history of arts

1. 1
Chapter 2
The Rise of Civilization:
The Art of the Ancient Near East

2. 2
The Ancient Near East

3. Ancient Civilizations
MESOPOTAMIA
the cradle of civilization

4. Objectives:
You will learn about the
•ART/MUSICART/MUSIC
•LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE
•RELIGIONRELIGION
•LITERATURELITERATURE
•ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTURE
of one of the earliest civilizations.

5. •This lesson is important . . .This lesson is important . . .
•it serves as a basis forit serves as a basis for
understandingunderstanding
•all other civilizations thatall other civilizations that
followed.followed.
•It is a look at how peopleIt is a look at how people
•of long ago made art &of long ago made art &
architecturearchitecture
•which reflects theirwhich reflects their
•thoughts and lives.thoughts and lives.

6. Two important revolutions occurred in Mesopotamia:
•1.1. Agricultural revolution PeopleAgricultural revolution People
began farming for the first time.began farming for the first time.
•2.2. Birth of Cities Government, Culture, andBirth of Cities Government, Culture, and
Building Evolved from simple Villages.Building Evolved from simple Villages.

7. •LAND OF MESOPOTAMIALAND OF MESOPOTAMIA
•THE WORD MESOPOTAMIA IS A GREEK WORD COMPOSED OF TWO WORDS “MESOP” MEANINGTHE WORD MESOPOTAMIA IS A GREEK WORD COMPOSED OF TWO WORDS “MESOP” MEANING
MIDDLEMIDDLE AND “POTAMIA “ MAENINGAND “POTAMIA “ MAENING RIVER.RIVER.
MESOPOTAMIA IS THE TIGRIS EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY …. THIS REGION ONCE COVERED MUCH OFMESOPOTAMIA IS THE TIGRIS EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY …. THIS REGION ONCE COVERED MUCH OF
MODERN IRAN, IRAQ AND SYRIA.MODERN IRAN, IRAQ AND SYRIA.
TIGRIS & EUPHRATES ARE PRESENTLY THE WORLDS LARGEST FRESH WATER RIVERS AND TWO OFTIGRIS & EUPHRATES ARE PRESENTLY THE WORLDS LARGEST FRESH WATER RIVERS AND TWO OF
THE MOST ANCIENT RIVERS.THE MOST ANCIENT RIVERS.
TIGRIS ORIGINATES FROM IRAQ WHERE AS EUPHRATES ORIGINATES FROM SYRIA.TIGRIS ORIGINATES FROM IRAQ WHERE AS EUPHRATES ORIGINATES FROM SYRIA.
BOTH THESE RIVERS FLOW ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO EACHOTHER AND FALL INTO THE PERSIANBOTH THESE RIVERS FLOW ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO EACHOTHER AND FALL INTO THE PERSIAN
GULF.GULF.
• MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION EMERGED AS SMALL AGRICULTURAL VILLAGES.MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION EMERGED AS SMALL AGRICULTURAL VILLAGES.
• MESOPOTAMIAN CULTURE DEVELOPED DUE TO THE LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION BYMESOPOTAMIAN CULTURE DEVELOPED DUE TO THE LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION BY
MEANS OF CANALS.MEANS OF CANALS.
• THEIR UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY PERMITTED A SPECTACULAR INCREASE IN POPULATION AS ATHEIR UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY PERMITTED A SPECTACULAR INCREASE IN POPULATION AS A
RESULT OF WHICH MOST ANCIENT CITIES OF ERIDU, UR, LAGHAS, NIPUR AND KISH AROSE.RESULT OF WHICH MOST ANCIENT CITIES OF ERIDU, UR, LAGHAS, NIPUR AND KISH AROSE.
• MESOPOTAMIA IS SURROUNDED IN THE EAST BY THE MOUNTAINS OF ZAGROS, ITMESOPOTAMIA IS SURROUNDED IN THE EAST BY THE MOUNTAINS OF ZAGROS, IT
INCLUDED THE LAND LOCATED AT THE WEST OF THE EUPHRATES.INCLUDED THE LAND LOCATED AT THE WEST OF THE EUPHRATES.

