NOTES: Art of the Ancient Near East 2
p. 27
Mesopotamia - people developed agricultural areas in Asia Minor in the Near East, due to their fertile soils found close to the river beds
This development happened well before the inhabitation of Europe
Time frame: 4000 - 3000 BCE - development of agricultural villages evolved into prosperous cities. Developed of a large-scale systems to control water supply and flooding
Polytheist culture (as contrasted to monotheist cultures)
Stele: An upright stone slab with visual communication carved into it
Hierarchic Scale: where relative size indicates relative importance within the culture
Naram-Sin - reigned 2254 - 2218 BCE - ruled securely and powerfully, politically astute. Often portrayed with the powerful helmet that sprouts horns. This is an attribute reserved for gods.
Organized religion - polytheist, worshiped both male and female deities
Concept of imperial authority, this is one of the first works of art (EVER) created to celebrate a specific achievement of an individual ruler.
Sumer the Sumerians - 3500-2340 BCE It is believed that the Sumerians developed the wagon wheel. Later civilizations invented 3400-3200 BCE the first form of written script.
PREHISTORY ends! Why?
Writing - cuneiform (wedge-shaped) symbols into clay tablets with a stylus (a sharp instrument). Archeologists have found thousands of these Sumerian tablets that trace the evolution of writing and arithmetic, as well as their organizational system of government and justice.
The ziggurat: Developed by the Sumerians was a stepped architectural form. They were built throughout Mesopotamia to show wealth, prosperity, stability of the culture and to glorify their gods.
Registers are found throughout their relief development on vessels, steles, walls, etc. They are a way of organizing horizontal bands to condense stories into visual narratives.
p.31
Twelve Votive Figures (above) (2900 - 2600 BCE) found in present day Iraq, made of alabaster, limestone and gypsum - all relatively soft stones
Images of male and females dedicated to the gods, setting up images of themselves (representation of a portrait) in a shrine.
The statues followed the style / conventions of the way of representing the human figure of the time in Sumerian art with hands clasped, standing erect, stylized faces, staring eyes.
Some have engraved/inscribed inscriptions on them "One who offers prayers."
p.32
Royal Tomb of UR
Excavated in 1920s archeologist Sir Leonard Woolley
16 royal burials revealed spectacular objects of stone, wood, gold and evidence of human sacrifice
p. 44
NEO - BABYLONIA
end of the 7th century BCE Assyria was invaded by the Medes (people from Western Iraq) and Neo-Babylonians flourished and continued to build the civilization that flourished 12 centuries earlier.
Nebuchadnezzar II - Ruler 605 - 562 BCE, one of the most famous rulers. He suppressed the Jews as recorded in the book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. He was a great patron of architecture, building temples throughout his realm. Neo-Babylonia flourished into an economic empire hub and remains one of the most beautiful cities today.
Ishtar Gate and Throne Room Wall, reconstruction now in the Berlin Museum, c. 575 BCE, Iraq, Glazed ceramic brick Gate = 40' wide, with towers 100' high.
You too can have your own Ishtar Gate - here a paper architectural model for sale.
p. 44
PERSIA - present day Iran - who established an enormous empire 559 BCE - 486 BCE when Darius I ruled and often proclaimed:
"I a Darius, great King, King of Kings, King of countries, King of this earth." (hmmmmmm)
Only the Ancient Greeks stood against them and destabilized the empire.
King Darius began construction of Parsa, the new capital of Persia and named it by its Greek name "PERSEPOLIS."
Mesopotamia - people developed agricultural areas in Asia Minor in the Near East, due to their fertile soils found close to the river beds
This development happened well before the inhabitation of Europe
Time frame: 4000 - 3000 BCE - development of agricultural villages evolved into prosperous cities. Developed of a large-scale systems to control water supply and flooding
Polytheist culture (as contrasted to monotheist cultures)
Stele: An upright stone slab with visual communication carved into it
Hierarchic Scale: where relative size indicates relative importance within the culture
 |
| Stele of Naram-Sin (found in present day Iran) 6'6" in the Louvre |
Naram-Sin - reigned 2254 - 2218 BCE - ruled securely and powerfully, politically astute. Often portrayed with the powerful helmet that sprouts horns. This is an attribute reserved for gods.
Organized religion - polytheist, worshiped both male and female deities
Concept of imperial authority, this is one of the first works of art (EVER) created to celebrate a specific achievement of an individual ruler.
Sumer the Sumerians - 3500-2340 BCE It is believed that the Sumerians developed the wagon wheel. Later civilizations invented 3400-3200 BCE the first form of written script.
