ART OF THE

ANCIENT NEAR EAST

EUGENIA LANGANMATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLHIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDAWITH APOLOGIES TO FRED KLEINER AND WILLIAM GANIS

IMPORTANT NOTICE

LAST YEAR THE COLLEGE BOARD DECIDED THAT NEITHER ANCIENT NEAR-EASTERN NOR EGYPTIAN ARE “NON-WESTERN”

DO NOT USE EITHER AS EXAMPLES OF NON-WESTERN ART OR "ART OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN TRADITION"

THEME: SANBAN – P.S.

SUMERIAN - © 3500 – 2332 B.C.E. AKKADIAN - © 2332 – 2150 B.C.E. NEO-SUMERIAN - © 2150 – 2004 B.C.E.

BABYLONIAN - © 1792 – 1600 B.C.E

ASSYRIAN - © 900 – 612 B.C.E. NEO-BABYLONIAN - © 612 – 540 B.C.E.

PERSIAN - © 540 – 330 B.C.E. SASANIAN - © 330 B.C.E. – 636 C.E.

THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

SUMERIAN ART

TIMELINE

NEOLITHIC AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION OCCURRED FIRST IN MESOPOTAMIA © 9000 B.C.E.

© 3500 B.C.E.: FIRST CIVILIZATION (SUMERIA)

FIRST GOVERNMENT (CITY – STATES)

FIRST ORGANIZED RELIGION – WHY? RULERS NEEDED LEGITIMACY

FIRST WRITING (CUNEIFORM)

FIRST OFFICIAL/MONUMENTAL ART AND ARCHITECTURE (PATRON = GOVERNMENT) – WHY?

SHOWED POWER OF RULERS

WHITE TEMPLE AND ZIGGURATURUK (MODERN WARKA) IRAQCA. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.MUD BRICK – WHY? NOT MUCH STONE AROUND!

DRAWING – RECONSTRUCTION OF WHITE TEMPLE

BENT-AXIS PLAN (ORIENTATION) – STAIRS CHANGED DIRECTION 2-3 TIMES TO GET TO TOP TEMPLE

MUD BRICK BUILDINGS GET DAMAGED BY RAIN – MUST BE RESTORED FREQUENTLY. AIT BENHADDOU KASBAH (11TH C.) IN MOROCCO, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE TODAY BECAUSE MANY MOVIES WERE FILMED THERE.

FEMALE HEAD (INANNA?), URUK (MODERN WARKA), IRAQ, © 3200–3000 BCE. MARBLE, 8” HIGH. IRAQ MUSEUM, BAGHDAD.

INANNA ISHTAR, ISIS AND VIRGIN MARY!

WARKA VASE

URUK (MODERN WARKA) IRAQ

CA. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E.ALABASTER.

APPROX. 3 FT. HIGH.

BAGHDAD MUSEUM, IRAQ

VOTIVES MAKING OFFERINGS TO INANNA

RELIEFS IN REGISTERS

OTHER VIEWS OF WARKA VASE

FROM SQUARE TEMPLE, ESHNUNNA (MODERN TELL ASMAR) IRAQ, © 2700 B.C.E.

GYPSUM WITH INLAID, SHELL, BLACK LIMESTONE, TALLEST 30 IN. HIGHIRAQ MUSEUM, BAGHDAD (MORE VIEWS ON NEXT SLIDES)

STATUETTES OF VOTIVES (WORSHIPPERS)

NOTICE – NOT FREESTANDING.

STANDARD OF UR

FROM TOMB 779,

ROYAL CEMETERY, UR (MODERN TELL MUQAYYAR, IRAQ, © 2,600 B.C.E.

WOOD INLAID WITH SHELL, LAPIS LAZULI & RED LIMESTONE.APPROX. 8” X 19”. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON SOUNDBOX FOR LYRE?

STANDARD OF UR (WAR SIDE)

NARRATIVE, RUNS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP

HERALDIC COMPOSITION & HIERARCHY OF SCALE

STANDARD OF UR (PEACE SIDE)

BULL-HEADED LYRE (RESTORED)

FROM TOMB 789, ROYAL CEMETERY UR, © 2,600 B.C.E.WOOD INLAID WITH GOLD LEAF, LAPIS LAZULI & SHELL.APPROXIMATELY 65 ” HIGH.UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGYAND ANTHROPOLOGY, PHILADELPHIA

BULL-HEADED LYRE, SIDE VIEW AND FRONT DETAIL

RAM IN A THICKET (RESTORED)

FROM TOMB 789,

ROYAL CEMETERY UR, © 2,600 B.C.E.