8. • AKKADIAN EMPIRE OF MESOPTAMIA INCLUDED A GREAT PART OFAKKADIAN EMPIRE OF MESOPTAMIA INCLUDED A GREAT PART OF
MIDDLE EAST.MIDDLE EAST.
• THE MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THETHE MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THE
ANNUAL FLOODS AND THERE WAS A LARGE SCALE DEPENDENCE ONANNUAL FLOODS AND THERE WAS A LARGE SCALE DEPENDENCE ON
THESE TWO RIVERS FOR FISH, CRUSTACEA, MOLLUSCS AND TURTLE.THESE TWO RIVERS FOR FISH, CRUSTACEA, MOLLUSCS AND TURTLE.
• THE SUMERIAN WERE THE FIRST CIVILIZATION OF MESOPOTAMIA (5000
BC).
• ASSARIANS CAME TO POWER IN 700 BC
• BABYLONIANS CIVILIZATION GAINED PROMINANCE IN 600BC .BABYLONIANS CIVILIZATION GAINED PROMINANCE IN 600BC .
• THE PERIOD ARROUND 539 BC IS MARKED BY THE RISE OF PERSIANS.THE PERIOD ARROUND 539 BC IS MARKED BY THE RISE OF PERSIANS.
8

9. •THE FERTILE CRESCENTTHE FERTILE CRESCENT

11. •Among the earliest cultural expressions
in Sumer, was pottery. Around 3000 BCE
the Sumerians started carving in stones
and shells, and creating statues. Jewellery
was also created from gold and silver.
•CULTURE andCULTURE and
SCIENCESCIENCE•The Sumerians were the first to start using
the alloy bronze, which allowed them the
development of much better instruments
than what had been possible before. The
discovery of how to mould bronze soon
spread all over the rest of the Middle East.

13. 13
Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
• The earliest writing dates to 3400-3200 BCE
– THEY WERE THE FIRST TO INVENT WRITING AND USED A
TOOL NAMED STYLUS ONCLAY TABLETS.
– Developed into cuneiform 
– By 2600 BCE complex grammar
had been developed.
– Cuneiform is one of the earliest known forms of written
expression. Emerging in Sumer around the 30th century BC,
with predecessors reaching into the late 4th millennium (the
Uruk IV period), cuneiform writing began as a system of
pictographs.

14. •PICTOGRAPHYPICTOGRAPHY
•Soon after the invention of theirSoon after the invention of their
writing system, the Sumerians beganwriting system, the Sumerians began
to compile smaller lists of cuneiformto compile smaller lists of cuneiform
signs. With a system of word signs,signs. With a system of word signs,
sign lists are simultaneously wordsign lists are simultaneously word
lists, having even a certain somewhatlists, having even a certain somewhat
topical material arrangement.topical material arrangement.
•These contained primarily compoundThese contained primarily compound
words: in addition to objectswords: in addition to objects
designated by determinatives,designated by determinatives,
including those objects made fromincluding those objects made from
wood, reed, leather, metals, stone,wood, reed, leather, metals, stone,
wool and so forth, the listswool and so forth, the lists
enumerated plants with particularenumerated plants with particular
subgroups, such as trees and grains,subgroups, such as trees and grains,
as well as domesticated and wildas well as domesticated and wild
animals, and certain classifications ofanimals, and certain classifications of
people with designations for bodypeople with designations for body
parts, geographic names, stars andparts, geographic names, stars and
divine names.divine names.

15. 15
fish
picture writing cuneiform

16. • Counting using pictographs scratched into soft clay arises in Sumer
•The Sumerians also developed the studies of Mathematics, Astronomy, along with other
Sciences.
•The Sumerians developed many ways of understanding Time. They even had an
accurate Calendar, that was vital to Planning Agriculture.
They made the first Calander and the first clock based on 60 degree phenomenon called
SUNDIAL
•The Sumerians also developed Pseudo-Science like Astrology, within the context of
Religion.
•The believed that the Stars on the Sky were GODS that controlled the events in the
world, and that the position between these Gods could be used to predict Events In The
World, as well as the Fortune For Individuals
•The Architecture of Sumer was limited, in the respect that there were no solid building
materials available in the region. Stone, Metal and Wood had to be imported. Therefore,
they had to use Mud and Reed for most houses, but this gradually developed into using
Mud Brick.
•Of Technical Developments, Sumerians developed the Potter's Wheel, the Sailboat and
the Seed Plow.
•CIVILIZATION’S DISCOVERIESCIVILIZATION’S DISCOVERIES

17. THE FIRST EVER WHEEL WAS INVENTED AND USED SOMETHE FIRST EVER WHEEL WAS INVENTED AND USED SOME
55OOO YEARS AGO.55OOO YEARS AGO.
..

