Bureaucracy in the Achaemenid Empire: Learning from the Past
In the early days of the Achaemenid empire, the kings came to realise that, if they were to be able to administer the vast mass of land...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20186 min read
Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian Empire (also spelled Sassanian, Sasanid or Sassanid) was the last pre-Islamic Persian empire, established in 224 CE by...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20187 min read
Alexander the Great & the Burning of Persepolis
In the year 330 BCE Alexander the Great conquered the Persian capital city of Persepolis, and after looting its treasures, burned the...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20185 min read
Persepolis
Persepolis is the Greek name (from perses polis for 'Persian City') for the ancient city of Parsa, located seventy miles northeast of...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20182 min read
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great King of the Kings. Persian King of Iran. Cyrus the Great (Persian: کوروش بزرگ, Kūrosh-e-Bozorg) (c. 600 BC or 576 BC...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20185 min read
Persian Wars
The Persian Wars refers to the conflict between Greece and Persia in the 5th century BCE which involved two invasions by the latter in...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 29, 20187 min read
Achaemenid Empire
East of the Zagros Mountains, a high plateau stretches off towards India. While Egypt was rising up against the Hyksos, a wave of...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
Persepolis is one of the oldest and most famous historical sites
Persepolis is one of the oldest and most famous historical sites that stands in Iran and is definitely one of the most impressive. During...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20182 min read
Stele of the protective goddess Lama
Stele of the protective goddess Lama Period:KassiteDate:ca. 1307–1282 B.C.Geography:Southern MesopotamiaCulture:KassiteMedium:Gypsum...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20182 min read
Gudea (Piety & Power) (Ancient Sumer)
The first thing I noticed was the ancient ruler Gudea’s large headed and calm disposition, I misread the wall label. It said he was a...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
The Standard of Ur
The Standard of Ur, named by archaeologist Sir Leonard Wooley upon discovery, as it was thought by him to be a royal standard. It is...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
A SUMERIAN GYPSUM ALABASTER HEAD OF A WOMAN, EARLY DYNASTIC II/III, CIRCA 2700-2500 B.C.
A Sumerian Gypsum Alabaster Head of a Woman, Early Dynastic II/III, circa 2700-2500 B.C. from a large votive statuette, her oval face...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
Detail of the War Scene of the Standard of Ur Showing Sumerian Warriors
This is a detail of the so-called "War Scene" of the Standard of Ur. This detail is part of the left half of the middle register. Here,...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
Statue of a Sumerian woman
Upper part of a gypsum statue of a Sumerian woman. The hands are folds in worship. The eyes would have been inlaid. A sheepskin garment...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 28, 20181 min read
A SUMERIAN GYPSUM STANDING WORSHIPPER EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C.
A SUMERIAN GYPSUM STANDING WORSHIPPER EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C. Standing with his elbows bent acutely, his hands clasped in...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 27, 20181 min read
Mesopotamian life - The Standard of Ur
he “Standard of Ur” is a small trapezoidal box (8.5 Inches high by 19.5 Inches long) whose two sides and end panels are covered with...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 27, 20181 min read
Foundation Nail of Gudea, about 2100 BC
Foundation Nail of Gudea, about 2100 BC, Neo-Sumerian, probably Lagash, copper alloy, Cleveland Museum of Art
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 27, 20181 min read
A SUMERIAN MARBLE CYLINDER SEAL EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2600-2400 B.C.
A SUMERIAN MARBLE CYLINDER SEAL EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2600-2400 B.C. With a contest scene of six figures, a nude hero with spiky hair...
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Ryan Moorhen
Jul 27, 20181 min read
Stele of Ushumgal
Stele of Ushumgal Period:Early Dynastic IDate:2900–2700 B.C.Geography:Mesopotamia, probably from Umma (modern Jokha)Culture:SumerianMediu...
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