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Copyright of History Studies (13094688) is the property of History Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There are four main protagonists in Early Dynastic III contest scenes: two heroes, a bull-man and a human-headed bull. They are usually involved in guarding herbivores against predators. Contrary to common opinion, the protected herbivores are identified apparently as wild rather than domesticated species. The paper explores the role of the depicted beings, the interactions between them, and the secondary motifs that accompany them in the contest scenes. Despite the many composition variants and some intricacies of interpretation, the scene as such is considered consistent and imbued with a deeper mythological meaning, rather than being a purely ornamental arrangement of random decorative elements. The author observes the association between specific participants and certain elements of the contest scene and the god Utu/Shamash or else the mountainous region east of Mesopotamia. In both instances, the association points to the eastern horizon—a liminal location where the Sun-god rises, a region with the symbolism of rebirth bestowed upon it, where fates are determined and judgments passed—which is the setting suggested for the perpetual contest depicted in Mesopotamian glyptic art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Center Papyrological Studies (BCPS) is the property of Ain Shams University, Faculty of Archaeology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water transport was the earliest mode of transport in ancient Mesopotamia. Thanks to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which run along the whole length of Mesopotamia, and a network of canals, river transport facilitated communication, exchange, as well as cultural and military contacts between towns. This paper focuses on the riverine transport in Mesopotamia and its development from the Ubaid (5900-4200 BC) to the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BC). The importance of river transport in Mesopotamia is discussed, considering its role as a means of communication, exchange of goods and ideas, and a factor influencing the sociopolitical transformation in the region. Watercraft is discussed to the full extent, with particular emphasis on different types of ships and their functions. The chronological development of watercraft in Mesopotamia is also analysed based on boat models, cuneiform texts, and representations of boats in the art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]