1. Mesopotamia
Western art

2. Mesopotamia
The art and architecture of Mesopotamia centers around their gods and rulers
BC beginnings
Mesopotamia is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Sumerians established first city-states
Writing, schools, democracy and the use of the vault and arch all date back to the Sumerians
Sumerians- over 1000 yrs of power
Then Babylonians, Assyrians and Persians

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4. mesopotamia
Due to building structures out of mud-brick, not a lot remains
Although some tombs remain, the number is quite small in comparison to Egypt
Each city-state had its own god and ruler
Sumerians created ziggurats- high temple platform of Sumerian and Assyrian architecture, truncated stepped pyramid with ramplike stairways leading to sanctuary at top
The most famous ziggurat in the world is the ziggurat at Ur

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6. mesopotamia Built by Ur-Nammu for moon goddess Nanna
Temple at top- blue bricks
720,000 bottom alone, 33 lbs
Oriented to true north
Ziggurat at Ur, BC, modern day Iraq

7. mesopotamia Sumerians were skilled inventors
Musical instruments have been found by archaeologists, and shows the propensity for lively rituals and festivals
Items like shells, lapis lazuli, other semi-precious stones and silver were used for these instruments

8. mesopotamia Silver lyre from Ur c. 2600-2400 B.C.E. 106 x 97 cm
silver, shell, and lapis lazuli are original, the wood is reconstructed, southern Iraq 

9. mesopotamia
BC-
records of
“bookkeeping

10. mesopotamia Epic of Gilgamesh Mtg of Gilgamesh with Utnapishtim
Flood story similar to Noah in the Bible
Said that the discoverer- George Smith in 1872 was so excited about the discovery that he jumped up and tore his clothes

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Writing cuneiform

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Another famous ziggurat is the White Temple and ziggurat in Uruk

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14. mesopotamia
Standing Male Worshipper- interesting differences bt art of Egypt and Middle East
Khan Academy
Burials were made in pits, with many dead being buried at the same time in similar burial pits
Many discoveries of sculpture and other pieces have been discovered in the royal cemeteries in Ur

15. mesopotamia
The most famous piece to be found in cemetery- the Standard of Ur
registers

16. mesopotamia
The main panels are titled War and Peace- show different scenes from daily life
Possible carried on a stick (standard- name) or part of an instrument
Found in a tomb by a man’s shoulder
Discovered by Leonard Wooley

17. mesopotamia
Akkadians tried to take over, and did for awhile- but didn’t last. Sumerians took back over
Babylonians emerged in 1700 BC and took over power
Hammurabi- first leader
Composed set of fairly humane laws known as Code of Hammurabi on black basalt stele
Stele- upright slab

18. mesopotamia Stele of Hammurabi Louvre 1780 BC
Laws written in cuneiform in register
Hammurabi receiving laws from god Shamesh
(parallels to Moses)

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20. mesopotamia
King Nebuchadnezzar commissioned the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in BC
Consolation for his wife who missed her green, lush home in Persia
Rose into air in series of terraced roof gardens
Irrigated with water pumped in from Euphrates
One of Seven Wonders the of World
No archaeological evidence
Ever found

21. mesopotamia
King Neb also commissioned Tower of Babel- he called his capital city Babylon “the navel of the world”
Some, particularly biblical historians, think the Tower is symbol of man’s arrogance- trying to build to reach heaven (270 ft high)
Herodotus described Babel as “a stack of eight stepped towers, with gates of solid brass and 120 lions in brightly colored, glazed tiles leading to it. A spiral stairway wound around the exterior, mounting to a summit where and inner sanctuary contained an elaborately adorned couch and gold table.”

22. mesopotamia
Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Tower of Babel
Oil on panel
1563

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King Neb II, while in this huge building campaign, also commissioned the Ishtar Gate
-was one of the wonders of the world before Lighthouse at Alexandria
-11 miles of wall
-8 double gates
-lapis lazuli, copper and gold
-Ishtar- goddess of power, war and sexuality

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25. mesopotamia
Animals on Ishtar Gate- Lions, Aruk (bull), hybrid Mesopotamian dragon- serpent, scorpion, eagle (associated with patron god of city)
-all mean power

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Assyrians had a different style- using much more low relief to show hunts and other things to show dominance of kings and people over nature
Tried to show king’s courage during hunt
Said that servants would goad lions, then release them for the king to kill
Much of Sumerian artwork was in the round, while Assyrian artwork typically was based on relief

27. mesopotamia
Dying Lioness
650 BC
Limestone
Ninevah, Assyria

28. mesopotamia 539 BC brought end to Assyrian empire by the Persians
King Darius- built huge palaces, stone used more as empire expanded
Use of more elaborate stone work and carving as decoration
Persians held dominance until 33 BC when Alexander the Great took over

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30. mesopotamia Persepolis Iran 500 BC
Atop each column- pair of sculpted bulls, symbol of power

31. mesopotamia Bull capital 518-460 BC Persian Limestone Carved from
Probably
Covered in
Lapis Lazuli,
gold leaf and
silver

32. Mesopotamia Questions
What is a ziggurat?
In what modern day country is the most famous ziggurat?
What is a stele?
What is the most famous stele? Who commissioned it? For what purpose?
What major Sumerian art piece was found buried in a tomb, even though we don’t know why?
What is register?
What 2 rivers does Mesopotamia fall between?
What is cuneiform?
What story did the Flood Tablet tell?
Why would “The Male Worshipper” have been given that name?
What Mesopotamian artwork is one of the original Seven Wonders of the World?
What three major pieces of architecture did King Nebuchadnezzar commission?
What three animals were on the Ishtar Gate, and what did they symbolize?
What is the main difference between Sumerian and Assyrian sculpture?
What animal was a symbol of power to the Persians?