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The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, a division of the University of Chicago, is a not-for-profit institution. All proceeds from the Museum Suq go to support departments and projects for the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, particularly the Research Archives

Gifts


A Lamassu Lapel Pin

Replica of our own human headed winged bull from Khorsabad, Iraq, 721-705 BC.  Part of the entrance to Sargon II throne room.  pewter with antiqued gold finish. 7/8" wide. tie tack post with butterfly clasp closure

 

$16.00


A Lamassu Cuff links

Created for us from our own Assyrian Winged Bull.  Approx. .75"

Pewter with antique gold finish  Order#199354

$30.00


A Lamassu Pendant

Created for us from our own Assyrian winged Bull. Approx. .75"

 

Pewter with antique gold finish, 18" Chain included. Spring Ring closure.  Oder#199834

$31.00


A Map of the Ancient Middle East

A copy of the Orientation Map in the first gallery of the Museum.  Lists most of the relevant ancient sites on a subdued background of the current boundaries of the countries of the Middle East.  Great for reference and class rooms. 27" x 19". The lettering is small but the map is very inclusive.

 

$5.00


A Postcard Set

From our Current Special Exhibit


Joseph Lindon Smith

The Persepolis Paintings

A set of 8 postcards 5" x 7"

Joseph Lindon Smith (American, 1863-1950) was invited to Persepolis by James Henry Breasted, founder of the Oriental Institute, to join the OI Iranian/Persian Expecition (1931-39).  The goal of the excavation was to rigorously document and preserve the site for perpetuity.  

 

 

$15.00


Back To School Cuneiform Socks

The Socks of Shulgi the Runner

In a Sumerian poem king Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047BCE) claimed he had super human powers and he could worship at the temples of two different cities on the same day. Which would mean he could run 200 mph!

80% cotton/nylon blend.  20% spandex
Medium:  Women US 6-10   Men US 5-9 EU 36-40
Large:  Women US 9-13   Men US 8-12.5  EU 41-47

Let us know which size you would like in the Comments 

$20.00


Back to School Dog T Shirt

Double sided T Shirt with the Akkadian on the front. The dog is reproduced from a clay figurine excavated at Nippur and dating to the UrIII period. ISACM A30997  Translation is on the back. 

Teal with white print.   100% preshrunk cotton

Sizes L, XL

Let us know what size you would like in the comments

$26.00


Back to School Dog T Shirt XXL

Double sided TShirt with the Akkadian on the front. The dog is reproduced from a clay figurine excavated at Nippur and dating to the UrIII period. ISAC A30997 Translation is on the back. 

Teal with white print.    100% preshrunk cotton

Size XXL

$30.00


Back to School in Babylonia, Exhibition Catalogue

 

Edited by Susanne Paulus with Marta Díaz Herrera, Jane Gordon, Madeline Ouimet, Colton G. Siegmund, and Ryan D. Winters

This volume—the companion book to the special exhibition Back to School in Babylonia of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of the University of Chicago—examines education in the Old Babylonian period through the lens of House F in Nippur, excavated jointly by the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1950s and widely believed to have been a scribal school. The book’s twenty essays offer a state-of-the-art synthesis of research on the history of House F and the educational curriculum documented on the many tablets discovered there, while the catalog’s five chapters present the 126 objects included in the exhibition, the vast majority of them cuneiform tablets

$39.95


Back to School Riddle T Shirt

Double sided t shirt with the Akkadian on the front and the translation of the riddle on the back.

Black with white print 100% preshrunk cotton

Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL

Let us know what size you would like in the comments. 

$26.00


Back to School Riddle T Shirt XXL

Double sided t shirt with the Akkadian on the front and the translation on the back.

Black with white print.   100% preshrunk cotton

Size XXL

$30.00


Back to School The Adventures of Inanaka and Tuni

3800 years ago in Nippur, Inanaka wants to become a scribe. Follow her as she learns to make a tablet and write her name, solve many puzzles, and prepares for a festival with the help of her dog, Tuppi.

