Exhibiting interaction: displaying the arts of the ancient Middle East in their broader context

Abstract

After presenting a brief history of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, this chapter examines the concepts behind a series of special exhibitions organized by the department: “Art of the First Cities,” “Beyond Babylon,” and “Assyria to Iberia.” These exhibitions aimed to display the arts of the ancient Middle East within their broader context and focused on the extensive interconnections among these rich and complex civilizations and surrounding areas. It further considers how this approach, both for the permanent collection and special exhibitions, fits within the greater mission of an encyclopedic museum such as the Metropolitan.