Neo-Babylonian Art

Artists in the Neo-Babylonian period continued the artistic trends of previous periods, showing similarities with the artwork of the Neo-Assyrian period in particular.

Coloured Glaze Reliefs

The technique of coloured glaze was improved and perfected by Neo-Babylonian artists.

The reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin. (c) Radomir Vrbovsky

In reliefs, such as the ones on the Ishtar Gate in Babylon and along the city’s Processional Street, coloured glaze was combined with bricks molded in various shapes to create monumental displays. Most of these decorations are symbols of lions, associated with the goddess Ishtar, flowers, mušḫuššu, a mythological creature associated with the god Marduk, and oxen, associated with the god Adad.

Cylinder Seals

Cylinder seals of the period are less detailed than in previous times and show definite Assyrian influence in the themes depicted. One of the most common scenes depicted on the seals are heroes attacking beasts or mythological creatures. They increasingly fell into disuse over the course of the Neo-Babylonian period, eventually being entirely replaced by stamp seals.

Terracotta Figurines

Made using molds, these figurines were common during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Although the actual purpose of these objects is unclear, they were probably votive in nature, with many showing signs of fertility.

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