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Ancient Near East
Mesopotamia - area between Tigris & Euphrates
Not a unified nation - lived in City-states.
Was a coherent society. Not everyone had to hunt or gather or farm the land
Some could work metals, some could be priests, some could build homes.
Cities designed to serve the gods.
SUMER-Southern Iraq area.
People USED to make art to control luck in hunting.
In new agricultural-based society, people tried to control weather, floods, insects, etc.
Tried to appease the gods.
Writing and formal religion developed,
Created “transactions” between god & humans - prayer, ritual, sacrifice.
Gods were nature-based. Religion probably dominated daily life.
SLIDE - White Temple at Uruk
(Warka - Iraq). 3200 BCE – Centuries older than the pyramids. Mud brick.
Temples were built in center of the city-states
Good example of a high temple (raised), it is fairly well-preserved.
Where priests and scribes worked.
“High Temples” were raised (practical for floods, higher is “closer” to God).
Built in the center of the city, raised by brickwork, whitewashed walls (name).
4 corners = 4 compass points. 61’ x 16’ feet. Several chambers inside.
Was probably dedicated to Anu, the sun-god
Perhaps thought of as a “portal” for God to pass through. WAITING ROOM.
Raised so that it is closer to the sky where they thought the gods resided.
This idea was later adopted by most all world religions.
Not all worshippers could enter. Only the elite (priests, religious leaders)
Later, ziggurats (Neo-Sumerian) may have been based on designs similar to this.
SLIDE - Female Head, Warka.
3200-3000 BCE. Marble. 8” tall.
Sudden human form in art images.
Decorations on the figure:
Missing jewels, shells from the eyes & eyebrows.
There is also a groove in the forehead, maybe to attach a wig.
May also have been attached to a body.
Who is she? priestess, The Goddess Inanna - goddess of Love and War? = Ishtar
Found in an area where people worshipped her.
Soft lips, eyes are TOO LARGE.
Large eyes a recurring distortion in Near East art.
Maybe for Godlike vision, windows to soul, evil eye, etc.
Vision = supernatural powers.
SLIDE - Warka Vase.
Uruk. 3200 - 3000 BCE. Alabaster. 3’ tall.
This vase was found in the Warka temple complex,
Shows how the sculptors of the time organized their picture space into registers -BANDS.
Similar to comic strips – One of the earliest coherent narratives.
Figures stand on a ground line.
Different from random animal placement in cave art.
Lower registers shows natural world: water, crops & animals
(ewes & rams alternate - fertility thing). Male/female
Hoping to be blessed with good crops and herds.
Center Band - Naked men carrying the harvests
Presented to the goddess as a gift of gratitude to go in her temple.
Twisted perspective animals, men see profile but eyes as if looking forward.
Conceptual rather than optic view of the men - easier to identify.
Top register - Inanna (or a priestess) accepts an offering from a naked man.
Is he a priest or a king?
SLIDE - Abu Temple Figures. Eshnunna (Modern Tel Asmar).
2700 BCE. Gypsum & limestone. 12 – 30” tall.
Found in temple of God Abu
Tallest figure may be Abu, but probably mortal worshippers.
Probably priests or other important people, hands folded, praying
Disproportionally LARGE eyes, many inlaid with precious stones.
Represents wakefulness, & duty.
Small hands holding small cups – ritualistic, ceremonial.
Offer constant, eternal prayers to gods, serves as a stand-in for a person
as if that person is constantly worshipping.
Placed in a “waiting room”, waiting for God to appear.
Basically cone & cylinder shapes.
Had names inscribed on them – represent donors who show respect, piety.
SLIDE - Kneeling Minotaur.
Jamadat Nasr, silver (3000 BC)
Early image of a “man-beast” combo, common in art of the Near East.
Making an offering, a religious tradition. Solemn, graceful, exquisitely made.
Also has a cup.
SLIDE - Standard of Ur.
Ur (Iraq). 2700 - 2600 BCE. Wood with shell & lapis inlay. 8” x 19”.
Found in the Royal cemetery of Ur.
DEFINITELY a narrative piece.
Rectangular box of uncertain purpose.
Maybe made to celebrate a Sumerian military victory?
Shows soldiers & chariots arranged in rows like a comic strip, a continuous narrative.
WAR side shows captives brought to the King, chariots on the bottom register.
Captives are naked. Trampled on lower band.
“Peace” side shows a victory celebration with people preparing for and enjoying a feast.
Animals brought in. Lyre for music. Holding cups.
Figures all seen in profile, but eyes & torsos from the front view
(compare to twisted perspective of pre- historic art, and Egyptian art later).