GOLD, SILVER, LAPIS LAZULI, COPPER, SHELL & RED LIMESTONE“GLUED” TO WOOD WITH BITUMEN, 19” HIGH.

ONE OF A PAIR, THIS ONE IN BRITISH MUSEUM, THE OTHER IN U. PA. MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY.

STANDS FOR VOTIVE OFFERINGS?

RAM IN A THICKET

R: CYLINDER SEAL FROM TOMB 800, ROYAL CEMETERY, UR, © 2600 B.C.E.

LAPIS LAZULI. APPROX. 2” HIGH.

BRITISH MUSEUM. L: A MODERN IMPRESSION FROM THIS SEAL.

USED TO SEAL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

AKKADIAN ART

TIMELINE

© 2332 B.C.E.: SARGON OF AKKAD (AKA "THE FIRST EMPIRE BUILDER") CONQUERED SUMERIAN CITY-STATES

© 2250 B.C.E: VICTORY OF NARAM-SIN OVER LULLABI

© 2150 B.C.E: GUTIAN CONQUEST ENDED AKKADIAN RULE

BUT THEY DON'T RULE LONG – CONQUEST NEO-SUMERIAN STATE

VOTIVE DISK OF ENHEDUANNA, FROM UR (MODERN TELL MUQAYYAR), IRAQ, CA. 2300 – 2275 BCE. ALABASTER, DIAMETER 10”. U. PA. MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY, PHILADELPHIA

WHO WAS ENHEDUANNA?

DAUGHTER OF SARGON OF AKKAD

POET-PRIESTESS – FIRST KNOWN AUTHOR (HYMNS TO INANNA)

VOTIVE DISK OF ENHEDUANNA IS FIRST KNOWN ART WORK HONORING A WOMAN

HEAD OF AN AKKADIAN RULER

FROM NINEVEH (MODERN KUYUNJIK) IRAQ, © 2,250-2,200 B.C.E. COPPER.14 3/8” HIGH

MISSING

VICTORY STELE OF NARAM-SIN

FROM SUSA, IRAN © 2,254-2,218 B.C.E.RELIEF ON PINK SANDSTONE79” HIGHLOUVRE, PARIS.

SUMERIAN INFLUENCE?DIFFERENCES?

VICTORY STELE OF NARAM-SIN

NEO-SUMERIAN ART

TIMELINE

© 2150 B.C.E.: ESTABLISHMENT OF NEO-SUMERIAN STATE RULED BY UR = "THIRD DYNASTY OF UR"

ABRAHAM WAS "A MAN OF UR" (GENESIS)

© 2004 B.C.E.: ELAMITE CONQUEST ERA OF DISUNION)

ZIGGURAT OF UR

AT UR (MODERN TELL MUQAYYAR) IRAQ. MORE LINEAR ORIENTATION THAN EARLY SUMERIAN

© 2100 B.C.E.MUD BRICK SET IN BITUMEN (PHOTOGRAPHED IN 1920)

RECONSTRUCTEDNORTHERN FAÇADEOF ZIGGURAT OF UR, AND AERIAL VIEW OF ZIGGURAT AND EXCAVATED CITY

100 STEPS

ANOTHER VIEW OF RECONSTRUCTED NORTHERN FAÇADE AND EXCAVATED CITY OF UR

RECONSTRUCTED STAIRS ON NORTHERN FAÇADE OF ZIGGURAT OF UR

100 STAIRS THAT LED TO TOP TEMPLE (MISSING)

SEATED STATUE OF GUDEA HOLDING TEMPLE PLANFROM GIRSU (MODERN TELLOH), IRAQ,

© 2,100 B.C.E., DIORITE, 29” HIGHINSCRIPTION EMPHASIZES IT'S DIORITE: IMPORTED, EXPENSIVE, VERY HARD (DIFFICULT TO CARVE)

LOUVRE, PARIS

WHO WAS GUDEA?

NEO-SUMERIAN KING WHORESTORED WORSHIP OF SUMERIANDEITIES

MORE DIORITE GUDEA FIGURES FROM ENVIRONS OF MODERN TELLOH, © 2100 B.C.E., ALL 20” – 30” HIGH. THESE FIGURES ARE? VOTIVES -- BLOCK STATUES

EARLIER KINGS WERE DEPICTED AS?

WARRIORS

WHY A PRAYING KING IN UR?

CONSTANT CONQUESTS OF MESOPOTAMIA?

