Transcript Ancient Near East

Defining “Civilized”
Urban life: permanent constructions
System of regulatory government
Class distinction (through wealth and
occupation)
Tools/skills --> production/trade
Written communication
Shared system of religious belief
Civilization
In pre-agricultural societies, as soon as there was
enough food for all, work stopped.
With agriculture, a field must be sown, tended, and
later harvested all at once.
The harvest must be stored.
Domestic animals must be maintained as a herd
and be held in a contained area.
When all goes well, there will be a surplus of food
that is not immediately distributed.
It is valuable, and must be managed and guarded.
civilization
With the Agricultural Revolution comes:
–Government bureaucracy
–Standing armies
–A controlling social elite
civilization
Not all people had to farm. Some could
become specialists in particular tasks:
–Potters
–Tool makers
–Metal workers (smiths)
–Bakers, butchers, etc.
–Bureaucrats
civilization
Even if a farming society had begun to
flourish with relatively independent
farmers, once irrigation is introduced,
infrastructure follows.
An irrigation ditch and water-raising
devices are large, expensive projects,
requiring government, taxation, a
workforce, etc.
Fertile crescent
The first area of
the world to move
to an agricultural
way of life was
near where Africa,
Europe, and Asia
meet.
An area called the
Fertile Crescent
Fertile crescent
The “Fertile Crescent” is fertile, because
rivers from all three continents drain into it,
bringing rich nutrients to the soil as well as
water.
It was also in an area of moderate climate,
perfect for growing crops.
For those reasons it was also more heavily
populated.
Ancient Near East
Mesopotamia
The world’s first great civilization arose in
the Fertile Crescent.
–This happened in particular in an area
that is now part of Iraq.
–This area is bounded by the Tigris and
the Euphrates rivers.
–The Greeks called it Mesopotamia,
meaning “between the rivers.”
Sumer
The first notable
civilization in
Mesopotamia was
Sumer.
It was located in
southern
Mesopotamia, near
where the rivers
join.
Ancient Near East
Sumerian Accomplishments
3500 BCE – Invention of the Wheel
3400 BCE – Invention of pottery wheel
3300 BCE – Invention of writing
(cuneiform)
3000 BCE – Epic of Gilgamesh written –
1st literary work – Quiz 1 – due next week!
Ancient Near East
Other developments in Ancient Near East
2300 – 2150 BCE - Akkadian Dynasty and
Empire – conquest of Sumeria
2150 – 1760 BCE - Neo-Sumerian Dynasty
1760 – 1600 BCE – Babylonian Empire:
develops advanced mathematics
1600 – 1000 BCE – Splintering of Empire into 3
areas: Hittites in north (develop iron weapons);
Kassites in center and Elamites in south.
Ancient Near East
1350 – 612 BCE – Assyrian Empire : most brutal
and feared warriors of A.N.E.
669 – 627 BCE – Ashurbanipal rules Assyria
612 – 538 BCE – Neo-Babylonian (Chaldaean)
Empire : conquer Egypt in 605 BCE and
Jerusalem in 586 BCE under Nebuchadnezzar II
(Babylonian Captivity – Destruction of Temple of
Solomon)
538 – 330 BCE – Persian Empire : largest
empire then known stretching from modern day
Iran to Egypt
Ancient Near East
Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were nearly
all polytheistic. Polytheism – belief in more than
one god. (Only exception was the Jews who
later developed monotheism – a belief in one
god).
All Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were
theocratic. Theocracy – government which is led
by religious rulers that were in charge of both
the political and religious aspects of their
cultures
Ancient Near East - religion
Sumerian Gods
Annunaki – name for the
Sumerian gods
Anu- sky god/king of gods
Innana – fertility goddess/
queen of gods
Abu – god of plants
Enlil – god of earth /wind
Enki – god of wisdom
Shamash – sun god
Assyrians, Babylonians,
Akkadians, Hittites shared
the same gods though
sometimes added new ones
or changed the names
Persian Gods
Ahura Mazda – god of
light
Ahriman – god of
darkness
Dualistic religion where
both gods were equal
and opposite
Zoroaster – chief
prophet of Persian
religion
Zend-Avesta – Persian
Holy Book
Chart: Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses. ca. 2200–
2159 BCE.
Sumerians
Ancient Near East
Characteristics of Sumerian Art
Prominent Eyes
Arched eyebrows
Cylindrical body shape
Conceptual approach to human figures
Offers homage to the gods
Highly stylized/even abstract at times
Focus on the spiritual world
White Temple and ziggurat
Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
mud brick
Oldest temple structure in Mesopotamia
RECOVERED
Female head (possibly Inanna)
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
marble
approximately 8 in. high
RECOVERED
Warka Vase
from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq
ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.
alabaster
approximately 3 ft. high
Considered masterpiece of Mesopotamian
pottery
Sumerian- Art
Votive Statues from
Abu Temple
2600 BCE
Tell Asmar, Sumeria
Votive statues had
prayers inscribed
upon them and were
offered to the gods
Votive means offering
Sumerian- Art
Standard of Ur
2700 - 2600 BCE
Ur, Sumeria
Wood with inlaid shells,
limestone and lapis lazuli
Considered masterpiece
of Sumerian art
Two sided one side is war
one is peace
King is largest figure on
both sides
Sumerian- Art
Bull’s Head Lyre
2600 BCE
Ur, Sumeria
Found in Queen Paubi’s
tomb
Never used so signifies
possible use in afterlife
Wood with inlaid shell,
gold and lapis lazuli
Sumerian. Vessel in the shape of an ostrich egg, from
the Royal Cemetery of Ur.
Height: 5-3/4".