18. •IMAGE OF THE CITYIMAGE OF THE CITY
•The streets were unpaved and untrained. The averageThe streets were unpaved and untrained. The average
house was a small, one-story, mud-brick structure,house was a small, one-story, mud-brick structure,
consisting of several rooms grouped around a court. Theconsisting of several rooms grouped around a court. The
ground floor consisted of a reception room, kitchen,ground floor consisted of a reception room, kitchen,
lavatory, servants' quarters, and, sometimes, even a privatelavatory, servants' quarters, and, sometimes, even a private

19. •ZIGGUARATZIGGUARAT THENTHEN

20. •ZIGGUARATZIGGUARAT
•NOWNOW

21. 21
Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
The Wark Vase ca 3200-3000 BCE
• Sumerians may have been the first to
tell stories using pictures.
• The vase depicts a religious festival in
honor of the goddess.
– Divided into 3 “bands”
– Lowest band shows animals in strict
profile. Images reflected economics,
but also fertility.
– 2nd band: Naked men carrying jars
of offerings; nature’s bounty – men
composite– frontal & profile. Con-
ceptual vs optical representation.
– Top band:Female figure with tall
horned headdress. Men bringing
offerings are smaller – “hierarchy of
scale”

22. 22
Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
The Wark Vase [Wark is modern name for Uruk]

23. 23
Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
The Inanna 3200-3000 BCE
was the Sumerian goddess of love,
fertility, and warfare, and goddess of
the E-Anna temple at the city of
Uruk, her main centre.
• Maybe just a priestess
• Imported stone, colored shells &
stones.
• Missing body of wood clothed
& decorated elegantly.

24. 24
The Gods & Goddesses of Mesopotamia
• Anu: Chief deity of sky and the city-state of Uruk.
• Enil: Anu’s son; winds & earth. [took over as chief god]
• Inanna: Goddess of love & war. Later named Ishtar.
• Nanna: The moon god, also Sin; Ur.
• Babylon:
– Utu/Shamash: God of the Sun.
– Marduk: chief god of theBabylonians.
• Others: Nabu [writing/wisdom];
Ada [storms] [Both on Ishtar Gate];
Ningirsu [Lagash/Girsu – appears on the Stele of the
Vultures]

25. 25
Sumerian Religion, Society, and Art
• Votive Statues: Eshnunna
• Where: Esnunna; The Square Temple
• When: c. 2900-2600 BCE
• Who: The Sumerians
• What: Stone (limestone, alabaster and gypsum) figurines of people.
• Why: These were left in temples to represent Sumerian men and
women who left prayers at the temple.
• How: Artists would make these at the temple complexes for a price,
most likely depending on the size, and possibly which type of stone
was used.
• Fun Facts:
• Accurate to how the people really looked at the time; styles and
dress.Writing on the back or bottom state who the statue represents
and what they are praying for, although a common phrase found on
them states "One who offers prayers".
• Wide open eyes represent better contact with the god.
• Large head and shoulders are an elaboration of where they believed the
soul resides.
• There would be thousands of these left in ziggurats.
– 1-3 ft in height; Made of simple shapes – cones, cylinders, but
specific in dress and type.
Statue of
worshippers
at Eshunna 
ca. 2700 BCE

26. Votive Statue from the
Square Temple , Eshnunna
26

27. 27
Victory & Vultures
• Stele: Carved stone slab to
commemorate an event. Relief
– This stele presents a labeled
narrative. ca. 26005-2500 BCE
– Victory of Eannatum of
Lagash over Umma.
– Takes its name from scene of
vultures carrying off the severed
heads of the vanquished.
• Provides info about warfare
techniques & the special
status of the Sumerian ruler
• The God Ningirsu watched
over Eannatum

28. 28
“War & Peace”/Standard of Ur
• The Sumerians buried their elite in vaulted chambers, under
the earth, with servants and possessions. ca. 2600 BCE
• Standard of Ur: sloping sides inlaid with shells and lapis.
– Called War/Peace, but may have been two parts of a
single narrative.
– Why is it called a “standard”?

29. 29
War 
Peace 

30. 30
Lyre from Ur [restored]
• From the “King’s Grave” in Ur.
• Bull’s head decoratation
• On the soundbox
are animals with
human faces
serving a banquet,
playing music
& dancing.
• ca. 2600 BCE

31. 31
The First Near-Eastern Kings
The head of the Akkadian ruler
combines both naturalism and
formal abstract patterning. 2250-
2200 BCE
Naturalism
• The shape of the nose
• Different textures of hair and flesh
• Contrasting textures of beard,
mustache, and hair.
Abstract patterning
• Patterns in hair
• Stylistic symmetry
• Formal patterns of lozenges and
triangles.