ART REFLECTS ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT: WORRIED AND DEVOUT KINGS USUALLY APPEAR IN HARD TIMES

BABYLONIAN ART

(AND ELAMITE AND HITTITE)

TIMELINE

© 1792 B.C.E.: CONQUEST OF SUMERIA BY BABYLON UNDER HAMMURABI

© 1780 B.C.E.: CODE OF HAMMURABI ( LEGALISM OF WESTERN RELIGIONS

HAMMURABI ENCOURAGED MONOTHEISTIC WORSHIP OF MARDUK (SEED OF MONOTHEISM OF WESTERN RELIGIONS) -- WHY?

"FORGET THOSE OTHER GODS. THERE'S ONLY ONE AND HE PICKED ME."

© 1595 B.C.E.: HITTITE CONQUEST AND SACK OF BABYLON

©

© 1400 B.C.E.: ELAMITE SACK OF BABYLON

STELE WITH CODE OF HAMMURABI

FINDSPOT SUSA, IRAN, © 1780 B.C.E.BASALT88" HIGHLOUVRE, PARIS

BABYLONIAN:

STELE WITH CODE OF HAMMURABI

THE GOD SHAMASH (SEATED) HANDS HAMMURABI THE ROD AND RING OF POWER

HITTITE (AND OTHER ANATOLIAN) ART

LION GATE, HATTUSA (MODERN BOGHAZKÖY), TURKEY, © 1400 BCE. (HATTUSA = UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)

LION'S GATE, HATTUSA: GUARDIAN GATE

RELIEF OF 12 HITTITE GODS, YAZILIKAYA (TEMPLE), HATTUSA © 1400 B.C.E.

CONTRARY TO WHAT WORLD HISTORY TEXTS ALWAYS SAY, CIVILIZATION MAY HAVE ARISEN INDEPENDENTLY IN ANATOLIA

RESTORED VIEW OF A SECTION OF LEVEL VI, ÇATAL HUYÜK, TURKEY, © 6000–5900 B.C.E. (JOHN SWOGGER). GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS "NEOLITHIC TOWN"

ANATOLIAN BACKGROUND:

ELAMITE ART

STATUE OF QUEEN NAPIR-ASU, FROM SUSA, IRAN

© 1350-1300 B.C.E.BRONZE AND COPPER (SOLID BRONZE CORE,COPPER SHELL)50 ¾" HIGH.LOUVRE, PARIS

CURRENT WEIGHT =3760 LBS.

STATUE OF QUEEN NAPIR-ASU

INSCRIPTION ON SKIRT

THREATENS CURSE ON

“HE WHO WOULD SEIZE MY STATUE, WHO WOULD SMASH IT,

WHO WOULD DESTROY ITS INSCRIPTION . . .”

RITUAL BASIN, FROM SUSA © 1400 B.C.E. LIMESTONE. 62.8 X 92 CM. LOUVRE, PARIS. FUNCTION: BASIN FOR RITUAL LIBATIONS.

DETAIL OF RELIEF, NEXT SLIDE

WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM MESOPOTAMIAN ART?

CHIMERAS

STELE OF UNTASH-NAPIRISHA, SUSA © 1350 – 1300 B.C.E. SANDSTONE. H = 2.62 M. LOUVRE.

ASSYRIAN ART

TIMELINE

© 900 B.C.E.: ASSYRIAN CONQUEST OF BABYLON

721 – 705 B.C.E.: REIGN OF SARGON II

883 – 859 B.C.E.: REIGN OF ASHURNASIPAL II

668 – 627 B.C.E.: REIGN OF ASHURBANIPAL

EARLIEST KNOWN LIBRARY

641 B.C.E.: CONQUEST OF SUSA (ELAM)

627 B.C.E.: DEATH OF ASHURBANIPAL BABYLONIAN REVOLT 626 B.C.E.

612 B.C.E.: BABYLONIAN/MEDIAN SACK OF NINEVEH

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/media/images/268.jpg

RECONSTRUCTION DRAWING, CITADEL OF SARGON II, DAR SHARRUKIN (MODERN KHORSABAD) IRAQ, © 720-705 B.C.E. > 25 ACRES. USED EARLY SUMERIAN BENT-AXIS PLAN

"SARGON, KING OF THE WORLD, HAS BUILT A CITY. . . .

I BUILT A CITY WITH THE [LABOR OF] THE PEOPLES SUBDUED BY MY HAND" WITH THE AID OF THE GODS.

