Entwined in the branches of a flowering tree, two goats appear to nibble on the leaves. Black bitumen outlines the figures on the 1.75-inch decorative plaque, which was carved from shell. British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley discovered the plaque in the 1920s in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. The plaque was among the grave goods belonging to a wealthy woman named Puabi, who was buried in about 2600 B.C. in the site’s Royal Cemetery. A gold-covered statue of a goat in a thicket was discovered elsewhere in the Royal Cemetery.
Trees were a common symbol of fertility throughout the ancient Near East. The nourishment provided by trees may have suggested a fertility goddess’s life-giving force.
Though it was by no means the most important city in ancient Mesopotamia, Ur has nevertheless provided more impressive artifacts than any other site in the area because it was a rich trading center. For a relatively short time—one hundred years—some of Ur’s high-ranking officials took their entire retinues of soldiers, musicians and servants with them to the grave, along with their luxury goods. No one knows the origins of this practice, or why the custom disappeared. Archaeologists at first thought those buried in the Royal Cemetery were kings and queens (Puabi was assumed to be a queen), following a practice of mass burials that occurred in several other cultures at the time, and with which the Mesopotamians had trade ties. (Many imported trade goods have been found in the graves.) But today scholars are less certain about who was buried here. They argue that these may be the graves of priest-kings, and that the burials may have been connected with ritual sacrifices made to ensure a good harvest or bring good luck.
Entwined in the branches of a flowering tree, two goats appear to nibble on the leaves. Black bitumen outlines the figures on the 1.75-inch decorative plaque, which was carved from shell. British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley discovered the plaque in the 1920s in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. The plaque was among the grave goods belonging to a wealthy woman named Puabi, who was buried in about 2600 B.C. in the site’s Royal Cemetery. A gold-covered statue of a goat in a thicket was discovered elsewhere in the Royal Cemetery. Trees were a common symbol of fertility throughout the […]
You have already read your free article for this month. Please join the BAS Library or become an All Access member of BAS to gain full access to this article and so much more.
