Ancient Iran in the ISAC Museum

From Prehistory to the Achaemenid Period

By (author) Abbas Alizadeh

Book cover: Ancient Iran in the ISAC Museum

Extent: 145 pages

Publisher: Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

Subjects: Ancient Near East, Art & Art History

Series: ISAC Museum Publications

Series volume number: 3

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(March 2026)

ISBN: 9781614911388

Price: $29.95

In stock

PDF (Published)

(March 2026)

ISBN: 9781614911395

Price: $29.95

A richly illustrated survey of ancient Iranian art and archaeology, showcasing artifacts from the ISAC Museum’s Persian Gallery. Spanning prehistoric settlements to Persepolis, it highlights the material culture, artistic achievement, and historical depth of one of the ancient world’s most influential regions.



Discover the splendor of ancient Iran through a stunning selection of artifacts from the Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery at the University of Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum. Featuring a wide array of objects—from finely worked metal and ceramics to monumental stone carvings—this volume reveals the artistic achievements and cultural depth of a region that flourished for millennia. Most of the objects were excavated between 1931 and 1972 during ISAC’s expeditions, which investigated sites ranging from the prehistoric settlements of Chogha Mish, Tall-e Bakun A and B, and Tall-e Geser to Surkh Dum-i-Luri in Luristan and the imperial center of Persepolis. Together, they form the largest and most comprehensive collection of ancient Iranian material in the United States. At once visually striking and academically rigorous, this volume highlights the richness of ancient Iran’s many traditions and the enduring impact of its artistic and cultural achievements.

  • By (author) Abbas Alizadeh