$4.99


Back to School The Mug of Mighty Inana

The Sumerian goddess Inana known in Akkadian as Ishtar is the goddess of love and war, one of the most important figures of the pantheon. The image is from a cylinder seal in our collection ISACM A27903, dating to the old Akkadian period (ca. 2250 BCE). 
The inscription is the first line of the poem Inana and Ebih by history’s first named author Enheduana.  
 

11 ounce ceramic

$15.00


Back to School Tuppi, The Tablet

Tuppi (Toop-ee) came to life one day when a wise but lonely old scribe was writing a riddle about the scribal school. He began to write on the flat front of the tablet, flipping it over vertically from the bottom, and continuing to write down the curved reverse.  When he drew a double line to indicate his tablet was finished, the god Enki cast a spell. Suddenly, a smiling face appeared on the surface of the tablet, and winked at him!

Tuppi’s name means “my tablet”. 
 

plushie 3 x 5.5”  cuneiform on both sides. Comes with translation of the riddle. 

$20.00


Cufflinks Life, Prosperity and Health

Cuff links with the Egyptian Greetting, "May you live, be prosperous, be healthy".  blue enamel and g/p.     5/8" diameter

$42.50


Cuneiform

Cuneiform was arguably the oldest script in the world and was used for several different languages.  This short introduction is the perfect guide to not only understanding this ancient script but also the ancient past.  

Irving Finkel and Jonathan Taylor are curators of the cuneiform tablets in the British Museum

$18.95

E F. Schmidt, Persepolis III The Royal Tombs and other Monuments

OIP 70   University of Chicago Press 1970   Out of Print

Descriptive documentation of the tombs of the Achaemenid monarchs at Nash-i Rustam, and Persepolis 

174 pages  53 figures   105 plates   Hard bound 12 x 16"

Previously owned by Chauncy Harris 

$500.00


Egypt Royal clip on earrings

Taken from the original found in King Tut's tomb.  Lapis cabachon with gold finish CLIP ON earrings   7/8" diameter

$42.00


Egyptian Handwoven Rug City Scene

Handwoven in Egypt, wool, beautiful rusts and oranges 6’ x 6’2”

$950.00


Egyptian Handwoven rug Starry Night Scene

Handwoven Wool Rug made in Egypt. Exquisite blues not often seen. 6’4” x 4’9”

$1200.00


Egyptian Rug with domestic scene

Handwoven in Egypt.  Natural wool. 2’6” x 4’7”

$250.00


Evans, A Novel, Neferura, Pharaoh's Daughter


Signed copy by author and ISAC graduate, Malayna Evans, Ph.D, of Neferura: The Pharaoh's Daughter, a thrilling tale of the forgotten daughter of a legendary Egyptian pharaoh and the path she must take to escape her own dangerous fate.

 

Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country. When she overhears her half brother's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant.

$16.99


Griffin handmade sterling silver cuff

One of a kind handmade in Turkey solid sterling silver 1 5/8" wide cuff.  The image of the winged griffin with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, comes from the Megiddo ivories in our own collection.  The ivories were excavated by the O I in 1936-7 at Megiddo, Israel.  Dating to the Late Bronze Age IIB ca. 1300-1200BC 

 

$350.00


Hieroglyphic Mug

This high quality mug is Made in Egypt and is comletely covered with the hieroglyphic alphabet.  You can practice your hieroglyphs with your morning coffee. Since it has gold paint, hand washing is recommended.

$15.00


Highlights of the Collections

Highlights of the Collections of the Oriental Institute Museum, edited by Jean M. Evans, Jack Green, and Emily Teeter.

This guide to over 100 highlights of the collections of the Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago presents objects from ancient Mesopotamia, Syria-Anatolia, the Levant, Egypt, Persia, Nubia, and objects from the Islamic collection. It features all new photography, provenance information, and a brief description of each object, as well as a history of the collections and a concordance.

152 pp., 140 illustrations (most color); soft cover, 6" x 10"
 

$14.95


I'm Tutankamun! The Real Story of Ancient Egypt's Most Famous Child King

Do we really need another children's story book about Tutankhamun? Yes! This book presents the authentic, factual story of ancient Egypt's most famous child king, based on current Egyptology, plus, for those wanting to learn more, many sidebars with in-depth information and an essay about the hieroglyphs in the book. 

