Illustration
This detail is part of a mosaic column, which may have stood at the side of the entrance into the temple. The whole column originally had a core of palm-wood (now perished). A layer of bitumen coated that wood. The mosaic inlay pieces (mother-of-pearl, pink limestone, and black shale) have copper wires at the back. The wires were twisted into loops which were set into the bitumen layer to hold the mosaic pieces into position. Early Dynastic Period, circa 2500 BCE. From the Temple of Ninhursag (out of position at the foot of the temple) at Tell Al-Ubaid, Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)
About the Author
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.
Related Images
Image
Imdugud Copper Frieze from the Ninhursag Temple
This frieze was excavated at the base of the temple of the goddess...
Image
Lion's Head from the Temple of Ninhursag
This is a copper alloy head of a lion or cub. Models of lions may...
Image
Bull's head from the Temple of Ninhursag
This head is part of a copper alloy bull in the round. This is...
Image
Reproduction of Madaba Mosaic Map
Reproduction of the 6th century CE Madaba Mosaic depicting the...
Image
Mosaic with Orestes & Iphigenia
A Roman mosaic depicting Orestes and Iphigenia. The mosaic was...
Image
Mosaic with Musicians
Mosaic depicting musicians, signed by Dioskourides of Samos. The...