History of Architecture - I Kurdistan Region-Iraq ISHIK UNIVERSITY Department of Architecture History of Architecture - I 3 Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) By: Nizar Najim Assistant Lecturer

3.2. Natural Environment Characters: History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.1. Introduction: Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization, the oldest human societies were discovered on its lands since the ancient stone ages 3.2. Natural Environment Characters: Geography Characters: Located on a region called historically “the Fertile Crescent” Topography: various and different climate Resources: The plains of the fertile crescent are characterized with the two famous rivers; “Tigris and Euphrates” Geology Nature: Plays a big role in providing raw materials Environment: Sever, provided the architecture special characters Prevailing Winds: North west and South west having special effects on location and orientation of cities and buildings.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.2. Natural Environment Characters:

3.3. Social Environment Characters: History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.3. Social Environment Characters: Social Structure: Inhabitants are; “ Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, in addition to some other invader nations. Religious and spiritual believes and thoughts: Creation, name, numbers, life cycle 3.4. Prehistoric Phases: Eridu Phase 5300 – 4900 B.C. Haj Mohammed Phase 4900 – 4300 B.C. Halaf Phase 4900 – 4300 2nd & 3rd Ubaid Phase 4300 – 3500 B.C. Uruk Phase 3700 – 3100 B.C. Jemdet Nasr Phase 3100 – 2900 B.C. 4th Ubaid Phase: Coincides with the late stone age

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.5. Art of Mesopotamia: The main forms of Mesopotamian art which have come down to us are sculptured figures in stone and clay. Few paintings have survived. Mesopotamian sculpture comes in all sizes, and appears in the round and as reliefs. It often depicts animals, such as goats, rams, bulls and lions, as well as mythical creatures such as lions and bulls with men's heads.  Others show gods and goddesses, as well as priests and worshippers. Most human figures from the early period have large, staring eyes, and long beards. As time goes by the figures become increasingly realistic. Under the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, sculpture takes on a colossal form, with giant statues guarding the royal palaces. On a smaller scale, cylinder seals come from all periods of Mesopotamian history. many are beautifully executed, with highly complex and sophisticated designs.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.5. Art of Mesopotamia: 2-dimensional art in Mesopotamia was dominated by inlaid panels, mosaic, and to a limited extent dry fresco, images. Very few painted images have survived, the destruction of city-states by military conquest and natural environmental deterioration. 2-dimensional representations that exist show highly idealized and simplified conical figures in visual narratives. Sculpture: Geometric, based upon cone and cylinder, images representing gods and kings believed to be present in spirit within their images. Frontal poises with enlarged eyes, the window to the soul, arms and legs have the roundness of pipes, and long skirt-like robes are smoothly carved as if by a lathe in a conical taper. Animal images, associated with deities, are realistic and energetic.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.5. Art of Mesopotamia:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.5. Art of Mesopotamia:

3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: Temples: Mesopotamian temples were designed to a rectangular plan. Early examples were constructed atop a small earthen platform; as time went by, these platforms became taller and taller, giving rise to the classic Mesopotamian ziggurat. Ziggurats probably represented the sacred mountain where gods and men could meet. They were brick-built temple-mounds, taking the form of a layered platform. They resembled step pyramids with a flat roof, on which a shrine would be built. Access to this shrine was by a broad staircase or ramp. Surrounding the central temple building was a complex of ceremonial courtyards, shrines, burial chambers for the priests and priestesses, ceremonial banqueting halls, along with workshops, granaries, storehouse and administrative buildings, as temples were main centers of economic and administrative activity in ancient Mesopotamia.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia:

3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: Palaces: The palaces of Mesopotamian rulers were large and lavishly decorated. Built around a series of courtyards, these complexes housed craftsmen's workshops, servants quarters, food storehouses, shrines, and the domestic accommodation for the royal family. The largest of these led off to the throne room, of a size and majesty designed to stun visitors. The palace walls were decorated with carved stone slabs on which pictorial and textual depictions of cultural scenes or the Kings' deeds. Gates and important passageways were flanked with massive stone sculptures of mythological figures. Outside, these palaces were often adjoined to expansive gardens and parks, stocked with wild animals for hunting.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia:

3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.6. Architecture of Mesopotamia: Houses: The materials used to build a Mesopotamian house were the same as those used today: sun baked brick made of mud mixed with straw, mud plaster and wooden doors. These all used materials naturally available in the locality. Most large houses, whether in town or country, were built around a courtyard. Off one side was a large square room, where the family received guests and ate together. Leading off this room were the private family quarters. Other sides of the courtyard led to the kitchen, store rooms and servants accommodation. The homes of the poor were probably built of materials such as mud and reeds.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: The Culture of Sumer: Cuneiform: a Latin term meaning “Wedge shaped” in several hundreds characters, on wet clay with reeds Business, accounts, and records, Law, grammar, literature The Art of Sumer: Arches, ramps, columns Sculpture Cylindrical seals

