Unpublished Mace heads from the Early Dynastic Period on display : At the Erbil Civilization Museum

Abstract

The research dealt with an important aspect of ancient Mesopotamian art and civilisation, as it dealt with one of the royal insignia (the sceptre) that was given to kings during their coronation, which is considered a symbol of power and strength in Mesopotamia, and which was used at the same time for another function, which is fighting, and showed us the cuneiform writings and scenes. Art from the days of the Sumerians in the third millennium BC, to their interest in the weapons they used in their military campaigns, and they sought to acquire the best of them and were keen to take care of them so that they could defend themselves. Thus, military institutions achieved a great step in terms of organisation, especially at the dawn of the dynasties (2800–2350 BC). 

Our choice of research topic was that it is an important part of the arts, in addition to the important role that the army and weapons in general play in the lives of nations. Despite its importance, it has yet to receive detailed studies, especially concerning weapons and their types discovered through archaeological excavations.

This research includes a summary, introduction, conclusions, and the importance of wands in works of art, their types in the era of the dawn of dynasties, and the primary materials used in their manufacture, along with a description of the pieces currently displayed in the Erbil Civilizational Museum (6) and their analysis, study, and comparison with other models.