Mesopotamia—the land "between the rivers" in modern-day Iraq—was home to the ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Among their many achievements are the creation of the earliest known script (cuneiform), the formation of the first cities, the development of advanced astronomical and mathematical knowledge, and spectacular artistic and literary accomplishments. The exhibition covers three millennia, from the first cities in about 3200 BC to Alexander the Great’s conquest of Babylon in 331 BC.
Exhibition organized by the Musée du Louvre, Paris, and the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.
Selected Works
Events
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Publications
Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins
Edited by Ariane Thomas and Timothy Potts
Purchase this and other publications in the Getty Museum Store
Uruk: First City of the Ancient World
Edited by Nicola Crüsemann, Margarete van Ess, Markus Hilgert, and Beate Salje.
English translation edited by Timothy Potts
Paul Collins
Video
2-Minute Time Machine: Bread
Pizza? Steamed buns? Croissants? What's your favorite version of bread? Hop in our time machine to discover how our ancestors discovered how to make bread in the first place.
2-Minute Time Machine: Writing
How often do you write every day? (Yes, that includes texting.) And how did humans start writing in the first place? Take a ride in our time machine and travel back 5,000 years to find out.
Mobile App
Discover the art of ancient Mesopotamia's first cities, kings, and writing with Getty Museum Director Tim Potts and Louvre curator Ariane Thomas.
Experience the free audio tour at getty.edu/mesopotamia on your mobile phone or download the GettyGuide app. Bring your earphones and join GettyLink for free Wi-Fi during your visit.
Enrich your visit with free audio tours. Download the GettyGuide app