Terracotta Jug with Elongated Spout - LO.1107Origin: Transcaucasia Circa: 1500 BC to 1200 BCDimensions: 8.25" (21.0cm) high Collection: Central Asia Medium: Terracotta The Old Babylonian period describes south Mesopotamia between 2000 BC and 1600 BC. The early years saw a number of important states dominating the region: Isin,Larsa, Eshnunna and, from 1894 BC, Babylon. Babylon was ruled by a dynasty ofmoritekings.Thesixthrulerwas Hammurapi, who defeated the other southern states and expanded his control into north Mesopotamia. On the deathof Hammurapi the empire gradually shrank over about 150 years. Nonetheless, Babylon remained an important power until it was sacked by the Hittite king, Mursili I, in about 1595 BC. During the Old Babylonian period literary activity flourished with scribes composing andrecordingreligious,poeticand'scientific'worksin Sumerianand Akkadiancuneiform.Perhaps the most famous monument is the stele of Hammurapi, now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Antiquities
Ancient Near East