Repeated horse feet to indicate more horses behind the front ones seen.
Formal, stiff poses.
Little bull lyre held by one figure.
SLIDE - Bull Lyre.
Ur. 2600 BCE. Wood with gold, lapis lazuli, shell. 5’ 5” tall.
Bull’s head represents strength & fertility. Beard made of lapis lazuli.
Worshipped by herdsmen, to protect herds from disasters & predators.
Man/Bull connection occurs frequently in Near East style art.
Probably a special occasion instrument – not everyday.
SLIDE - Sound box of a Lyre, Ur.
2600 BCE. Wood w/ shell inlay. 12” x 4 ½”.
Also from the Royal cemetery at Ur.
Men and fantastic creatures together, maybe representing ancient myths?
Early theme of animals acting like people, doing “human” things.
TOP band - an athletic man clasping two man-bulls.
2nd band - a dog or hyena carries a table, behind him a lion brings the beverage pitcher.
3rd band - A donkey plays a harp or lyre, a bear helps support it, a fox plays a rattle.
BOTTOM band - a scorpion man with a gazelle, who is holding two cups.
The men are in composite view, pure animals are in profile only.
What does it mean? Are the creatues in the afterlife? Maybe - Funerary purpose.
SLIDE - Head of Akkadian Ruler.
Nineveh (Iraq). 2200 BCE. Copper.
*AKKAD: 2300 BCE. The area is under the rule of Sargon of Akkad & descendants.
Akkadians spoke a language similar to Hebrew & Arabic.
Loyalty to the king (not the city-state) is unquestionable and absolute.
The head was originally part of a whole statue, the rest damaged or lost.
EYES GOUGED OUT. Deliberate political statement.
Part of the earliest hollow cast metal life-size sculpture ever found.
He looks strong, thoughtful, in control. Majestic & serene.
Softly formed mouth, oversized eyes again that once held stones. Stylized beard.
Artist shows a skilled use of bronze.
This ruler’s identity is uncertain, but definitely a real person, individual features noted.
This might be a portrait of Narim-Sin (Sargon’s grandson).
SLIDE - Victory Stele of Naram-Sin.
Susa, (Iran). 2300 BCE. Sandstone.
Stele is usually a stone marker – like a plaque or headstone. (SOME are on graves)
This one commemorates battle victory.
Shows images of Naram-Sin leading his men up a mountain
Killing and trampling the enemy as he goes
(enemy was a group of Iranian mountain people to the East).
Enemies beg for mercy.
The king (Naram-Sin) is the tallest person (biggest hat).
He appears almost like a god, ascending to heaven.
Stars (gods) shine down on him, approving.
Still formal, but more natural and the poses are more inventive than the Standard of Ur.
Figures still viewed from profiles.
Set in a LANDSCAPE - haven’t seen that since Catal Hoyuk. (trees, right, center)
BREAKS TRADITION of horizontal registers.
SLIDE - Ziggurat at Ur, Stepped Pyramid.
Ur (Iraq). 2100 BCE.
NEO-SUMERIAN
Mountain barbarians ransacked Akkadians
The cities of Sumer re-asserted themselves. Became powerful and independent again.
NEO Sumerians.
During their power, Ziggurats were built all over Mesopotamia
Probably evolved from the high temples of Sumer.
The builders of these temples wanted to go as high up as they could.
Creating stairways for gods of the night (stars).
Built in the center, highest point in town.
One of largest ziggurats. 1000 years after White temple of Warka.
Base was built from mud bricks, it alone was 50’ tall.
The temple was at the very top, gone now.
Priests would stay in these upper temples and pray and work.
SLIDE - Gudea Worshipping.
Telloh. 2100 BCE. Diorite.
Gudea was the very religious ruler of Lagash
Many figures were made of him like this one – some standing, some sitting.
They were all made of diorite, which was very rare and expensive.
Had to imported. It is very hard, and difficult to carve.
“This statue is not made from silver nor lapis, nor copper…it is of diorite”
His hands are always shown clasped, sometimes with a cap on his head, or shaved head.
He attributed his good fortune to the favors of the gods.
His quiet, solemn personality is shown, not any battle victories.
Again, large oversized eyes, and he exudes a sense of calm.
These statues were placed in temples so he would always be worshipping the gods.
SLIDE - Stele of Hammurabi.
Susa, Iran. 1780 BCE. Black basalt.
The city-state of Babylonia rose from the chaos of foreign invasions in Mesopotamia.
Hammurabi established himself as a powerful king
Centralized the government in Mesopotamia.
He simplified, explained and wrote down the laws of the land - the Code.
