One of the earliest pieces in this collection is a terracotta plaque from the early 2nd millennium BCE. It portrays a man engaging in intercourse with a woman from behind. This artwork is a testament to the ancient Mesopotamians’ openness and comfort with expressing human sexuality.

A Babylonian clay plaque from The Israel Museum takes us into a more elaborate scene. It depicts a similar intimate act but with a unique twist. The woman, while engaging in the act, is also sipping beer through a straw from a jug. This intriguing blend of sensuality and everyday life hints at the normalization of such depictions in their culture.

From 1800 BCE, we find a portrayal of a couple engaging in intercourse while the woman enjoys a drink. This suggests a harmonious connection between lust and merriment.

A Sumerian plaque from 2000–1500 BCE depicts a couple in a missionary position, emphasizing the tenderness of their connection. The woman’s legs wrapped around the man symbolize the intimacy and affection in their relationship.

Known as the ‘Burney Relief,’ this artifact from the 19th or 18th century BCE is shrouded in mystery. It is thought to represent either Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, or her sister Ereshkigal, the Queen of the underworld. Its ambiguous nature invites contemplation about the intersection of love and death.

A Sumerian pottery tile from the 2nd to 1st millennium BCE showcases a naked woman standing above a phallus. The symbolism in this piece invites us to ponder the deeper spiritual and erotic connections the Mesopotamians might have perceived.

This Babylonian terracotta plaque from 2100–1500 BCE captures a man penetrating a woman from behind. What makes this piece extraordinary is the woman simultaneously sipping beer from a jug using a straw. It beautifully weaves together earthly pleasures with the intimate act.

Another Sumerian or Babylonian terracotta plaque from the 2nd to 1st millennium BCE portrays a similar scene of a man penetrating a woman from behind while she enjoys a drink. It reaffirms the Mesopotamians’ comfort in expressing both sensuality and everyday life.

This terracotta plaque from the 2nd millennium BCE poignantly captures a man and a woman in the act of lovemaking. It’s a testament to their ability to use art to express desire and affection.

In another terracotta plaque from the 2nd millennium BCE, a man and a woman are entwined in an intimate embrace, celebrating the beauty of physical love.

A Sumerian clay impression from a cylinder seal, dated 6th to 4th century BC, tells a more complex story. It portrays a man who has just discovered his wife’s infidelity, highlighting the multifaceted nature of human relationships.

The final artifact in our collection, a Babylonian terracotta plaque from 2000–1500 BCE, once again features a couple engaging in intercourse. The woman is savoring her beer through a straw from a jug while the man penetrates her from behind. It captures the intertwining of sensual and everyday pleasures.