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| Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures |
If you love ancient history, archaeology, and anything to do with Mesopotamia, (and you happen to be in Chicago), this museum is well worth the sweat and blood to find a parking spot! Actual walls and ancient artifacts from as far as Egypt, Israel, and Babylon. A very impressive feat in transporting 40 ton sculptures across the ocean!
This is the museum I placed on my itinerary when I was planning another trip to the middle east and I saw a flight layover in Chicago. Fortunately, I ended up being in Chicago for a convention earlier this year and was able to sneak by.
I'm sharing this, because I know people who actually went to school here, or they have lived in Chicago their entire life and have never heard of the museum!
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| Excavating the Lamassu |
Khorsabad: The Lamassu
Human-headed winged bulls and heroic figures adorned the entrances to the throne room of the Assyrian King Sargon II in his capital city of Dur-Sharrukin, modern Khorsabad. Oriental Institute archaeologists excavating the ruins of that city discovered this colossal sculpture (called a lamassu) in 1929. The more than a dozen pieces into which the lamassu had broken in antiquity were generously given to the Oriental Institute by the Department of Antiquities of Iraq. They were, with great difficulty, transported to Chicago. The fragments were then reassembled and restored in place. It is estimated that the sculpture, which stands over 16 feet tall, weighs approximately 40 tons. The photographs tell the story of the discovery, crating, and transportation of this human-headed winged bull. (text from photo)
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ancient Egyptian pharaoh
This enormous statue of an ancient pharaoh immediately caught my attention. Standing beside it really put its size into perspective. It reminded me of our trip to Egypt 3 years earlier and seeing these ancient statues at the Cairo museum! Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take photos. |
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| Colossal Bull's Head Capital |
At first glance I thought this was an enormous horse's head, but it is actually a 2,500-year-old Persian bull capital from the ancient city of Persepolis in modern-day Iran. It once crowned the top of a palace column, where paired bull heads supported heavy wooden roof beams. Standing beside it gave me a true appreciation for the incredible size and craftsmanship of the ancient Persian Empire.
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| famous Khorsabad Lamassu |
One of the most awe-inspiring exhibits I saw at Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures was this enormous Assyrian Lamassu. Standing more than 16 feet tall, this human-headed winged bull once guarded the entrance to King Sargon II's palace over 2,700 years ago. Pictures simply don't capture its scale.
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| the size of the Lamassu |
Pamela standing beside the bull. We couldn't help but imagine the kings, officials, and visitors who walked past this very guardian in ancient Assyria. One detail I almost missed was that it has five legs—a brilliant design that makes it appear to stand still from the front and walk forward when viewed from the side.
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| Court Attendants - Persian Empire |
One of the exhibits that caught my attention was this massive stone relief from ancient Persepolis. Carved more than 2,500 years ago, these life-sized figures once decorated the royal palaces of the Persian kings. Standing in front of them, I was amazed at how much detail remains in their clothing, hair, and facial features after all these centuries. It felt like looking into the faces of people who lived during one of history's greatest empires.
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| Chicago off in the horizon |
Walking through the galleries felt like stepping back thousands of years in time. The museum houses an incredible collection of authentic artifacts from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Assyria, and other early civilizations. I especially enjoyed seeing the genuine Sumerian cuneiform tablets, statues, pottery, and everyday objects that tell the story of some of the world's first cities.
What makes this museum so special is that these are not reproductions—they are genuine archaeological treasures excavated from some of the most important ancient sites in the world. Whether you're fascinated by the beginnings of writing, biblical history, the Sumerians, Babylonians, or the Assyrians, this museum offers an unforgettable opportunity to experience history up close. It was easily one of my favorite stops in Chicago and a place I would gladly visit again.
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