hammurabi. Babylon (modern
Iran). Susian.
c. 1792–1750 B.C.E.
Basalt

Audience Hall (
apadana) of Darius and Xerxes.
Persepolis, Iran.
Persian.
c. 520–465 B.C.E.
Limestone 72 columns