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From the Paleolithic Age to the 20th Century over 1,000 artifacts exploring the vast Middle Eastern Culture from countries and regions as diverse as: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank, Syria, Turkey and Yemen are on display at the Royal Ontario Museum's Wirth Gallery of the Middle East. |
Title: Panel component for inlay with sacred tree flanked by
human-headed winged bulls, Iron Age Period, circa 800-700 BC
Ziwiyeh, western Iran 955.5
Medium: Gold with repousse decoration
Dimensions: 4.2 (height) x 0.7 (depth), x 10.8 (width) centimetres
Image Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
These artifacts explore the region's contributions to both Eastern and Western civilizations.
Title: Glazed brick wall relief of lion, circa 600 BC
Babylonian Babylon, Central Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Neo-Babylonian Dynasty; reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II,
Medium: Ceramic (Earthenware), Glazed Decoration
Wall decoration of one of many striding lions from the
ceremonial hall of the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.
937.14.1
Image Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
The ancient Babylonian Kingdom contributes this Wall Relief of a majestic lion striding forth. The relief once had a home at the ceremonial palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II. The Babylonian King, sometimes called Nebuchadnezzar the Great, built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife Amytis of Media. The Hanging Gardens were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Title: Ossuary with gabled lid,
Herodian Period, circa 100 BC - AD 100
Jewish, Jerusalem, 910X90.1.A-B
Medium: Limestone, Painted, and inscribed with a Compass
Image Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
The Middle East is the birth place of three monothesistic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Any cultural exploration of that culture by definition must include pieces exploring each of these religions.
An ossuary, such as the one from the Herodian Period, was used as a final resting place for human bones. Occassionally the relic would have an inscription indicating the name of the person who had passed away.
Title: Tile from an architectural inscription of the Qur'an,, circa 1310
Sura 76:24-25 Possibly from the shrine of Abd al-Samad, Natanz Kashan, Iran
Medium: Ceramic (Stonepaste, Moulded and Carved), with Tin-Opacified,
in-glaze Cobalt-Blue and Copper-Turquoise, Overglaze Lustrepaint
909.25.11
Image Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
Book and manuscripts provide important information about past cultures, when they are available. Some are decorated such as the Tile from an architectural inscription of the Qur'an that dates from the early 14th Century.
Like the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery, much can be learned, thanks to the donors who allow the Royal Ontario Museum to continue it's role as a leading culturing attraction.
Alfred Wirth said, “Museums have an important role to play in furthering our understanding of ourselves, and of each other. The ROM does an excellent job of this through its diverse holdings. I am delighted that the Middle Eastern collections will be displayed in the Wirth Gallery of the Middle East, as so much of our civilization originates from this region.”
Title: Dish with peony design imitating early Ming porcelain,
with "heaped-and-piled" brush, c.1500 (Safavid Dynasty Period)
Nishapur, Iran
Medium: Ceramic (Stonepaste, thrown), with Cobalt-Blue Paint under
Colourless Alkali Glaze
Dimensions: 7 (height) x 37 (outside diameter) centimetres
2004.101.1 This purchase was made possible with the
generous support of the Louise Hawley Stone Strategic
Acquisitions Fund.
Image Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
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William Thorsell, the ROM’s Director and CEO, said “When making his generous pledge to the Museum, Alfred Wirth challenged others to give. As a result, new support for the Renaissance ROM campaign was generated as others took up the challenge. With extreme gratitude of this giving gesture, the ROM has proudly named the Wirth Gallery of the Middle East in Alfred Wirth’s honor.” |
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Wirth Gallery of the Middle East
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto:
Permanent Gallery