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ART OF THE
ANCIENT NEAR EAST
EUGENIA LANGAN
MATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
HIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDA
WITH APOLOGIES TO FRED KLEINER AND WILLIAM GANIS
IMPORTANT NOTICE
 LAST YEAR THE COLLEGE BOARD
DECIDED THAT NEITHER ANCIENT NEAREASTERN NOR EGYPTIAN ARE “NONWESTERN”
 DO NOT USE EITHER AS EXAMPLES OF
NON-WESTERN ART OR "ART OUTSIDE
THE EUROPEAN TRADITION"
THEME:
SANBAN – P.S.
 SUMERIAN - © 3500 – 2332 B.C.E.
 AKKADIAN - © 2332 – 2150 B.C.E.
 NEO-SUMERIAN - © 2150 – 2004 B.C.E.
 BABYLONIAN - © 1792 – 1600 B.C.E
 ASSYRIAN - © 900 – 612 B.C.E.
 NEO-BABYLONIAN - © 612 – 540 B.C.E.
 PERSIAN - © 540 – 330 B.C.E.
 SASANIAN - © 330 B.C.E. – 636 C.E.
THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
SUMERIAN ART
TIMELINE
 NEOLITHIC AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
OCCURRED FIRST IN MESOPOTAMIA © 9000 B.C.E.
 © 3500 B.C.E.: FIRST CIVILIZATION (SUMERIA)
 FIRST GOVERNMENT (CITY – STATES)
 FIRST ORGANIZED RELIGION – WHY?
 RULERS NEEDED LEGITIMACY
 FIRST WRITING (CUNEIFORM)
 FIRST OFFICIAL/MONUMENTAL ART AND
ARCHITECTURE (PATRON = GOVERNMENT) – WHY?
 SHOWED POWER OF RULERS
WHITE TEMPLE AND ZIGGURAT
URUK (MODERN WARKA) IRAQ
CA. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
MUD BRICK – WHY?
 NOT MUCH STONE AROUND!
DRAWING – RECONSTRUCTION OF WHITE TEMPLE
BENT-AXIS PLAN (ORIENTATION) – STAIRS
CHANGED DIRECTION 2-3 TIMES TO GET TO TOP
TEMPLE
MUD BRICK BUILDINGS GET DAMAGED BY RAIN –
MUST BE RESTORED FREQUENTLY. AIT
BENHADDOU KASBAH (11TH C.) IN MOROCCO, A
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS IN SUCH
GOOD SHAPE TODAY BECAUSE MANY MOVIES
WERE FILMED THERE.
FEMALE HEAD
(INANNA?), URUK
(MODERN WARKA),
IRAQ, © 3200–3000
BCE. MARBLE, 8”
HIGH. IRAQ MUSEUM,
BAGHDAD.
INANNA  ISHTAR,
ISIS AND VIRGIN
MARY!
WARKA VASE
URUK (MODERN WARKA)
IRAQ
CA. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
ALABASTER.
APPROX. 3 FT. HIGH.
BAGHDAD MUSEUM,
IRAQ
VOTIVES MAKING
OFFERINGS TO INANNA
RELIEFS IN REGISTERS
OTHER VIEWS OF WARKA
VASE
STATUETTES OF VOTIVES
(WORSHIPPERS)
FROM SQUARE TEMPLE, ESHNUNNA (MODERN
TELL ASMAR) IRAQ, © 2700 B.C.E.
GYPSUM WITH INLAID, SHELL, BLACK LIMESTONE,
TALLEST 30 IN. HIGH
IRAQ MUSEUM, BAGHDAD (MORE VIEWS ON NEXT
SLIDES)
NOTICE – NOT FREESTANDING.
STANDARD OF UR
FROM TOMB 779,
ROYAL CEMETERY, UR
(MODERN TELL
MUQAYYAR, IRAQ,
© 2,600 B.C.E.
WOOD INLAID WITH
SHELL, LAPIS LAZULI &
RED LIMESTONE.
APPROX. 8” X 19”.
BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON
SOUNDBOX FOR LYRE?
STANDARD OF UR (WAR SIDE)
NARRATIVE, RUNS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP
HERALDIC COMPOSITION & HIERARCHY OF SCALE
STANDARD OF UR (PEACE SIDE)
BULL-HEADED LYRE (RESTORED)
FROM TOMB 789, ROYAL CEMETERY UR, © 2,600 B.C.E.
WOOD INLAID WITH GOLD LEAF, LAPIS LAZULI &
SHELL.
APPROXIMATELY 65 ” HIGH.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM OF
ARCHAEOLOGY
AND ANTHROPOLOGY, PHILADELPHIA
BULL-HEADED LYRE, SIDE VIEW AND
FRONT DETAIL
RAM IN A THICKET (RESTORED)
FROM TOMB 789,
ROYAL CEMETERY UR, © 2,600 B.C.E.
