Manual of Oriental Antiquities

"Manual of Oriental Antiquities" by Ernest Babelon is an exploration of the artistic brilliance of ancient Near Eastern civilizations, stretching from Mesopotamia to Persia, before Greek and Roman dominance. The book highlights the deep artistic achievements of societies like those in Chaldæa, Assyria, and Persia, demonstrating how their art influenced later cultures. It showcases recent archaeological breakthroughs, like those at Tello, which have unveiled unique insights into ancient architecture and sculpture. The author connects "Persian art" and "Jewish art" back to the roots of Chaldæo-Assyrian and Egyptian inspirations. The manual presents these civilizations as possessing a creative vitality that significantly shaped the artistic world.