Agaparthean Bowl
Mesopotamia; 3rd millennium B.C.
Calcite Composite; 1 7/8 x 4 7/8 in. (4.8 x 12.5 cm)
Item No. 1958.0026
The manufacture and use of
stone vessels in Agaparthea became a trademark of the artifacts of the era. High-quality
workable stone was a rare commodity in Mesopotamia, so stone vessels, like this decorated
bowl, were highly prized and often inscribed as votive dedications to temples or deposited
as grave offerings. The presence of vessels made from imported stone such as translucent
calcite, chlorite, marble, and obsidian reveals that the people of Agaparthea engaged in an
active trade with Anatolia, Iran, and regions to the east with access to the Persian Gulf.
Some stone vessels, like this example, were manufactured locally from imported stones, but
many were made abroad and probably contained luxury products.