Written by an Oriental Institute docent, who after many years of questions from children decided to write a book that answers those questions. Thoroughly researched and vetted with charming graphics.

 

$12.95


ISAC magnet

ISAC Magnet with new logo a gold lotus on a black background. 2.5 x 3”

$3.95


ISAC Mug

Slightly tapered black ceramic mug with the new Lotus Logo.  12 oz

$8.50


ISAC Notebook

Landscape spiral bound Notebook, black with the new gold lotus logo.
Pages with a line grid pattern to facilitate drawing. 7 x 5.25”

$8.00


ISAC Stone Coaster

Stone Coaster with cork backing displaying the new colorful Lotus logo.  Stone absorbs moisture from your drink. 4” diameter 

 

$4.50


King Tut T shirt

Our very own King Tut on a 100% preshrunk terracotta cotton t shirt with black ink. Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL.  Let us know in the comment section which size you would like.

$21.00


King Tut T shirt XXL

Our very own King Tut on a 100% terracotta preshrunk cotton with black ink.

$25.00


KMT Magazine Spring 2021

The Spring 2021 issue of KMT magazine

$9.50


KMT Magazine Fall 2021

The Fall 2021 issue of KMT mgazine

 

$9.50


KMT Magazine Summer 2021

2021 Summer issue of KMT Magazine 

$9.50


Lapis and blue glass cylinders

Graduated lapis chips seperated by blue glass cylinders.  19" shimers in the light

Strung by The Suq.

$25.00


Persian Love Poetry

An anthology, extracted form the best of traditional and modern Persian poetry, talks of the many kinds of love.  Each poem is illustrated with beautiful Persian art and a brief biographical note on the poet.  A Perfect introduction to Persian Art and Literature.

$15.00


Persian Striding Lion Brooch

 

From an Achaemenian gold ornament in the collection of the Oriental Institute. Originally made by the hammering process, with the tail partly in repouse and partly in gold wire.  From ancient Persia, 5th-4th Century B. C.

gold filled over brass,  very intricate, aprroximately 1.25" x .88" 

$45.00


Royal Game of Ur

Reproduction of a game found at Ur during joint University of Pennsylvania and British Museum expeditions led by Leonard Woolley between 1924 and 1934. The originals were made with wood frames, inlaid with lapis lazuli and shell fragments.

Our game is a reconstruction, made from a sturdy painted wooden frame. Game rules are included, based on those of the original British Museum reproduction and our own research. Order # 1106

$53.00


Senet

The Senet game is played on boards simliar to those found in the tombs of Egyptian Kings such as Ramses III and Tutankhamen. The Egyptians referred to the game in hieroglyphs as one of "passages" with the movement of the pieces representing the wanderings of the soul in the underworld. The hieroglyphs on the sides of the Senet game are reproductions of hieroglyphs found on a 3,000 year-old papyrus and describe the wandering in the game. The game rules of play have been enjoyed by thousands of game enthusiasts. We believe they will give you hours of entertainment and the game will be a beautiful addition to your home.

  • Includes wooden game board, playing pieces, “throw-sticks” and instructions  Order # 1795

$45.00


Sugar comes from Arabic

Written by Barbara Breasted Whitsides, the grandaughter of James Henry Breasted founder of the Oriental Institute.  We've been told by many that this beginner's guide to Arabic letters and words is quite good, and many who have learned Arabic, wish they had started with this book.  It is spiral bound and comfortably demystifies the Arabic alphabet letter by letter.

 

$22.00


The Precinct of Mut at Luxor: Site Drawings By Martyl

We will miss Martyl Langsdorf whose 1987 exhibit at the Oriental Institute was enjoyed by all.

Poster 20" x 28"   Order # 1786

$5.00

Children's Books


A coloring book of Ancient Egypt

48 images to color of famous Egyptian scenes.8.5 x 11". From King Tut and Cleopatra to the dancing girls and Isis.

 

$5.95


Evans, Aria Jones & the Guardian's Weja When evil threatens the past, Aria and Jagger will risk everything to save the future

Just Published!

Autographed by Author.

