Our understanding of Mesopotamia has been influenced by romantic interpretations and biblical associations, some rather heroic archaeology and rash reconstruction, the dispersal of artefacts to major European museums, and the inaccessibility of the region since the time of the first Gulf War. Referring to scattered sources and to the site of Tchoga Zanbil in Iran, in effect, Mesopotamia, this lecture will present a more integrated picture and evaluate the role of Mesopotamia as a seedbed of technical and stylistic ideas throughout the ancient Near East and Mediterranean regions.

This lecture will be repeated on Friday 24 August.

This lecture forms part of the ‘Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia Lecture Series' held at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Museum.