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The Ancient Near East:
Mesopotamia
 When-Between
3800-2700 BCE
Where-Modern
day Iraq
Who-Sumerians
What-First written language,
temples, and sculpted figures
Why-Religiously inspired
The ancient culture of Mesopotamia flourished
because they live between two rivers…the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers.
 The rivers caused rich soil=lots of food=time to
create art
 Their art was stylized.
No details, very simple.

Whoo Hoo-first system of writing!!!
Created a system of wedge shaped
marks in clay that was the earliest
form of written language known as
cuneiform.
 Used stylized pictogram
system
 Used to record laws, taxes,
trade, and religious doctrine
as well as daily life

Votive Figures-Sculptures
Sculptures-Human
figures have big eyes
which were “windows to
the soul” and show
willingness to be open to
god’s will
 They are made from
stone/marble
 Sculptures have praying
hands and pray to many
gods-polytheistic

Descriptive Perspective-the sculptures size
is relative to their status in society
 Gods are depicted the tallest, priests the
next tallest, and then worshippers the
shortest

Temples
The Sumerians constructed huge temples of mudbrick fired in the sun
 ziggurats- the high temple platform, usually built in
the form of a truncated stepped pyramid with
ramp like stairways leading to
the sanctuary at the top.
Cella-the main
rectangular room of
a temple containing
the image of a god or
goddess. Sacrifices
were often made here.

These “man-made mountains” were
dwelling places for the gods
 They believed they left to reside in the sky
at night
 Only priests were allowed inside

Most famous Ziggurat
The most famous of all Ziggurats was
the Biblical Tower of Babel, which
was completely destroyed.
 The mud-brick
deteriorated
and left only the
foundations
of most ziggurats.

The Last Ziggurat
The Ziggurat at Ur
2100-2000 BC
 Present day Iraq
 Includes stepped
levels, dramatic
staircases,
and subtle curves
 Used to bridge the
gap between the
earthly and the
divine-therefore the
structure is as high
as possible.


Cylinder Seal
Made from clay
 Used to mark documents or property (like
a signature or tamper proof seal)
 Carved with decorative design
 Usually very small (2-10 cm)
 Often worn around the neck


The seals create continuous designs