Sumerian. Cuneiform writing in Sumer. Sumerian tablet
.
from Lagash, modern Tello, Iraq. ca. 2360 BCE
Ram in a thicket
from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur
(modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq
ca. 2,600 B.C.E.
gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen
42.6 cm. high
Sumerian mythology included many magical animals
Akkadians
Ancient Near East
Akkadian and Assyrian Art Characteristics
Art to commemorate warriors and rulers
More naturalistic than Sumerian
Portrayal of violence
Illustrates and glorifies the military power
of the people and their king and his
accomplishments
MISSING
Head of an Akkadian ruler
from Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq
ca. 2,250-2,200 B.C.E.
copper
14 3/8 in. high
Possibly Sargon or Naram-Sin – 2 signs of
power - beard and crown
Materials & Techniques: Lost-wax Casting
(diagram).
Akkadian- Art
Victory Stele of NaramSim
2300 – 2200 BCE
Akkad
Shows king on top of
mountain triumphing over
his enemies
Size of king dramatically
larger than those around
him
It was a public monument
showing king’s power
Akkadian. Cylinder seal impression and the Seal of
Adda. ca. 2600 BCE.
Height: 1-1/2".
Neo-Sumerians
Neo-Sumerian- Art
Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu
2500 – 2050 BCE
Ur, Sumeria (Iraq)
Priest was only one
allowed to visit the home
of the god at the top of
the temple
Ur-Nammu writes first
code of laws (incomplete)
Neo-Sumerians
Neo-Sumerian- Art
Gudea of Lagash
2144 – 2124 BCE
Lagash, Sumeria
Priest-king – first statue
of non-hero
Made of Diorite –
because stone was
strong and long lasting
No attempt at reality – but
regal
Babylonians
Babylonian- Art
Law Code of Hammurabi
1760 BCE
Babylon
Made of Diorite
First complete written
code of laws
Sun god Shamash hands
laws directly to
Hammurabi making it
clear that all must follow
them
Quiz 2 – Due Next Week!
Hittites
Hittite Art
Lion Gate
1343-1200 BCE
Hattusha, Turkey
Capital of Hittite
Empire
Hittites are first to
use iron weapons
Assyrians
Assyrian- Art
Lamassu from Citadel
of Sargon
883 – 859 BCE
Nimrud, Assyria
Lamassu were
protector gods
assumed by the
Assyrians to come to
life to protect them
Note 5 legs
Assyrian archers pursuing enemies
from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud)
ca. 875-860 B.C.E.
gypsum
2 ft. 10 3/8 in. high
Perspective is not even considered – larger figures are the important ones
Assyrian- Art
Ashurnasirpal II Killing
Lions
850 BCE
Nimrud, Assyria
Limestone
Part of the Hunting
Reliefs
The Hunting Reliefs are
considered the
masterpiece of Ancient
Near Eastern Art
Assyrian- Art
Dying Lioness
850 BCE
Nimrud, Assyria
Relief Sculpture
Limestone
Part of the Hunting
Reliefs
The Hunting Reliefs are
considered the
masterpiece of Ancient
Near Eastern Art
Hunting Reliefs
Tablet 11 of the Epic of Gilgamesh (fragment), with the
Flood Story. From the Library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh
(modern Kuyunjik, Iraq). Second milennium BCE.
Ancient Near East
Sack of Hamanu by
Ashurbanipal
650 BCE
Nineveh, Assyria
Scale is all out of
proportion
Narrative is what is
important
Power of king and his
army’s technique are the
focus
Assyrian. Exile of the Israelites, from the Palace of
Sennacherib, Nineveh, Assyria. Late 8th century BCE.
Neo-Babylonian
Neo-Babylonian- Art
Ishtar Gate
575 BCE
Babylon
From Neo-Babylonian
period made of glazed
brick
One of over 30 entrances
to city – used for
defensive purposes and
to impress visitors
Animals used for
ornamentation
Crenellations on top for
defense
Ishtar Gate (restored)
details of dragon (Marduk) and
bull (Adad)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.
glazed brick
Ishtar Gate (restored)
details of lion (Ishtar)
from Babylon, Iraq
ca. 575 B.C.E.
glazed brick
Babylonian. Reconstruction drawing: Babylon's
Processional Way & Ishtar Gate as they appeared in
the 6th century BCE.
Persian Art
Anonymous. Beaker with ibex, dogs, and long-necked birds, from
Susa, southwest Iran. ca. 5000–4000 BCE.
Height: 11-1/4".
Persian- Art
Achaemenid Palace
518 – 460 BCE
Persepolis, Persia
Palace was destroyed
by Alexander the
Great in revenge for
the destruction of the
Acropolis in Athens
Laid out in grid
pattern
Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I
Persepolis, Iran
ca. 521-465 B.C.E.
.
Persian. Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute. Detail, relief from a
stairway leading to the Apadana, ceremonial complex, Persepolis,
Iran.
491-486 BCE.
Height: 8' 4".
Achaemenid. Rhyton. 5th-3rd centuries BCE.
Ancient Near East - Art
Winged Ibex
4th century BCE
Persia
This object was used
as a jar handle
Gilded in gold over
stone
Animal motif prevailed
in Ancient Near East
Sasanian Art
Palace of Shapur I
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 250 C.E.
Roman artisans aided in the
construction – hence the arch
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian
from Bishapur, Iraq
ca. 260 C.E.
rock-cut relief
The Roman Emperor kneels in defeat before
the Sasanian King
Head of Sasanian King (Shapur II?)
from Ctesiphon, Iraq
ca. 350 C.E.
silver with mercury gilding
15 3/4 in. high
Sculpture
Ancient Near East - Art
The End
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