Peace in Mesopotamia

I seem to have lived at the British Museum for the past few days - so much to see!

Today, my favourite exhibit was included in a special exhibition in honour of horses. It was '"The Standard of Ur", a hollow box from the ancient city of Ur that is nearly 5000 years old. One side displays scenes of war, with wheeled wagons and chariots (actually showing how other animals were used before horses); the other side showing peaceful scenes from the same culture.

It's scenes of the king's banquet and people leading their farm animals - from the peaceful side - that I've selected to blip. I liked the Billy Goats Gruff (as I saw them!) and loved the colour and detail. They were created using inlaid mosaic of shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli, set in bitumen.

Looking at this afresh: I wonder if our English Morris Dancing tradition originated in Mesopotamia? Surely that man, third from left in the centre panel, is carrying handkerchiefs ... (!)