This fictional story loaded with historical details and ancient actors is geared toward middle school.  Written by Malayna Evans, an OI Alumna with a PhD in Egyptian History from the University of Chicago, it is part of a time travel series where Jagger and his younger sister Aria go on a magical adventure full of gods, mummies and wriggling creatures.

 

 

 

 

 

$15.99


Gilgamesh the King

The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest stories in the world, is divided into three episodes with each page full of beautiful color drawings.  In this episode Gilgamesh the tyrant meets the "uncivilized" Enkidu and learns lessons of friendship and true humanity that will change him forever.  Order #2900

$8.95


The Ancient Near East: A Bellerophon Coloring Book

$4.95


The Last Quest of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest stories in the world, is divided into three episodes with each page full of beautiful color drawings.  In this episode Gilgamesh, the mighty king of Uruk, sets out on his last quest to find the secret of immortality.  Order#2903

$8.95


The Revenge of Ishtar

The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest stories in the world, is divided into three episodes with each page full of beautiful color drawings.  In this exciting episode Gilgamesh the King and his best friend Enkidu undertake heroic adventures and slay terrible monsters.  Order # 2901

$8.95

Books


Ancient Iraq

Covers the political, cultural and socio-ecconomic history as well as the daily life of Mesoptamia from prehistory to the early common era. The Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians inhabited this area between the rivers of the Tigris and the Euphrates that is mostly common day Iraq.

$19.00


Ancient Israel

This volume details some of the most extraordinary artifacts ever excavated in the southern Levant that are on permanent display in the Oriental Institute Museum.  It documents the stratigraphy of Megiddo from The Early Bronze Age to the Iron I Period and presents a selection of highlights from the Institute's greater Syro-Palestine collection.

Gabrielle V. Novacek

 Oriental Institute Museum Publications 31    Order #15034

$35.00

Sale: $22.95


Between Heaven and Earth: Birds in Ancient Egypt. Edited by Rozenn Bailleul-LeSuer

This is the first comprehensive study of birds in ancient Egyptian society, economy, art, and religion. Essays address the role of birds in the religious landscape, their use in hieroglyphic and Coptic scripts, birds as protective symbols, as decorative motifs, and as food. Plus a group of essays on “Egyptian Birds and Modern Science.”

Pp. 232; 210 illustrations (most in color)   Order # 16388

$29.95


Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past. Edited by Geoff Emberling and Katharyn Hanson, 2008.

This is the catalog for the Oriental Institute Museum Special Exhibit of the same name. With an introduction by Professor McGuire Gibson, this up-to-date account describes the state of the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad and chronicles the damage done to archaeological sites by illicit digging.

$34.50

Sale: $22.95


Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar

Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar    

$69.00


Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar Sign List

Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar Sign List

$24.00


Our Work: Modern Jobs – Ancient Origins

Our Work: Modern Jobs – Ancient Origins is the catalog for a photo-based exhibit that reveals that many modern professions originated in the ancient Middle East. Artifacts from the Oriental Institute Museum were paired with a baker, farmer, manicurist, brewer, poet, boat builder, judge and other professionals to show the antiquity of these jobs. The portraits are accompanied by commentary on the contributions of the ancient Middle East to life today and new insights into how members of the public view their relationship to the past. This volume will be of interest to educators, historians, and those interested in fine-arts photography.

Photographs by Jason Reblando, interviews by Matthew Cunningham, edited by Jack Green and Emily Teeter

Pp. 128; 24 tintype portraits, 46 illustrations    Order # 17116

$24.95

Sale: $19.95


The Life of Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt. Edited by Emily Teeter and Janet H. Johnson. 2009.

This companion volume and catalog to the exhibit of the same name traces the life of Meresamun whose mummy, dating to about 800 B.C., is one of the highlights of the Oriental Institute's Museum. The text introduces the historical and cultural setting of Egypt during her time. Essays and artifacts examine the role of music and of musicians in Egyptian temple cults, their training, and the types of musical instruments that Meresamun would have used. The life of Meresamun outside the temple is explored, with emphasis upon her social and legal status, what other professions were available to her, and what home life was like. The study of the life of this individual is augmented by forensic evidence obtained with the newest generation of CT scanners that sheds light on Meresamun's life and death.

$37.95

Sale: $22.95