The University of Melbourne is proud to be the University Partner for ‘The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia’ exhibition, hosted by Melbourne Museum.
As University Partner the University of Melbourne is presenting a series of free lectures as part of the exhibition lectures and events.
About the Exhibition
The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia exhibition features over 170 amazing objects from the world-renowned British Museum, from giant stone reliefs to exquisite ivories and jewellery.
Excavated from under centuries of sand and soil, these priceless artefacts tell the story of another age – a world of palaces and ziggurats, gods and lions, and firsts such as the invention of writing and the sixty minute hour.
Living on in legends such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Tower of Babel, the ancient region of Mesopotamia played a crucial role in the development of western civilisation.
Visit the Museum WebsiteFree Public Lectures
Thursday, 26 Jul 2012
Mesopotamian mythology
6:00–7:00PM
The Mesopotamians lived in a rich and variegated world replete with gods and goddesses, demons and monsters, heroes and villains. This lecture will focus on some of the main themes in the mythical narratives from Mesopotamia and examine aspects of the Mesopotamian belief system, explaining how these ancient societies confronted powers not of this world. This lecture forms part of the ‘Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia Lecture Series' held at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Museum.
Thursday, 23 Aug 2012
Mesopotamia: Myth and reality
6:00–7:00PM
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 t...
Friday, 24 Aug 2012
Mesopotamia: Myth and reality
6:00–7:00PM
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 t...
Thursday, 6 Sep 2012
Food Water and Wine in Mesopotamia
6:00–7:00PM
The great civilisations of Mesopotamia would not have been possible without food security. This cradle of civilization was also the cradle of domesticated wheat, barley and rye production and irrigation. It is widely believed that the cities of Sumer, the first urban societies established from the 5th millennium BC, were made possible by intensive, yearround agriculture supported by extensive irrigation and a dedicated, welltrained labour force. Interestingly grape wine production also evolve...