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Art of the Ancient Near East

Mesopotamia “Land between the rivers” The Ancient Near East stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf (Modern Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, central Turkey, Iran, and Iraq)

Mesopotamia was ideal for agriculture , and farming communities arose around 9000 BCE Major city-states include Elam, Sumer, Akkad, Lagash, Babylonia, Anatolia, and Assyria Near East traded with Egypt People worshipped numerous Gods and Goddesses

Sumerian Art

Accomplishments of the Sumerians invention of writing (cuneiform) cities laws architecture pottery (invention of potter’s wheel) weaving metalwork

Votive Statues of Worshippers

Votive Statues of Worshippers 2900 – 2350 BCE gypsum, shell, black limestone various heights (tallest 30 in. high) Statues possibly commissioned by regular people for the afterlife Hundreds of these sculptures have been found Figures are praying with hands together, sometimes holding a cup or vegetation Found in groups in excavated temples

Warka Vase

Warka Vase
From Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
Relief Sculpture (Vase)
Reliefs depict Inanna (Sumerian Goddess of love, beauty, and war – also known as Ishtar in other parts of Mesopotamia)
Tiered registers with firm ground lines
Hierarchy of scale (level of importance of figures)
Warka Vase 3200 – 3000 BCE Alabaster (mineral) 3 feet high

Reconstruction Drawing of Anu Ziggurat Architecture (Temple) 3100 BCE Located in Ancient Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq)

Anu Ziggurat Sumer , one of the Ancient Near East City-States built Ziggurats, a type of temple Temple raised up closer to the Gods (and to protect from floods) The buildings used a stepped pyramid shape Ziggurats showed the wealth and power of the Sumerians

Bull Lyre

Musical Instrument
Found in Tomb
Bull is important in Ancient Near East (symbol of strength and power)
Wood, Shell Inlay, Lapis Lazuli, Gold Leaf
Sound box contains mythological figures
(funeral banquet?)
Bull Lyre 2600 BCE 2 meters high

Akkadian Art

Head of an
Akkadian Ruler

Portrait of an Unknown Ruler
Dignity and Authority
Earliest hollow cast metal sculpture
Stylized beard, hair, and clothing
Head of an Akkadian Ruler Copper 2250 – 2200 BCE 14 in. high

Neo-Sumerian Art

Votive Statue of Gudea Sculpture (Carved Stone) 73.7 cm Tall 2120 BCE

Votive Statue of Gudea Votive – Type of Offering to the Gods Statue – Sculpture usually of a Human Figure Gudea was the leader of Lagash (modern Telloh, Iraq) Strong, Peaceful Leader

Babylonian Art

Stele of Hammurabi Sculpture (carved stone / relief) 2.13 Meters Tall 1792 – 1750 BCE

Hammurabi – King of Ancient Babylon Stele – Vertical Upright Monument Contains early set of written laws Written in Cuneiform writing (writing developed in Near East) Conversation between Hammurabi and Shamash , the sun God (God given laws) Stele of Hammurabi

Stele of Hammurabi

Assyrian Art

Lamassu

Human-headed winged lion and bull
From the citadel of Sargon II , Dar Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) Iraq
Served to ward off enemies and to guard Kings
Partly “in the round” and part relief
Front view at rest / side view in movement
Lamassu Assyrian, 883 – 859 BCE, Carved Limestone, 13’10” high.

Reconstruction Drawing of citadel of Sargon II , Khorsabad, 720 BCE

Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions Relief (carved Stone) 99.1 cm Tall 850 BCE

Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions Lion hunting scene (Theme of Man and Nature) Assurnasirpal II was the leader of Assyria Assyrian ruler built huge palaces – these palaces were decorated with relief carvings

Neo-Babylonian Art

Ishtar Gate From Babylon Architecture (Glazed Brick) 575 BCE

reconstruction drawing

Ishtar Gate Ishtar Gate From Babylon Architecture (Glazed Brick) 575 BCE Entrance to the Ancient city of Babylon Lions – Symbols of Goddess Ishtar Crenellated Towers Glazed Bricks used to make the gate are long lasting and strong

Persian Art

Persepolis

Persepolis Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I Persepolis, Iran 500 BCE Buildings separated by streets and open spaces Columned hall was dominant structure Standing on a rock cut platform Stone used throughout the palace Forms of figures derived from Egyptian style (Persians traded with the Egyptians) Destroyed by Alexander the Great (leader of Macedon – Northern Greece)

Plan of Persepolis

/Users/faa/desktop/ancient near east

by Ajarn Dale on Oct 06, 2010

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/Users/faa/desktop/ancient near east — Presentation Transcript