GOLD, SILVER, LAPIS LAZULI, COPPER,
SHELL & RED LIMESTONE
“GLUED” TO WOOD WITH BITUMEN,
19” HIGH.
ONE OF A PAIR, THIS ONE IN BRITISH
MUSEUM, THE OTHER IN U. PA. MUSEUM OF
ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY.
STANDS FOR VOTIVE OFFERINGS?
RAM IN A THICKET
R: CYLINDER SEAL FROM TOMB 800, ROYAL
CEMETERY, UR, © 2600 B.C.E.
LAPIS LAZULI. APPROX. 2” HIGH.
BRITISH MUSEUM. L: A MODERN IMPRESSION
FROM THIS SEAL.
USED TO SEAL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
AKKADIAN ART
TIMELINE
 © 2332 B.C.E.: SARGON OF AKKAD (AKA "THE
FIRST EMPIRE BUILDER") CONQUERED
SUMERIAN CITY-STATES
 © 2250 B.C.E: VICTORY OF NARAM-SIN OVER
LULLABI
 © 2150 B.C.E: GUTIAN CONQUEST ENDED
AKKADIAN RULE
 BUT THEY DON'T RULE LONG – CONQUEST 
NEO-SUMERIAN STATE
VOTIVE DISK OF ENHEDUANNA, FROM UR (MODERN
TELL MUQAYYAR), IRAQ, CA. 2300 – 2275 BCE.
ALABASTER, DIAMETER 10”. U. PA. MUSEUM OF
ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY, PHILADELPHIA
WHO WAS ENHEDUANNA?
DAUGHTER OF SARGON OF AKKAD
POET-PRIESTESS – FIRST KNOWN AUTHOR (HYMNS
TO INANNA)
VOTIVE DISK OF ENHEDUANNA IS FIRST KNOWN
ART WORK HONORING A WOMAN
HEAD OF AN AKKADIAN RULER
FROM NINEVEH (MODERN
KUYUNJIK) IRAQ, © 2,250-2,200 B.C.E.
COPPER.
14 3/8” HIGH
MISSING
VICTORY STELE OF
NARAM-SIN
FROM SUSA, IRAN © 2,2542,218 B.C.E.
RELIEF ON PINK
SANDSTONE
79” HIGH
LOUVRE, PARIS.
SUMERIAN INFLUENCE?
DIFFERENCES?
VICTORY STELE OF NARAM-SIN
NEO-SUMERIAN
ART
TIMELINE
 © 2150 B.C.E.: ESTABLISHMENT OF NEOSUMERIAN STATE RULED BY UR = "THIRD DYNASTY
OF UR"
 ABRAHAM WAS "A MAN OF UR" (GENESIS)
 © 2004 B.C.E.:
ELAMITE CONQUEST
 ERA OF DISUNION)
ZIGGURAT OF UR
AT UR (MODERN TELL MUQAYYAR) IRAQ. MORE
LINEAR ORIENTATION THAN EARLY SUMERIAN
© 2100 B.C.E.
MUD BRICK SET IN BITUMEN (PHOTOGRAPHED IN
1920)
100 STEPS
RECONSTRUCTED
NORTHERN
FAÇADE
OF ZIGGURAT OF
UR, AND AERIAL
VIEW OF
ZIGGURAT AND
EXCAVATED CITY
ANOTHER VIEW OF RECONSTRUCTED NORTHERN
FAÇADE AND EXCAVATED CITY OF UR
RECONSTRUCTED STAIRS ON NORTHERN
FAÇADE OF ZIGGURAT OF UR
100 STAIRS THAT LED TO TOP TEMPLE (MISSING)
SEATED STATUE OF GUDEA
HOLDING TEMPLE PLAN
FROM GIRSU (MODERN TELLOH),
IRAQ,
© 2,100 B.C.E., DIORITE, 29” HIGH
INSCRIPTION EMPHASIZES IT'S
DIORITE: IMPORTED, EXPENSIVE,
VERY HARD (DIFFICULT TO CARVE)
LOUVRE, PARIS
WHO WAS GUDEA?
 NEO-SUMERIAN KING WHO
RESTORED WORSHIP OF SUMERIAN
DEITIES
MORE DIORITE GUDEA FIGURES FROM ENVIRONS OF
MODERN TELLOH, © 2100 B.C.E., ALL 20” – 30” HIGH.
THESE FIGURES ARE?
VOTIVES -- BLOCK STATUES
EARLIER KINGS WERE DEPICTED
AS?
WARRIORS
WHY A PRAYING KING IN UR?
CONSTANT CONQUESTS OF
MESOPOTAMIA?
