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Near Eastern Art Chapter Two Mesopotamia Growth of agriculture, surplus of food, spurred development of city states. Less people had to work so they could do other things such as specialize skills. More monumental architecture because it didn’t have to be constantly transported. Cuneiform-written wedge language originally born so they could keep track of records of agricultural wealth. Sumerian Subject is worshippers or important mythological stories. Style: used expensive materials, traditional dress, hierarchy of scale (the most important figures are the largest) and registers (a narrative band). Many works were meant as votive offerings (gifts for the gods) or items to honor God. Standard of Ur-War and Peace Side. Royal Cemetery. Discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley. Figures have broad frontal shoulders. Their bodies are in profile with an emphasis on their eyes, eyebrows, and ears. Registers read left to right and from bottom to top. Lapis lazuli is a very important and often used blue stone. It is common to see animals acting like people. Inlay- a stone or jewel placed into another surface. Examples include carving, et cetera. Sumerian Architecture Each city state was planned around a ziggurat (high stepped platform with a temple on the top). The ziggurat was aligned with the cardinal directions. The “Home of the gods” was above. Temples were visited by deities so they were sacred spaces where the divine and earthly met. Akkadian Subject: kings and deities Hierarchy of scale, horns and celestial bodies to represent the gods. Stele-large vertical stone monument that marks a location or documents an important event Square beards were common Head of Akkadian rule-2200 BCE-Copper Lost wax casting-a clay model is created. Then a mold is created around the original model. Then wax is poured into the mold. Once the wax is cooled, the mold is removed. A new mold was applied to the exterior of the wax model and a clay core was poured inside the hollow wax. The wax is melted out and replaced by molten metal. Babylonian Rulers and deities Horns on gods, hierarchy of scale, twisted perspective, stele Hammurabi ruled from 1792-1750 BCE.He was famous for his conquests and his set of law codes. Famous Stele of Hammurabi-Made of Black basalt. Shows Hammurabi standing before the sun god Shamash. Hammurabi raises his hand in respect, which shows his divine appointment. Shamash usually has a helmet of 8 horns, but only 4 are shown. His beard is also twisted strangely and foreshortened to make him appear more natural. Shamash extends a rod and a ring to Hammurabi. Stylus-a tool used to press into a soft surface and leave an imprint. Neo-Babylonian The Babylonians were conquered by the Hittites around 1595 BCE. Then Assyrians conquered much of Mesopotamia and ruled until they were defeated by the Chaladeans around 600 BCE. Nebuchadnezzar II rebuilt much of Babylon. The city’s hanging gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Babylon also had the Tower of Babelthe tallest ziggurat. Subject-guardian figures (lions, bulls, dragons) painted on bricks to protect the city. Style-glazed brick (waterproof) Significance-Blue color shows importance and wealth in Babylon. Ishtar Gate Blue glazed brick covered the mud walls Animals guard entrance to the city. Lions represent Ishtar, the goddess of war and wisdom. Dragons represent Marduk, the patron god of Babylon. Bulls represent Adad, god of harvest and storms. Crenellation is a decorative cutout top that gives the gate a more war-like appearance. Assyrian Subject-lamassu (winged 5 legged human headed creatures). Composite creature (made from parts of different animals) and warriors. Style- 3 quarter view. Combination of frontal and profile view. Meant to be viewed from the side and head-on. Significance-Guardian figures protect a special place. Often flank an entrance. .Relief sculpture-sculpture which projects from a flat background Persian Subject-monumental architecture Style-columns topped by bull shaped capitals (the top element of a column) Significance-monumental architecture was used for festivals and grand ceremonies. There are relief sculptures throughout Persepolis depicting people bringing gifts and bounty to the treasury.