LAMASSU (WINGED HUMAN HEADED BULLS) FROM THE CITADEL OF SARGON II, DAR SHARRUKIN (MODERN KHORSABAD) IRAQ, © 720-705 B.C.E.LIMESTONE, 13' 10" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM. LONDON

PREDECESSORS?LION'S GATE, HATUSSA, AND ELAMITE CHIMARAE

OTHER VIEW, LAMASSU. NOTE STYLIZED BEARDS

HEAD OF LAMASSU AND CUNIEFORM INSCRIPTIONS ON GATE

GILGAMESH? WRESTLING LION, FROM CITADEL OF SARGON II, DAR SHARRUKIN,

© 720-705 B.C.E.LIMESTONE13' 10" HIGH.

BRITISH MUSEUM.

ASSYRIAN ARCHERS PURSUING ENEMIES, FROM NORTHWEST PALACE OF ASHURNASIRPAL II, KALHU (MODERN NIMRUD), © 875-860 B.C.E.GYPSUM. 2' 10 3/8" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM.

PREDECESSORS?AKKADIAN? STELE OF NARAM-SIN (DIAGONAL COMPOSITION, STYLIZED SETTING)

ASHURBANIPAL HUNTING LIONS (THIS AND NEXT TWO SLIDES)

NEO-BABYLONIAN ART

TIMELINE

612 B.C.E.: SACK OF NINEVEH & ESTABLISHMENT OF NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE

604 – 562 B.C.E.: REIGN OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR II

"BABYLONIAN RENAISSANCE"

© 586 B.C.E: CONQUEST OF JUDAH AND BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY OF JEWS (LEGALISM AND MONOTHEISM ENTER WESTERN RELIGION)

RUBBING OF ONYX ENGRAVING DEPICTING NEBUCHADNEZZAR II (ON MARDUK STATUE)

539 B.C.E.: PERSIANS CONQUEST OF BABYLONIAN EMPIRE

RECONSTRUCTION DRAWING OF THE ETEMENAKI (FRONTIER OF HEAVEN AND HELL) ZIGGURAT IN BABYLON, AS REBUILT BY NEBUCHADNEZZSAR II (ORIG. DATE UNKNOWN). BASIS FOR STORY OF THE TOWER OF BABEL?

ISHTAR GATE (RESTORED), FROM BABYLON, IRAQ,

© 575 B.C.E. GLAZED BRICK. PERGAMMON MUSEUM, BERLIN

NOTE SCALE

ISHTAR GATE – DRAGONS AND BULLS.

ISHTAR = BABYLONIAN COUNTERPART OF INANNA

ISHTAR GATE -- AUROCH

ISHTAR GATE , LIONS

PERSIAN ART

(ACHAEMENID)

TIMELINE

539 B.C.E.: CYRUS THE GREAT CONQUERED BABYLON, ESTABLISHED PERSIAN EMPIRE (ACHAEMENID DYNASTY)

539 – 529 B.C.E.: REIGN OF CYRUS THE GREAT (CYRUS I) AS EMPEROR

522 – 486 B.C.E.: REIGN OF DARIUS THE GREAT (DARIUS I)

486 – 465 B.C.E.: REIGN OF XERXES

521 – 465 B.C.E.: CONSTRUCTION OF PERSEPOLIS

330 B.C.E.: ALEXANDER THE GREAT CONQUERED PERSIAN EMPIRE

PERSIAN EMPIRE AT ITS GREATEST EXTENT (UNDER DARIUS I)

PALACE OF DARIUS I AND XERXES I

PERSEPOLIS, IRAN (PERSEPOLIS = ADMINISTRATIVE/ PALACE COMPLEX), © 521-465 B.C.E.

APADANA, PERSEPOLIS

RECONSTRUCTIONDRAWING OF PERSEPOLIS APADANA

HYPOSTYLE HALL = COLUMNS SUPPORTED CEILING

APDANA FRIEZE, PERSEPOLIS. WHAT'S NEW?CELEBRATES DIPLOMACY, NOT WAR

PERSEPOLIS

TIMELINE:

312 – 247 B.C.E.: SELUCID (HELLENISTIC) EMPIRE

247 B.C.E. - 224 C.E.: PARTHIAN EMPIRE

224 – 651 C.E.: SASSANID EMPIRE (LAST MIDDLE-EASTERN EMPIRE BEFORE ISLAM)

WE WILL CONSIDER MOST PERSIAN ART, INCLUDING THE SASSANID ART IN CHAPTER 2, LATER (HOLD THE CARDS!).

SHAPUR I DRACHIM, CAST SILVER COINS © 260 C.E.

HEAD OF SASANIAN KING (SHAPUR II?)FROM CTESIPHON, IRAQ, © 350 C.E.SILVER WITH MERCURY GILDING15 ¾" HIGH