32. 32
The Piety of Gudea
• These statues showed his piety as well
as his wealth and pride
• They were designed to always be in
the temple to give the gods their due.
• Diorite: Hard, costly stone: imported
and difficult to carve.
– Image is of Gudea presenting his
plan to Ningirsu for the new
temple. ca. 2100

33. 33
The Code of Hammurabi
Ca. 1780 BCE [18th
cen. BCE]
• King Hammurabi wrote a comprehensive
law code for his subjects.
– If any man puts out the eye of another
man, his eye shall be put out
– If he kills a man’s slave he shall pay
one-third of a mina.
– If someone steals property from a
temple, he will be put to death, as will
the recipient of the stolen goods.
– …. If a man’s wife is caught in bed
with another man, both will be tied up
and thrown in the water.

34. 34
King Hammurabi
• The stele with the code written on it
was carried off to Susa as booty in
1157 BCE
• It shows Hammurabi in the presence
of the sun god, Shamash.
– Symbol of Shamash?
– Artist used convention of
combined front and side views,
with exception of headdress.
– May have experimented with
foreshortening.

35. 35
The Hittites’ Fortified Capital
• The Lion Gate: ca. 1400 BCE -- Lions are 7 ft high
– Early example of protecting cities through sculptures of
wild beasts at the gate.

36. 36
ASSYRIAN: Citadel of Sargon II
• Unfinished [ca. 721-705 BCE]
– Exhibited both confidence &
fear. Covered 25 acres
– Had over 200 courtyards &
rooms
• Represented Sargon’s
grandeur:
– Merciless &
– Forgiving
• Included a ziggurat
and sanctuaries for 6
deities.

37. 37
Citadel of Sargon II
The Guardian Gates of the Citadel. [made of limestone]
[ca. 721-705 BCE]
• Lamassu: winged , human-headed bull
• Partly in the round,
but conceived as
high reliefs.
• Presents a
conceptual view
of the creature,
in order to show
all aspects.

38. 38
Neo-Babylonian & Achaemenid Art
Ishtar Gate:
• King Nebuchadnezzar
[r. 604-562 BCE] –
mentioned in Daniel.
• Babylon was built of
mud bricks, but the
important buildings
were faced with glazed
bricks
• Images on bricks are of
Marduk’s dragon &
Adad’s bull in profile.
• Babylon conquered by Cyrus of Persia in the 6th cen. BCE.

39. •In its glory, Babylon was surrounded by thick masonry walls. The tall Ishtar GateIn its glory, Babylon was surrounded by thick masonry walls. The tall Ishtar Gate
was an important portal into the City. Originally, the Gate was covered withwas an important portal into the City. Originally, the Gate was covered with
brilliant blue enameled tiles and glazed brick bas relief images of dragons andbrilliant blue enameled tiles and glazed brick bas relief images of dragons and
young bulls.young bulls.

40. 40
Babylon
Hanging Gardens & Marduk ziggurat. [“Tower of Babel”]

41. •THE HANGING GARDENTHE HANGING GARDEN

42. •In antiquity, gardens at Babylon,In antiquity, gardens at Babylon,
the capital of Mesopotamia,the capital of Mesopotamia,
considered one of the Sevenconsidered one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. AccordingWonders of the World. According
to legend, King Nebuchadnezzarto legend, King Nebuchadnezzar
constructed the gardens in theconstructed the gardens in the
6th century BC for one of his6th century BC for one of his
wives, who was homesick for herwives, who was homesick for her
birthplace in the Iranianbirthplace in the Iranian
mountains. Archaeologicalmountains. Archaeological
excavations at the site ofexcavations at the site of
Babylon, 88 km/55 mi south ofBabylon, 88 km/55 mi south of
Baghdad in modern Iraq, haveBaghdad in modern Iraq, have
uncovered a huge substructureuncovered a huge substructure
that may have supported irrigatedthat may have supported irrigated
gardens on terraces. It is said thatgardens on terraces. It is said that
the Gardens were built bythe Gardens were built by
Nebuchadnezzar to please hisNebuchadnezzar to please his
wife or concubine who had beenwife or concubine who had been
"brought up in Media and had a"brought up in Media and had a
passion for mountainpassion for mountain
surroundings".surroundings".