This document provides a comparative case study of the art of ancient Sumeria and Egypt. It notes that while Egyptians developed their own hieroglyphic writing system and monuments like the Great Sphinx, Mesopotamian art tended to be smaller in scale. However, both cultures represented figures in similar stylized ways and used art to depict everyday life and pay homage to rulers. Their artistic traditions also emphasized symmetrical, frontal representations of the human form. Overall, the document analyzes the similarities and differences between the artistic styles and achievements of ancient Sumeria and Egypt.

1. HISTORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN (AGD1222)
A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY BETWEEN THE
SUMERIAN AND EGYPTIAN ARTS
PREPARE FOR:
MADAM RINA BINTI ABD. SHUKOR
PREPARED BY:
Dip.DG26B NURUL SYAMIMI BINTI
MOHD MOKHTAR
3153006491
JABATAN PENGAJIAN UMUM
PUSAT PENGAJIAN ASASI & UMUM (CFGS)
UNIVERSITI SELANGOR
SEMESTER MEI 2015
A comparative case study between the sumerian and egyptian arts.

2. There are many significant similarities and differences between the art of ancient
Egypt and the art of the various civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia.
Despite some initial inspiration, Egyptian culture separated itself from
Mesopotamia in a number of ways beyond politics and monument building. The
Egyptians did not take to the Sumerian cuneiform alphabet and developed a hieroglyphic
alphabet instead. Hieroglyphics, though more pictorial than Sumerian cuneiform, were
based on simplified pictures of objects abstracted to represent concepts or sounds. As in
Mesopotamia the writing system was complex, and its use was, for the most part,
monopolized by the powerful priestly caste. Egyptians ultimately developed a new
material to write on, papyrus, which was cheaper to manufacture and use than clay tablets
or animal skins and allowed the proliferation of elaborate record keeping. On the other
hand, Egypt did not generate an epic literary tradition.
The ancient Egyptians were known for creating large monuments such as the
Great Spinx and the Temple of Ramses II. These massive sculptural structures many
times were created in preparation for the afterlife. The Egyptians had the ability to
import large stones for these great structures, and they also were able to organize a
massive labor force for building purposes.
Art from the Mesopotamian region tends to be smaller and less grand than the
Egyptians’. Like the Egyptians their sculptural figures appear stiff and ridged, however
the figurative structures from Mesopotamia were often based on cone forms and were
depicted with hands clasped in front (See the Statuettes from the Temple of Abu Tell
Asmar.) Unlike the Egyptians, Mesopotamian artist often created their human figures
with exaggeratedly large eyes. They used scale to indicate hierarchy in the culture. For
example, women did not hold a high place in Mesopotamian societies, consequently
statues and figurines of women are represented as being much smaller than those
depicting men.
This is in contrast to Egyptian society where women are represented as being more
equal. The statue of Menkaure and his queen Khamerernebty is a great example of
this. It shows this royal husband and wife standing together as equals. Although there
are indications that Menkaure holds the power i.e. his clenched fists, taller stature, and his
left foot stepping out past that of his wife, it is clear that his wife is not inferior.
Hieroglyphics, the written language of the Egyptians was very pictorial. They used
pictures and symbols to represent people, things and actions. The Mesopotamians on the

3. other hand developed the written communication called cuneiform which was made up of
wedge shaped symbols carved onto clay tablets. The peoples of ancient Mesopotamia
are renowned for their contribution to literary history with works such as the Epic of
Gilgamesh which according the eNotes/Wikipedia page on the subject is “among the
earliest known works of literature.”
In both cultures art was used on the sides of everyday objects and on the walls of
monuments depicting scenes from everyday life. Art was also a means to show reverence
to gods and goddesses, kings and queens. Both cultures emphasized the perfection of the
human figure in proportion and in terms of view. With respect to 2 dimensional arts,
each part of the body was depicted at the most representative angel. Feet and heads are
depicted in profile but eyes and torsos are shown in frontal view.
In both Egyptian and Mesopotamian art there are many examples of 2
dimensional depictions of evenly spaced figures in procession with repetitive, almost
identical poses. Creatures with a mixture of both human and animal body parts are
another common subject matter.
Both civilizations, finally, left an important heritage in their region
and adjacent territories. A number of smaller civilization centers were
launched under the impetus of Mesopotamia and Egypt, and some would produce
important innovations of their own by about 1000 B.C.