PREHISTORY ends! Why?
 |
| Cuneiform clay tablets from Mesopotamia |
Writing - cuneiform (wedge-shaped) symbols into clay tablets with a stylus (a sharp instrument). Archeologists have found thousands of these Sumerian tablets that trace the evolution of writing and arithmetic, as well as their organizational system of government and justice.
The ziggurat: Developed by the Sumerians was a stepped architectural form. They were built throughout Mesopotamia to show wealth, prosperity, stability of the culture and to glorify their gods.
 |
| Carved Vessel two views, alabaster, 36" high c. 3300-3000 BCE Iraq Museum, Baghdad |
Registers are found throughout their relief development on vessels, steles, walls, etc. They are a way of organizing horizontal bands to condense stories into visual narratives.
p.31
Twelve Votive Figures (above) (2900 - 2600 BCE) found in present day Iraq, made of alabaster, limestone and gypsum - all relatively soft stones
Images of male and females dedicated to the gods, setting up images of themselves (representation of a portrait) in a shrine.
The statues followed the style / conventions of the way of representing the human figure of the time in Sumerian art with hands clasped, standing erect, stylized faces, staring eyes.
Some have engraved/inscribed inscriptions on them "One who offers prayers."
p.32
Royal Tomb of UR
Excavated in 1920s archeologist Sir Leonard Woolley
16 royal burials revealed spectacular objects of stone, wood, gold and evidence of human sacrifice
The Great Lyre with Bull's Head from the Royal Tomb in UR (Iraq), c. 2600-2500 BCE
 |
| Narrative story of regressed horizontal bands, hierarchal scale
p. 34
Cylinder Seals:
Sumerian developed seals to identify documents and establish property ownership.
Record keepers of 3300 - 3100 BCE
Cylinder seals carved (subtractive process removing the material) made of stone - lapis, alabaster, etc. and rolled across wet clay to form a positive, raised impression of the carving.
p. 36 LOST WAX CASTING Creating hollow metal sculptures Link to > Video of Lost Wax casting   Head of a Man (above, known as Akkadian ruler) c. 2300 - 2200 BCE, lost wax casting, copper alloy 15" high, Iraq Museum, Baghdad Believed to be a portrait head of a ruler Curly beard, braided hair stylistically attribute to the ideal male appearance of the time. Left eye of sculpture destroyed deliberately, it is believed. Why? p.37 BABYLON A stable government in Mesopotamia, lasting for more than 300.  Other cultures developed and flourished Anatolia (present day Turkey) The Hittites - a huge civilization - thrived between 1600 BCE and 1200 BCE - became a very strong civilization with trade, travel and conquest. They went as far west as Egypt. The Hittites are believed to be the first people that worked with iron - which needed extreme heat temperatures to smelt Creation of war chariots, weapons, hammers and chisels p. 38 ASSYRIA 1400 BCE, Assyrians rose to dominance in northern Mesopotamia. After 1000 BCE they began to conquer their neighbors. Created enormously decorative palaces |
 |
| Lion Gate of Hattusha (near Turkey) c. 1400 BCE, limestone - different view than your text |
Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions, from the palace complex of Assumasirpal II, present day Iraq
c. 875 - 660 BCE, alabaster relief in registered horizontal organizing bands
p. 44
NEO - BABYLONIA
end of the 7th century BCE Assyria was invaded by the Medes (people from Western Iraq) and Neo-Babylonians flourished and continued to build the civilization that flourished 12 centuries earlier.
Nebuchadnezzar II - Ruler 605 - 562 BCE, one of the most famous rulers. He suppressed the Jews as recorded in the book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. He was a great patron of architecture, building temples throughout his realm. Neo-Babylonia flourished into an economic empire hub and remains one of the most beautiful cities today.
Reconstruction drawing of Babylon in the 6th century BCE
This was the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II - had famous hanging gardens
Stylized palm trees and bands of lions
with geometric elements
You too can have your own Ishtar Gate - here a paper architectural model for sale.
p. 44
PERSIA - present day Iran - who established an enormous empire 559 BCE - 486 BCE when Darius I ruled and often proclaimed:
"I a Darius, great King, King of Kings, King of countries, King of this earth." (hmmmmmm)
Only the Ancient Greeks stood against them and destabilized the empire.
King Darius began construction of Parsa, the new capital of Persia and named it by its Greek name "PERSEPOLIS."
 |
| Aerial view of the Ceremonial Complex at Persepolis Iran 518 -c. 460 BCE |
 |
| Apadana = Audience Hall of Darius |