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Math & Sciences: Systems based on number 60 Geometry May have been the first to use the wheel Invented the plow Basic Surgery Trade and Society: Existence of timber, stone, and mineral helped forming a trading network with Dilmun (Current Bahrain) Society hierarchy Distinct male/female roles.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Spiritual Believes and Concepts in Sumerian Architecture: The Sumerian architecture was ruled by spiritual and mythical believes and concepts related to the attitude of the Sumerians against the universe, and their idea about the creation of the universe The idea of the creation of the universe: Based on the split of the universal system into separate parts, each works as a self-contained whole, which explains the multiplicity of the Gods and universe’s levels, and thus reflected the Sumerians arts and architecture Main Models in the Sumerian Architecture: Cities: On the contrary to the Assyrian and Babylonian, Sumerian have believed in the multiplicity of the levels of the universe, which was reflected on their cities, so they came as collected parts

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Main Models in the Sumerian Architecture:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: The Cities of Sumer: Sumerian Have Established roughly a dozens of city-states consists of walled Metropolis dominated by a Ziggurat (Pyramid like). Houses were constructed from bundled marsh reeds or mud bricks. Complex irrigation canals to use the water of Tigris and Euphrates for farming Major Sumerian cities: Eridu, Ur, Lagash, Uruk (Population: 40,000 – 80,000), … etc. Sumerian cities engaged in war that resulted in several deferent dynasties During later stages of their history, they were attacked by Elamites, Akkadian, and Gutians

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Fortification of the Sumerian Cities: Sumerian cities were characterized with two walls: Wall of the urban core: walls were on the important features since the early beginning stages of the city (around 3,000 B.C.). The planning of the Sumerian cities depended on the total separation between private part (Temples and presidential Palaces) and the public (Residential sector and its accessories). External City Wall: it’s shape follows the city organization, mostly organic Temples Fortification of the Sumerian Temples: Ground Temples. Lifted Temples: on a platform, such as the Oval Temple in Khafaja 2,800 B.C. reconstructed many times. Another type was the Ziggurat Temples, which is a big mass of adobe in graded layers, covered with finished stone or baked clay in a significant engineering form

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Fortification of the Sumerian Temples:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Fortification of the Sumerian Temples: Ziggurats were fortified with double walls as a fence surrounding an open courtyard As an example: the Ziggurat of Ur as the oldest known in Mesopotamia (the 3rd dynasty of Ur), made of 3 layers toped with a temple

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Space Organization in Sumerian Temples: Cella (Cell): the main element in the temple, having 2 types: Longitudinal Cella: used widely in architecture of the pre-dynasties Cross-sectional Cella: such as Tal Asmar Temple, and Eridu Temple Ante Cella : A space before the Cella, Entrance: on the short side of the temple along the axis of the Cella

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Palaces: By the separation of the Legislative Power from the Religious Power, palaces emerged as a new structural pattern in the Mesopotamia, having a high level of monumentality 2,600 B.C. Fortification of Sumerian Palaces: External Fortification: the main element in the temple, having 2 layers: Increasing the Thickness of the External walls: Looking like a castle, to be used for military purposes, such as the palace of Niram-Sin Types of Sumerian Palaces: Royal Palaces. Secondary Palaces.

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Main Components of Sumerian Palaces: The basic planning unit: consists of the following elements: Reception Hall: Developed later to be the Throne Hall Reception Court: the court that the throne hall faceing The Entrance: Important element surrounded by the huge towers decorated with ornament and fortified gates. The Royal Section: adjacent to the Throne Hall, connected through openings or vestibules The Cella or Chapel: Special space for worshiping

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Architecture:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Architecture:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Architecture:

History of Architecture - I 3 History of Architecture - I 3. Architecture of Ancient Civilizations (Mesopotamia) 3.7. Sumer: Architecture:

History of Architecture - I : 3. References: 1. Ching, Francis D.K., “A Global History of Architectural”, Second Edition, John Wiley& Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011 2. Fletcher, Banister, “A History of Architectural on the Comparative Method”, Fifth Edition, Pradbury, Agnew & Co. Limited Printers, London, 2011 3. KOSTOF SPIRO, “A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals”, Oxford University Press, USA, 1995 4. Mansbridge, John, “Graphic History of Architecture”, Hennessey & Ingalls, 1999