Laws for EVERYTHING. Eye for an eye. Theft, adultery, murder.
The Code is inscribed on the stele (stone marker)
The upper part of the stele is a relief sculpture
Shows Hammurabi receiving inspiration for the laws from Shamash (the sun god).
The god is seated on the right (bigger hat), shown in front and profile view.
Hammurabi is on the left, in profile. His hand is raised in respect.
Gods shown in a human form is common in Babylonian art.
SLIDE - Lion Gate, Boghazkoy.
Anatolia, Turkey. 1400 BCE. Stone. Lions approx. 7’ tall.
The Hittites from Anatolia raided Babylon and brought their unique art to the area.
A fine example of their art is the lion gates in Anatolia (Turkey).
Similar to art they brought to Near East, but most is gone now.
These lions are on the stone gates of the village of Boghazkoy
Protected the Hittite capital.
Attached to the gates, not fully rounded.
They are a protective symbol
Common theme in art is to have a beast protect an entryway or the outside.
Like lions in front of libraries, or gargoyles on churches.
SLIDE - Winged-Human-Headed Bull (Lammasu).
Citadel of Sargon II. Khorsabad, Iraq. 720-705 BCE. Limestone. 13’ 10” tall.
Assyria became the dominant power from 900-600 BC.
“Power” is the main theme in Assyrian relief sculpture,
Wars, killing, and strong bulging muscles.
They were a warring people, & occasionally cruel.
Their kings were military commanders, not just religious leaders.
King Sargon II enslaved his enemies - forced them to build his city & palace.
Built his ziggurat, called Khorsabad Citadel.
They protected their citadels with fortress walls.
Winged bulls are called “Lamassu” - a hybrid beast motif from old Mesopotamian art.
Guarded the gate to Sargon’s palace from enemies
Partly in the round, part relief sculpture.
The face is probably that of King Sargon II.
Note the 5 legs, made so it appears in action from the sides, resting from the front.
CONCEPTUAL, rather than optical, view.
Meant to be viewed from front OR sides – not ¾ view.
Can see thick muscles and bulging veins in the legs, shows strength.
SLIDE - Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions & Dying Lioness.
Nineveh (Iraq). 645 BCE. Gypsum.
Relief sculpture.
The king had his men tease & enrage caged lions, then release them,
The King could kill them with bow & arrow.
(Note that the king is protected by men with spears to keep the lions from attacking him).
Humans have ALL the control.
They outnumber the beasts or free only one or two at a time, they
Use more arrows than necessary,
Men in a chariot where they are hard to reach,
Men attack from front and back.
The beasts cannot win; it’s not supposed to be a fair fight.
Lions lay dead or dying, twisted bodies,
Higher realism in the expressions & positions of animals.
Blood streams from their wounds.
The idea is to show the king “conquering” powerful beasts
adds to his list of fierce skills.
The purpose of the relief is only to glorify the king.
SLIDE - Ishtar Gate Reconstruction.
Babylon. 575 BCE. Glazed brick.
NEO-BABYLONIAN:
Assyria’s reign collapsed & Neo-Babylonian kings took over the former Assyrian empire
(until conquered by the Persians)
Nebuchadnezzar II was the most important ruler, and the most famous king.
He built up the city up strong and beautiful, and brought prestige to Babylon.
He had the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon built,
Constructed a huge ziggurat (Tower of Babel).
Most of the city was built from mud brick.
The gate into the city is made from beautifully blue-colored glazed brick. 575 animals
Bulls and Dragons.
SLIDE - Lion from the Processional Way to the Ishtar Gate.
Babylon. 575 BCE. Glazed brick.
Have to pass this walkway with molded relief bricks
On the way to the temple complex & the Tower of Babel.
There were 60 lions on the walls down the corridor on the way to the gate.
They are more stylized than the lions in Ashubanipal Hunting Lions,
Probably because each brick was hand-molded and glazed
More difficult to create realism.
SLIDE - Persepolis. Iran. 521 - 465 BCE.
The Persians had been a mostly nomadic group, but they began to seize power.
Persians conquered Babylon in the 6th century BCE
Darius (Persian Leader) the 1st took power in 521 BCE
Like all other rulers, Darius began building symbols of his authority.
Constructed a 32-acre administrative center
Darius brought in materials, workers, even artists from all over to built his capital.
It is one of the best-preserved sites in the Near East.
The walls are decorated with sculpture.
The Imperial complex was built on a raised platform and laid out on a grid.
It was 40 feet high, and measured 1500 ft x 900 feet.
It was accessible from only a single ramp .
Darius died before his complex was finished,
His son Xeres 1 (ruled 485 - 465 BCE) finished it.