ART REFLECTS ITS HISTORICAL
CONTEXT: WORRIED AND
DEVOUT KINGS USUALLY APPEAR
IN HARD TIMES
BABYLONIAN ART
(AND ELAMITE AND
HITTITE)
TIMELINE
 © 1792 B.C.E.: CONQUEST OF SUMERIA BY
BABYLON UNDER HAMMURABI
 © 1780 B.C.E.: CODE OF HAMMURABI (
LEGALISM OF WESTERN RELIGIONS
 HAMMURABI ENCOURAGED MONOTHEISTIC
WORSHIP OF MARDUK (SEED OF MONOTHEISM OF
WESTERN RELIGIONS) -- WHY?
 "FORGET THOSE OTHER GODS. THERE'S ONLY ONE
AND HE PICKED ME."
 © 1595 B.C.E.: HITTITE CONQUEST AND SACK OF
BABYLON
© 1400 B.C.E.: ELAMITE SACK OF BABYLON
©
BABYLONIAN:
STELE WITH CODE OF
HAMMURABI
FINDSPOT SUSA, IRAN, © 1780
B.C.E.
BASALT
88" HIGH
LOUVRE, PARIS
STELE WITH CODE OF
HAMMURABI
THE GOD SHAMASH (SEATED)
HANDS HAMMURABI THE ROD
AND RING OF POWER
HITTITE (AND OTHER
ANATOLIAN) ART
LION GATE, HATTUSA (MODERN BOGHAZKÖY), TURKEY,
© 1400 BCE. (HATTUSA = UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
LION'S GATE, HATTUSA: GUARDIAN GATE
RELIEF OF 12 HITTITE GODS, YAZILIKAYA (TEMPLE),
HATTUSA © 1400 B.C.E.
CONTRARY TO WHAT WORLD HISTORY TEXTS ALWAYS
SAY, CIVILIZATION MAY HAVE ARISEN INDEPENDENTLY
IN ANATOLIA
ANATOLIAN BACKGROUND:
RESTORED VIEW OF A SECTION OF LEVEL VI, ÇATAL
HUYÜK, TURKEY, © 6000–5900 B.C.E. (JOHN SWOGGER).
GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS "NEOLITHIC TOWN"
ELAMITE ART
STATUE OF QUEEN
NAPIR-ASU, FROM SUSA,
IRAN
© 1350-1300 B.C.E.
BRONZE AND COPPER
(SOLID BRONZE CORE,
COPPER SHELL)
50 ¾" HIGH.
LOUVRE, PARIS
CURRENT WEIGHT =
3760 LBS.
STATUE OF QUEEN NAPIRASU
INSCRIPTION ON SKIRT
THREATENS CURSE ON
“HE WHO WOULD SEIZE
MY STATUE, WHO WOULD
SMASH IT,
WHO WOULD DESTROY ITS
INSCRIPTION . . .”
RITUAL BASIN, FROM SUSA © 1400 B.C.E.
LIMESTONE. 62.8 X 92 CM. LOUVRE, PARIS.
FUNCTION: BASIN FOR RITUAL LIBATIONS.
DETAIL OF RELIEF, NEXT SLIDE
WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM MESOPOTAMIAN
ART?
CHIMERAS
STELE OF UNTASHNAPIRISHA, SUSA © 1350 –
1300 B.C.E. SANDSTONE.
H = 2.62 M. LOUVRE.
ASSYRIAN ART
TIMELINE
 © 900 B.C.E.: ASSYRIAN CONQUEST OF BABYLON
 721 – 705 B.C.E.: REIGN OF SARGON II
 883 – 859 B.C.E.: REIGN OF ASHURNASIPAL II
 668 – 627 B.C.E.: REIGN OF ASHURBANIPAL
 EARLIEST KNOWN LIBRARY
 641 B.C.E.: CONQUEST OF SUSA (ELAM)
 627 B.C.E.: DEATH OF ASHURBANIPAL  BABYLONIAN
REVOLT 626 B.C.E.
 612 B.C.E.: BABYLONIAN/MEDIAN SACK OF NINEVEH
RECONSTRUCTION DRAWING, CITADEL OF SARGON II, DAR
SHARRUKIN (MODERN KHORSABAD) IRAQ, © 720-705 B.C.E. >
25 ACRES. USED EARLY SUMERIAN BENT-AXIS PLAN
"SARGON, KING OF THE WORLD, HAS BUILT A CITY. . . .
I BUILT A CITY WITH THE [LABOR OF] THE PEOPLES SUBDUED
BY MY HAND" WITH THE AID OF THE GODS.
LAMASSU (WINGED HUMAN HEADED BULLS) FROM THE
CITADEL OF SARGON II, DAR SHARRUKIN (MODERN
KHORSABAD) IRAQ, © 720-705 B.C.E.
