1. The Rise of Civilization: The Art of the Ancient Near East

2. Things to Notice
Cultural changes in the Neolithic Revolution as they relate to the art and architecture.
The concept of civilization and the importance of Sumer in the ancient Near East.
The artistic materials, techniques, subject matter, styles and conventions developed in the ancient Near East.

3. The Ancient Near East

5. Chatal Huyuk
Why no entrances on the sides?

7. Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
Stylistic and formal visual aspects of Mesopotamian art and its iconography
Identify cultures that ruled the Mesopotamian regions throughout early history
Different media and materials used in Mesopotamian art
Critically evaluate the role of art and power in different near eastern civilizations from this period

9. The Neolithic Revolution
The birth of writing in ancient Sumer.
The first city states, city planning, and organized religion are attributed to Sumer. Explore how art – and architecture – are effected.

10. Cuneiform

11. Banquet scene, cylinder seal (left) and its modern impression (right), from the tomb of Pu-abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq, ca BCE. Lapis lazuli, approx. 2” high. British Museum, London.

12. Ziggurat = mound
.eventually incorporated with temple
Reconstruction drawing of the White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk (modern Warka), Iraq, ca. 3200–3000 BCE (after S. E. Piggott).

13. Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art(cont.)
Stylistic and formal visual aspects of Mesopotamian art and its iconography
Identify cultures that ruled the Mesopotamian regions throughout early history
Different media and materials used in Mesopotamian art
Critically evaluate the role of art and power in different near eastern civilizations from this period

14. Mesopotamian Religion, Mythology, Gods and Goddesses
How are ancient Near Eastern ideas about religion different from Paleolithic and earlier Neolithic ideas?
Explore how these ideas are depicted in Sumerian sculpture, seals, and funerary objects.

15. Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian, Babylonian Cultures
Evaluate the stylistic and formal visual aspects of later Akkadian art and its iconography
Critically evaluate the role of art and power in Akkadian civilizations from this period

17. Detail Naram-Sin defeating the Lullubi
Hieratic Scale
Detail Naram-Sin defeating the Lullubi
© 2005 Saskia Cultural Documentation, Ltd.

19. What has changed about the Ziggurat form?

20. Divine Royalty
Seated statue of Gudea holding temple plan, from Girsu (modern Telloh), Iraq, ca BCE. Diorite, approx. 2’ 5” high. Louvre, Paris.

21. The Code of Hammurabi
Explore the Code of Hammurabi, how it is expressed in art and why it contributes to cultural understanding in the ancient Near East.

22. Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian Art
Evaluate the stylistic and formal visual aspects of later Assyrian art and its iconography.
Explore the ideas of power expressed in the art of the Assyrians.
Examine the materials and techniques of Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian painting and low relief sculpture.

24. Mesopotamian Architecture
Compare the architecture of the Neo-Sumerian ziggurat with the city of Babylon and the fabled “Tower of Babel.” Explore the different materials used.

25. Persian Power and Opulence
Persian Empire had an impact on the art and culture of the ancient Near East.
Hallmarks of Persian culture and style in art and architecture.

26. Persian Splendor
Examine ruins of the great imperial palace at Persepolis.
Explore how the Persian art is different from other art of Mesopotamia.