Highlights

Puabi's Beaded Cape and Jewelry

Gold, agate, lapis lazuli, carnelian, silver

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 31]

Puabi's heavy cape of carnelian, agate, lapis lazuli, silver, and gold beads (pictured here with accompanying jewelry) must have been stunning. It would have moved and shimmered as the queen moved, much like the long leather fringes on traditional Native American clothing.

Gold Vessel in the Form of an Ostrich Egg

Gold, lapis lazuli, red limestone, shell, bitumen

H: 14.6 cm; Dm: 13 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat.15]

The practice of furnishing graves with ostrich eggs or ostrich-egg-shaped vessels was probably widespread in third-millennium-BC Sumer. This vessel, found in the Royal Tomb at Ur, could have held food for the dead or been used in the ritual performed in association with the burial.

Silver Head of a Lion

Silver, lapis lazuli, shell

H: 11 cm; W: 12 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 1]

The silver lion head found in Queen Puabi's intact tomb gazes intensely with eyes of shell and semiprecious gemstone. The lion was one of the primary animals in the iconography of Sumerian art, most often seen as a contestant in conflicts between lions, bulls, bull-men, and heroes. It may have been intended to ward off evil.

Great Lyre from the "King's Grave"

Gold, silver, lapis lazuli, shell, bitumen, wood

H: of head 35.6 cm; H: of plaque 33 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 3]

Most Sumerian lyres had eleven strings, and it is assumed that each string produced a different sound, suggesting that Sumerian music for the lyre was indeed more complicated than contemporary Egyptian music, which was written for a four-stringed lyre. This, the largest and most famous lyre from Ur, would have sounded somewhat like a stringed bass. It was found resting at the heads of three of the bodies in the "King's Grave."

Cosmetic Box with Inlaid Lid

Silver, lapis lazuli, shell

H: 3.5 cm; Dm: across lid 6.4 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 12]

This semicircular silver box with carved lid of lapis lazuli and shell was found close to the "wardrobe chest" in the death pit of Queen Puabi's tomb. The lid is the finest surviving example of shell carving from the Royal Cemetery.

Tumbler

Electrum (alloy of silver and gold)

H: 15.2 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 105]

This electrum tumbler was finely hammered inside and out and fluted into 28 ridges. A loop was hammered out of the rim and over the banded decoration, allowing for the attachment of a wire or string handle.

"Ram Caught in a Thicket"

Gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen

H: 42.6 cm

Early Dynasty IIIA, about 2750 BC

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology [cat. 8]

This is considered by some to be the most beautiful object from the royal cemetery at Ur. Color was highly cherished by the Sumerian artists, who sought to create sublime works for their temples or for elite burials in a world of relatively drab surroundings. It has recently been cleaned and reconstructed by the Conservation Department of the University of Pennsylvania Museum.