LIMESTONE, 13' 10" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM. LONDON
PREDECESSORS?
LION'S GATE, HATUSSA, AND ELAMITE CHIMARAE
OTHER VIEW, LAMASSU. NOTE STYLIZED BEARDS
HEAD OF LAMASSU AND
CUNIEFORM INSCRIPTIONS
ON GATE
GILGAMESH? WRESTLING LION,
FROM CITADEL OF SARGON II,
DAR SHARRUKIN,
© 720-705 B.C.E.
LIMESTONE
13' 10" HIGH.
BRITISH MUSEUM.
ASSYRIAN ARCHERS PURSUING ENEMIES, FROM
NORTHWEST PALACE OF ASHURNASIRPAL II, KALHU
(MODERN NIMRUD), © 875-860 B.C.E.
GYPSUM. 2' 10 3/8" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM.
PREDECESSORS?
AKKADIAN? STELE OF NARAM-SIN (DIAGONAL
COMPOSITION, STYLIZED SETTING)
ASHURBANIPAL HUNTING LIONS (THIS AND
NEXT TWO SLIDES)
NEO-BABYLONIAN ART
TIMELINE
 612 B.C.E.: SACK OF NINEVEH & ESTABLISHMENT
OF NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE
 604 – 562 B.C.E.: REIGN OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
 "BABYLONIAN RENAISSANCE"
 © 586 B.C.E: CONQUEST OF JUDAH AND
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY OF JEWS (LEGALISM AND
MONOTHEISM ENTER WESTERN RELIGION)
RUBBING OF ONYX ENGRAVING
DEPICTING NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
(ON MARDUK STATUE)
 539 B.C.E.: PERSIANS CONQUEST OF BABYLONIAN
EMPIRE
RECONSTRUCTION DRAWING OF THE ETEMENAKI
(FRONTIER OF HEAVEN AND HELL) ZIGGURAT IN
BABYLON, AS REBUILT BY NEBUCHADNEZZSAR II
(ORIG. DATE UNKNOWN). BASIS FOR STORY OF THE
TOWER OF BABEL?
ISHTAR GATE (RESTORED), FROM BABYLON, IRAQ,
© 575 B.C.E. GLAZED BRICK. PERGAMMON MUSEUM,
BERLIN
NOTE SCALE
ISHTAR GATE – DRAGONS
AND BULLS.
ISHTAR = BABYLONIAN
COUNTERPART OF
INANNA
ISHTAR GATE -- AUROCH
ISHTAR GATE , LIONS
PERSIAN ART
(ACHAEMENID)
TIMELINE
 539 B.C.E.: CYRUS THE GREAT CONQUERED
BABYLON, ESTABLISHED PERSIAN EMPIRE
(ACHAEMENID DYNASTY)
 539 – 529 B.C.E.: REIGN OF CYRUS THE GREAT
(CYRUS I) AS EMPEROR
 522 – 486 B.C.E.: REIGN OF DARIUS THE GREAT
(DARIUS I)
 486 – 465 B.C.E.: REIGN OF XERXES
 521 – 465 B.C.E.: CONSTRUCTION OF PERSEPOLIS
 330 B.C.E.: ALEXANDER THE GREAT CONQUERED
PERSIAN EMPIRE
PERSIAN EMPIRE AT ITS GREATEST EXTENT (UNDER
DARIUS I)
PALACE OF DARIUS I AND XERXES I
PERSEPOLIS, IRAN (PERSEPOLIS = ADMINISTRATIVE/
PALACE COMPLEX), © 521-465 B.C.E.
APADANA, PERSEPOLIS
RECONSTRUCTION
DRAWING OF
PERSEPOLIS
APADANA
HYPOSTYLE HALL =
COLUMNS
SUPPORTED CEILING
APDANA FRIEZE, PERSEPOLIS. WHAT'S NEW?
CELEBRATES DIPLOMACY, NOT WAR
PERSEPOLIS
TIMELINE:
 312 – 247 B.C.E.: SELUCID (HELLENISTIC) EMPIRE
 247 B.C.E. - 224 C.E.: PARTHIAN EMPIRE
 224 – 651 C.E.: SASSANID EMPIRE (LAST MIDDLEEASTERN EMPIRE BEFORE ISLAM)
WE WILL CONSIDER MOST PERSIAN ART, INCLUDING
THE SASSANID ART IN CHAPTER 2, LATER (HOLD THE
CARDS!).
SHAPUR I DRACHIM, CAST SILVER COINS © 260
C.E.
HEAD OF SASANIAN KING
(SHAPUR II?)
FROM CTESIPHON, IRAQ,
© 350 C.E.
SILVER WITH MERCURY
GILDING
15 ¾" HIGH