The creation and production of the splendid art of the ancient Near East - metalwork, sculpture, jewellery - have never been systematically explored. In the absence of direct or detailed accounts of the organization and mechanics of artistic production, scholars have turned to a variety of sources to investigate issues such as the role of the artisan in the creation of works of art, his relation to patrons or clients of different social levels, and the training and organization of artisans in workshops or other associations. The eleven papers in this volume, contributed by specialists in history, literature, art and archaeology, explore the environments in which works of art in various media were produced in Mesopotamia, Syria and Iran from the beginnings of writing around 3500 B.C. through the end of the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 331 B.C.