AN OPEN COLLECTION THESE RECORDS CAME FROM
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC
The Smithsonian's open-access search covers every one of its museums. Its holdings from the biblical world turned out to be thin: a documented demo key allows about thirty calls an hour, and of the records it returned only a handful carry a date inside the period.
11
records held
11
listed on this page
openly licensed photographs
matched to our catalogue
THE OBJECTS
What we hold for this collection.
CDLI Achaemenid A1I ex.02
Achaemenid (547-331 BC) · Persian · clay
CDLI Achaemenid A1I ex.02
DATE
Achaemenid (547-331 BC)
CULTURE
Persian
PERIOD
Achaemenid (547-331 BC)
FINDSPOT
uncertain (mod. uncertain)
MEDIUM
clay
MUSEUM NUMBER
F1974.30
RECORDED HOLDER
Freer Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
No biblical link recorded
Cuneiform Tablet
ca 2004 - 1900 BCE · BCE 2000s; BCE 1000s · mineral aggregate, clay (overall material)
This clay tablet from ancient Mesopotamia features a script called cuneiform. The tablets record business transactions and trade in items such as sheep, goats, oxhide, and barley. Tablets typically had two layers: an outer covering and inner plate. Sealing the plate within the covering protected it from alteration. If there was a dispute over the accuracy of the information on the outer layer, the covering would be…
DATE
ca 2004 - 1900 BCE
PERIOD
BCE 2000s; BCE 1000s
FINDSPOT
Sumerian; Iraq; Babylon; Bābil
MEDIUM
mineral aggregate, clay (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
mineral aggregate, clay (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
NU.79.112.OC12
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
A place-name match in the museum's text — a search hit, not an identification
Named in the record: babylon
Female Divinity Astarte
28 Aug 1992 · Phoenicians · 15 cm
BRONZE STANDING FEMALE FIGURINE, ARMS AT SIDE, LEGS TOGETHER; HOLLOW EYESOCKETS; ANKLE-LENGTH HAIR. GLUED TO CLEAR PLASTIC BASE. VERY GOOD CONDITION. PROVENIENCE UNDOCUMENTED. IDENTIFICATION PROVIDED BY HMSG.
DATE
28 Aug 1992
CULTURE
Phoenicians
PERIOD
1990s; 999-700 BC; 1960s
FINDSPOT
Near East (not certain)
MEDIUM
15 cm
DIMENSIONS
15 cm
MUSEUM NUMBER
370312
RECORDED HOLDER
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
No biblical link recorded
Figure
28 Aug 1992 · Assyrians; Hittites · 10 cm
PROVENIENCE UNDOCUMENTED. IDENTIFICATION PROVIDED BY HMSG.PURCHASED BY J HIRSHHORN FROM THE KLEJMAN GALLERY, J.J., NEW YORK IN 1963. BRONZE STANDING MALE FIGURINE; ABSTRACTED FORM, WITH LONG NARROW BODY AND NECK; ARMS OUTSTRETCHED. VERY LOOSELY ATTACHED TO WOODEN BASE. MINOR SURFACE CORROSION.
DATE
28 Aug 1992
CULTURE
Assyrians; Hittites
PERIOD
1990s; 2000 BC; 1960s
FINDSPOT
Near East (not certain)
MEDIUM
10 cm
DIMENSIONS
10 cm
MUSEUM NUMBER
370312
RECORDED HOLDER
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
No biblical link recorded
Male Figure
28 Aug 1992 · Assyrians; Hittites · 17 cm
BRONZE MALE STANDING FIGURINE; RAISED ARMS, WITH TINY PERFORATION IN RIGHT HAND. DISPROPORTIONATELY LONG TORSO, ABSTRACTED FORM TO BODY IN GENERAL. MINOR SURFACE CORROSION. PROVENIENCE UNDOCUMENTED. IDENTIFICATION PROVIDED BY HMSG.
DATE
28 Aug 1992
CULTURE
Assyrians; Hittites
PERIOD
2000-1000 BC; 1990s; 1960s
FINDSPOT
Near East (not certain)
MEDIUM
17 cm
DIMENSIONS
17 cm
MUSEUM NUMBER
370312
RECORDED HOLDER
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
No biblical link recorded
Phoenician Glass Perfume Bottle
ca 1000-600 BC · BCE 0s · glass (overall material)
Currently not on view
DATE
ca 1000-600 BC
PERIOD
BCE 0s
MEDIUM
glass (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
glass (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
MG.M-12155
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Spade Money, China, 400 BCE
400 BCE · BCE 0s · bronze (overall material)
One (1) spade money (pu coin), Chou Dynasty
DATE
400 BCE
PERIOD
BCE 0s
FINDSPOT
China; East Asia
MEDIUM
bronze (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
bronze (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
NU.32055.4
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Spade Money, China, 400 BCE
400 BCE · BCE 0s · bronze (overall material)
One (1) spade money, Chou Dynasty
DATE
400 BCE
PERIOD
BCE 0s
FINDSPOT
China; East Asia
MEDIUM
bronze (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
bronze (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
NU.77.61.111
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Weights (12)
-1000 (B.C.) · overall: container: 2 7/8 in x 2 3/8 in; 7.3025 cm x 6.0325 cm
Twelve Babylonian stone weights shaped as stylized ducks. Bruno Kisch bought these in Paris in 1960, for the new National Museum of History and Technology.
DATE
-1000 (B.C.)
FINDSPOT
Iraq
MEDIUM
overall: container: 2 7/8 in x 2 3/8 in; 7.3025 cm x 6.0325 cm
DIMENSIONS
overall: container: 2 7/8 in x 2 3/8 in; 7.3025 cm x 6.0325 cm
MUSEUM NUMBER
CH.318233
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Yuan, China, 290 BCE
290 BCE · BCE 0s · bronze (overall material)
One (1) yuan coin
DATE
290 BCE
PERIOD
BCE 0s
FINDSPOT
China; East Asia
MEDIUM
bronze (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
bronze (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
NU.32055.S7
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Yuan, China, 290 BCE
290 BCE · BCE 0s · bronze (overall material)
One (1) yuan coin
DATE
290 BCE
PERIOD
BCE 0s
FINDSPOT
China; East Asia
MEDIUM
bronze (overall material)
DIMENSIONS
bronze (overall material)
MUSEUM NUMBER
NU.32055.S7a
RECORDED HOLDER
National Museum of American History
No biblical link recorded
Records and photographs are the museums' and archives' own, used under the licences each one states. A record here is a record, not an endorsement of any reading of the object.
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