Download Mesopotamian Arts and Science

Mesopotamian Arts and Science
Writing
– Cuneiform first appeared around 3000 BCE in Sumer (it is believed that this
form of writing was developed to fulfill the need for accurate trade records)
– Cuneiform evolved over time: originally the Sumerians used pictographs to
represent concrete things (ox, wheat, stone)
– Text was read from right to left
– As need for efficiency rose, scribes began to rotate symbols to allow for
easier record keeping. More symbols were developed to represent both
concrete and abstract ideas.
– In 1835 Henry Rawlinson discovered the Behiston Rock. The discovery of this
rock and its ancient carvings led archaeologists and historians to its
translation
– Carvings on Behiston Rock were in three languages. One (Old Persian) could
be translated by Rawlinson and the other was cuneiform. The carvings were a
testament to Darius I supreme power and authority. It was written in three
languages to prove to his enemies what a great king he was.
Literature
– Evidence of literature in Mesopotamia is found in the form of epics (narrative
poems). Their epics pass on information about life, religions, and the legends
of Mesopotamia.
– It is believed that most epics were passed down orally from generation to
generation until they were actually written on clay tablets
 Ex: Epic of Gilgamesh
Art and Sculpture
– In Mesopotamia it would have been rate to find a house without a sculpture.
Nearly every house had a sculpture of a god in varying sizes
– Sculptures were made from a variety of materials
– It is believed that most epics were passed down orally from generation to
generation until they were actually written on clay tablets
 Copper
 Terra Cotta
 Stone
– Mosaics (picture designs made out of small pieces of coloured stone pieced
together) were often created to tell a story
– Many kings had Standards (mosaics) created to represent themselves
– The Standards often pictured great accomplishments of the King.
 Standards were like modern day flags  Flag represents the country
the standard represented the King and his people
Science
– Wheel  The Sumerians first developed the wheel
– It is not known exactly when the wheel was created, our knowledge of the
wheel comes from historical studies and archaeological digs.
– We know the wheel was widely used throughout Ancient Mesopotamia
– The wheel was used for:
 Transport (wagons and chariots)
 Pulleys
 Potters Wheel (led to creation of fine pottery)
– Metallurgy  originally the Mesopotamians used copper to make tools and
jewelry, however copper is not very strong
– From copper the Mesopotamians used Bronze (a copper tin combination)
– Bronze was more durable and harder, however, the materials needed to
make copper were not always accessible  copper from Egypt and tin from
Anatolia (Turkey)
– Bronze was time consuming to produce and still not a sturdy metal
– By 1200 BCE we had moved into what is known as the Iron Age
– The Hittites introduced iron to Mesopotamia
– Iron was relatively weak metal however when it was reheated and beaten
(wrought) it became very strong (this is where we get the term wrought iron)
Math
– The Mesopotamians used 60 as their basic mathematical unit
– Math was needed to build canals, maintain accurate farm and trade records
and to record taxes collected
– From ancient Mesopotamia we received:
 The 360 degree circle
 60 minute hour
 60 second minute
Time
 Mesopotamians mapped the stars and used this information to develop the
lunar calendar with 12 months
 They had two seasons:
 They calculated 29 ¼ days between each new moon (354 days in a year)
however this left 33 ¼ days (from the solar calendar) unaccounted for. To
make up the time a new month was added. The King would decide when to
add the month (with the help of his astrologers)