Art of the Ancient Near East - de Beaufort

1. 1
Chapter 2
The Ancient Near East

2. 2
The Ancient Near East

3. 3

4. 4

5. 5

6. Nature (Gods) as capricious, cruel and unpredictable.
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7. Cultural pessimism
7

8. The Gods of
Mesopotamia:
Henotheism:
Many Gods but one in particular
above others
Over 2,000 deities and demons
The Two Triads:
Anu: The father of the gods (creator); god of
heaven
Ea: God of Water
Enlil: God of earth, wind, and air
Shamash: God of the sun, judge, and law
giver; god of wisdom
Nanna: God of the moon
Ishtar (Innana): Goddess of love, fertility,
and war (pictured above right)

9. 3,500-2,000 BC

10. SUMER
A HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Creation of a writing system
(Cuneiform)
Literary Works
Gilgamesh
Development of the Wheel
Developed Arithmetic
base 10
base 6 (time)
Primary City States: Uruk, Ur
10

11. Cuneiform
Latin:
“wedge”-”shape”
The “Operating Code” of civilization
First written documents were tax
records
Writing allows for transmission of
advanced social structure across
generations

12. CYCLINDER SEALS
Seals verifiy legal documents and
ownership
Status symbols (worn around neck)
Incised designs

13. 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. 2600 BCE. Lapis lazuli, 2”
high. British Museum, London.
13

14. Epic of Gilgamesh
Earliest surviving great work of
literature
Discovered by Hormuzd Rassam 1852
in Library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh
14

15. The Epic of Gilgamesh
Ca. 2,100 BCE
Gilgamesh: God-like king of Uruk
•Part human, part god, blessed with beauty and
courage-but high on his own power, oppresses
the people of Uruk
•Spurns the love of Ishtar (the Queen of Heaven)
and kills the Bull of Heaven that was sent to
attack him by the angry goddess.
•He is punished for the death of the bull with the
loss of his dearest (male) companion, Enkidu,
and forced to contemplate mortality.
•Emotional bonds between men more common
in Ancient World

16. Gilgamesh
A “buddy story”
Enkidu represents pre-civilized man
More woolly and wild than
Gilgamesh
16

17. Epic of Gilgamesh
CONTINUES
Gilgamesh then goes on a quest for
everlasting life.
When he finally finds a plant that promises
everlasting life, a serpent snatches it away.
He is left with a vision of death, a “house of
dust,” and a place of inescapable sadness.
FORCED TO FACE HUMAN MORTALITY
BUT…..
REDEMPTION: Gilgamesh realizes that
although Man dies-civilization in the
form of the city is eternal and an a-
temporal extension of being.

18. Ziggurat
Massive structures having the form
of a terraced step pyramid of
successively receding stories or
levels.
The Mesopotamian ziggurats were
not places for public worship or
ceremonies as they were believed
to be dwelling places for the gods.
Only priests were permitted on the
ziggurat or in the rooms at its base,
and it was their responsibility to
care for the gods and attend to
their needs.
AXIS MUNDI
18

19. Elevation=closer to
the Gods
Like Stonehenge,
functions as an
elevated
“axis mundi”

20. Mud-brick
20

21. White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk (modern Warka), Iraq, ca. 3200–3000 BCE.
21

22. The White Temple and Anu
Ziggurat
Named after the principal god Anu (sky
God).
The White Temple was constructed over
the Anu Ziggurat
Both temples entailed massive
manpower inputs—7500 man-years
alone
Structures separated priestly residents
from the populace- was not a public
place of worhsip
40 feet high

23. The White Temple and Anu
Ziggurat
Cella
Center of the temple (“Waiting Room”)

24. “bent-axis” plan
24

25. Tikal
Linear Axis Plan
25

26. •Ziggurat at Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq, ca. 2100 BCE.

