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Ancient Near Eastern Art
Sumer
Ancient Sumer
• Hunter and gathers change to farmers and herders;
this change first took place in Mesopotamia
• Mesopotamia – Greek word that means the land
between the Tigris and Euphrates
• Fertile crescent – the land mass between Turkey and
Syria on one side and Iran and Iraq on the other
• Giant, lush oasis
• Only a portion of society needed to farm while the
others could focus on manufacturing, trade,
administration
• Complex urban society
Developments
• Writing developed as cuneiform – wedgeshaped signs
• The nation was not unified, but rather, was a
dozen or so city-states
• Rulers were thought to be the gods’
representatives on earth
• Rulers and priest directed daily activities
• The community began to defend and protect
against the weather
Religion
• Local god played a central role in daily
life
• The god’s temple was the nucleus of
the city and was economic and
administrative center
• The god was the protector of the citystate
• The temple was a city within a city
where priests and scribes carried on
official business
12. White Temple and ziggurat
Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
mud brick
12. White Temple and ziggurat
Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
mud brick
The White Temple:
• The temple was home to the legendary
Gilgamesh
• Temple was made of mud brick that is white
washed
• Corners were oriented to cardinal points of
the compass
• Made to accommodate only a select few
worshippers (61 x 16 feet)
• Temple has several chambers
• Central hall or cella was for the divinity
• Temple waiting rooms – wait for the deity to
appear
(Tallest ziggurat – Tower of Babel – 270 ft. high)
Female head (possibly Inanna)
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
marble
approximately 8 in. high
Warka Vase
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
alabaster
approximately 3 ft. high
Warka Vase
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
alabaster
approximately 3 ft. high
Statuettes of worhippers
from Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) Iraq
ca. 2,700 B.C.E.
gypsum, shell, black limestone
tallest 30 in. high
Statuette of worhipper from Eshnunna
(modern Tell Asmar) Iraq, ca. 2,700 B.C.E.
gypsum, shell, black limestone
tallest 30 in. high
14. Statuettes of worhippers
from Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar) Iraq
ca. 2,700 B.CE.
gypsum, shell, black limestone
tallest 30 in. high
Statues of Votive Figures
• Soft gypsum statuettes inlaid with shells and
black limestone
• Two largest figures represent mortals in
gesture of prayer holding small beakers used
in Sumerian rites
• Some have fringed skirts, belts, beards and
shoulder length hair
• Heads tilted upward in “waiting room” waiting
for divinity to appear
• Big eyes compared to hands – eternal
wakefulness for prayer/devotion
16. Standard of Ur
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone
approximately 8 x 19 in.
Stanard of Ur
• Rectangular box inlaid with shell, lapis
lazuli and red limestone
• Perhaps mounted on a pole as a
military standard
Standard of Ur (war side)
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone
approximately 8 x 19 in.
War Side
• Donkey-drawn chariots mow down
enemies
• Capture enemies
Standard of Ur (peace side)
from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
wood, shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone
approximately 8 x 19 in.
Peace Side
• Men carry provisions, maybe war booty
on backs
• Spoils of war – fish for a great banquet
• Larger than life king, lyre player and
singer
• No inscription, however, early example
of narrative
Bull-headed lyre
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar)
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
wood, gold leaf, lapis lazuli
approximately 65 in. high
Bull-headed lyre
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar)
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
wood, gold leaf, lapis lazuli
approximately 65 in. high
Ram in a thicket
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen
42.6 cm. high
Ram in a thicket
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur
(modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen
42.6 cm. high
Cylinder seals
ca. 2,600-2,000 B.C.E.
approximately 2 in. high
Cylinder seal
from the tomb of Pu-abi
Royal Cemetery Ur
(modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
approximately 2 in. high
Akkadian Art
• In 2334 B.C.E, cities in Sumer came
under rule of Sargon of Akkad which
was in the vicinity of Babylon
• New concept of loyalty to the king
• Governors of city-state became
servants to the king
Head of an Akkadian ruler
from Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 2,250-2,200 B.C.E.
copper
14 3/8 in. high
Stele – carved stone slab erected to
commemorate an historical event or
mark a grave
Victory stele of Naram-Sin
from Susa, Iran
ca. 2,254-2,218 B.C.E.
sandstone
79 in. high
Victory stele of Naram-Sin
from Susa, Iran
ca. 2,254-2,218 B.C.E.
sandstone
79 in. high
Ziggurat
at Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.
mud brick
Ziggurat (restored)
at Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.
mud brick
Seated statue of Gudea holding temple plan
from Girsu (modern Telloh) Iraq
ca. 2,100 B.C.E.
diorite
29 in. high
Babylonian Art
Neo-Sumerian Art
• In 2150 B.C.E. mountain people called the
Gutians brought the end to Akkadian power
• Cities of Sumer drove the Guitians out of
Mesopotamia established a Neo-Sumerian state
Ruled by the King of Ur
• Babylon was established as a city-state with
Centralized government which ruled southern
Part of Mesopotamia
• The most powerful king was Hammurabi
19. Stele with code of Hammurabi
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,780 B.C.E.
basalt
88 in. high
Stele with code of Hammurabi
from Susa, Iran
ca. 1,780 B.C.E.
basalt
88 in. high
• Law code inscribed on stele with 3500
cuneiform characters
• Lists penalties for adultery, murder to cutting
down neighbors trees
• Top of the stele is Hammurabi with flameshouldered sun god, Shamash
• The king raises his hand in respect
• The god extens a rod and ring to Hammurabi
for his authority
• Symbols include measuring tools such as
rods and ropes showing the king’s ability to
built society order, measure people’s lives
and render judgement
• The artist attempts foreshortening on
the beard
• The sun god Shamesh is depicted in
both front and side views, yet god’
headdress is in true profile
Assyrian Art
Assyrian Culture
• Babylonians were toppled by the Hitties,
an Anatolian people who subsequently
went home
• By 900 B.C.E., Mesopotamia was taken
over by Assyrians
• Name comes from Assur, the city of the
god Asur on the Tigris river
Reconstruction drawing
of the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) Iraq
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.
25, Lamassu (winged human headed bull)
from the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) Iraq
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.
limestone
13 ft. 10 in. high
• The Citadel of Sargon II was guarded
by limestone monsters called –
Lamassu
• Winged, man-headed bulls
• 5 legs
*not optical view
Gilgamesh? Wrestling Lion
from the citadel of Sargon II, Dar Sharrukin
ca. 720-705 B.C.E.
limestone
13 ft. 10 in. high
Assyrian archers pursuing enemies
from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud)
ca. 875-860 B.C.E.
gypsum
2 ft. 10 3/8 in. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.
gypsum
approximately 5 ft. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.
gypsum
approximately 5 ft. high
Ashurbanipal hunting lions
from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 645-640 B.C.E.
gypsum
approximately 5 ft. high
Neo-Babylonian Art
Ishtar Gate (restored)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.
glazed brick
Ishtar Gate (restored)
details of dragon (Marduk) and
bull (Adad)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.
glazed brick
Ishtar Gate (restored)
details of lion (Ishtar)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.
glazed brick
Achaemenid Persian Art
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
Sasanian Art
Palace of Shapur I
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 250 C.E.
Palace of Shapur I
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 250 C.E.
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian
from Bishapur, Iraq
ca. 260 C.E.
rock-cut relief
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian
from Bishapur, Iraq
ca. 260 C.E.
rock-cut relief
Shapur I drachim
ca. 260 C.E.
cast silver coins
Head of Sasanian King (Shapur II?)
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 350 C.E.
silver with mercury gilding
15 3/4 in. high