EXHIBITION

MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE IN MESOPOTAMIAN LIFE

The most important outreach activity of the GALATEO project was the organization of an exhibition at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology di Philadelphia (Penn Museum), entitled Manners and Etiquette in Mesopotamian Life.

The exhibition leads the visitor to explore Mesopotamian rules for correct behavior during meetings and banquets.

The exhibition was opened on March 2, 2023, and will be on view until March 2025.

IMAGINE YOURSELF MEETING A DEITY OR EATING WITH THE ASSYRIAN KING

To better communicate the results of the GALATEO project, the animation of two artefacts were made in cooperation with Steve K. Simons, animator and computer expert, and founder of the Panoply Vase Animation Project. Both animations are currently on view in the Penn Museum.

UR-NAMU STELE (ca. 2100 BCE)

This is the second register of the famous Ur-Namu stele. It shows the king who pours a libation to the moon god, Nanna, on the right, then pours a second libation to the moon goddess, Ningal, on the left.

The animation highlights the protocol and etiquette rules that both humans and deities followed during an official meeting: a minor deity acts as a mediator and stands behind the worshipper with both raised hands; the worshipper duly worships Nanna and Ningal with erect posture and direct gaze; the goddess politely makes a gesture of greeting or blessing.

Panoply Vase Animation Project

ASSYRIAN IVORY PLAQUE (9th century BCE)

In this animated scene based on the ivory object, the king sits in the middle surrounded by banqueters and servants. Arranged hierarchically, the figure immediately in front of the king is the crown prince, who is distinguished by his position and his diadem having ribbons. The king receives attention from a servant who fans him with a flywhisk. Royal cooks, banquet supervisors and palace supervisors worked together to make the banquet a success.

Panoply Vase Animation Project