The Department of Near Eastern Antiquities is devoted to the ancient civilizations of the Near East and encompasses a period that extends from the first settlements, which appeared more than ten thousand years ago, to the advent of Islam.
Near Eastern Antiquities
Selected works
Room of the Code of Hammurabi
A new display thanks to Jean Michel Vilmotte. After major gallery renovation work, the Code of Hammurabi is back in room 3, devoted to Mesopotamia of the 3rd millennium B.C. (Babylon and Mari).
Download (French only) Faïences et matières vitreuses de l'Orient ancien
The appearance of the first towns in Mesopotamia inaugurates the age of city-states. Writing and monumental architecture contributed to the growth of royal power, which fostered the growth of Sumerian art.
View many of the 35,000 works on display, and consult the relevant technical information and accompanying commentaries by curators.
Resources
Explore the history of art and civilizations in the sections In-Depth Studies and A Closer Look. The Magazine takes a fresh, unconventional look at the museum and its collections.
Near Eastern Antiquities
