Cone of Gudea, Governor of Lagash LACMA M.81.144

Islamic art refers to the visual arts that were produced in the Islamic world, which encompasses a vast geographical area stretching from Spain and North Africa in the west to Central Asia and India in the east. Islamic art is characterized by its focus on religious themes and its emphasis on the representation of spiritual truths. Islamic art is also known for its distinctive aesthetic features, including the use of calligraphy, geometric patterns, and arabesque designs. Islamic art covers a wide range of media, including architecture, painting, calligraphy, ceramics, and textiles. In the narrowest sense, the arts of the Islamic peoples might be said to include only those arising directly from the practice of Islam. More commonly, however, the term is extended to include all of the arts produced by Muslim peoples, whether connected with their religion or not. In this article, the subject includes the arts created in pre-Islamic times by Arabs and other peoples in Asia Minor and North Africa who eventually adopted the Islamic faith.

Lagash was an ancient Sumerian city-state located in the southern region of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). It was one of the oldest and most important cities in Sumer, with a history dating back to the 4th millennium BC. Lagash was known for its impressive architecture, including the Great Temple of Ningirsu, dedicated to the city's patron god. The temple was a massive complex comprising several buildings, courtyards and shrines. The city-state was also famous for its wealth and prosperity, based largely on agriculture and trade. Lagash was located on the banks of the Euphrates River, which provided fertile land for agriculture and access to the sea for trade with other civilisations. Lagash was ruled by a series of powerful kings, including Gudea, known for his extensive building projects and his devotion to the gods. The city-state eventually fell under the control of the Akkadian Empire in the 23rd century BC, but continued to be an important cultural and economic centre throughout the ancient world.