27. Ziggurat of Ur
The “Nanna” Ziggurat
Mud-brick building (coated with
asphaultum to resist rain)
Tapers outward for rain to wash off
Four corners oriented to the compass
Guardhouse at top of stairs (public
not allowed)
720,000 baked mud bricks
Nanna (Sin) the Moon God
27

28. Ziggurat of Ur
Because the unbaked mud brick core
of the temple would, according to the
season, be alternatively more or less
damp, the architects included holes
through the baked exterior layer of the
temple allowing water to evaporate
from its core
28

29. 29
Female head (Inanna?),
from Uruk (modern
Warka), Iraq, ca. 3200–
3000 BCE. Marble, 8”
high. Iraq Museum,
Baghdad.
“Mask of Warka”

30. 30
“Mask of Warka”
Innana
Goddess of Love and War

31. Inanna
Sumerian Goddess of love, beauty,
sex, desire, fertility, war, combat,
and political power.
Always portrayed as young and
impetuous, constantly striving for
more power than she had been
allotted
Appears in more myths than any
other god
31

32. 32
Presentation of offerings to Inanna
(Warka Vase), from Uruk (modern
Warka), Iraq, ca. 3200–3000 BCE.
Alabaster, 3’ 1/4” high. Iraq Museum,
Baghdad.

33. 33
Registers
Horizontal
narrative bands
Depicts the ritual
marriage of the
human Priest-King
(Ensi) and the
Goddess Innana

34. Sumerian Art
Hierarchical Scale
Figures: Men – bare chested with
kilts
Women – left shoulder covered
Nudity is a debasement, only
slaves and prisoners are nude
Emotionless
“Votive” Figures
34

35. 35
Statuettes of two worshipers, from
the Square Temple at Eshnunna
(modern Tell Asmar), Iraq, ca. 2700
BCE. Gypsum inlaid with shell and
black limestone, male figure 2’ 6”
high. Iraq Museum, Baghdad.

36. 36

37. “votive statues”
37

38. 38
Fragment of the victory stele of Eannatum (Stele of the Vultures), from Girsu (modern Telloh), Iraq,
ca. 2600–2500 BCE. Limestone, fragment 2’ 6” high, full stele 5’ 11” high. Louvre, Paris.

39. “Stele of the Vultures”
Commemorates
victory of Lagash
over Umma
Eannatum, Ensi of
Lagash, rules with
the support of God
Ningirsu and
Goddess Ninhursag
39

40. Composite views (conceptual representation)
40

41. Ningirsu (God)
Larger than Eannatum
(hieratic scale)
Inscription:
God chose Eannatum to
rule Lagash, and shed tears
for him when wounded

42. 42

43. Royal Cemetery of Ur
Discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley
ca. 1922
43

44. 44

45. 45

46. 46

47. Queen Puabi
47

48. Some concern for the “after”-life…
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49. 49
Bull-headed lyre (restored) from
Tomb 789 (“King’s Grave”),
Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell
Muqayyar), Iraq, ca. 2600 BCE.
Lyre: Gold leaf and lapis lazuli
over a wooden core, 5’ 5” high.

50. 50

51. 51
Sound box (right): Wood with inlaid
gold, lapis lazuli, and shell, 1’ 7” high.
University of Pennsylvania Museum
of Archaeology and Anthropology,
Philadelphia.

52. • Mounted on pole as military
standard?
• Inlaid with shell, lapus lazuli
(rich blue stone) and red
limestone
• Historical narrative on two sides
(read from left to right and
bottom to top)
• War , conquest & victory
celebration (banquet)
• Registers of space (3 bands)
• Hierarchy of scale (king)
Standard of Ur (from side)
ca. 2600BCE

53. 53

54. War side of the Standard of Ur, from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell
Muqayyar), Iraq, ca. 2600 BCE. Wood inlaid with shell, lapis lazuli, and red limestone, 8”
x 1’ 7”. British Museum, London.
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61. 61
Peace side of the Standard of Ur, from Tomb 779, Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar),
Iraq, ca. 2600 BCE. Wood inlaid with shell, lapis lazuli, and red limestone, 8” x 1’ 7”. British
Museum, London.

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67. 67

68. AKKAD
Sumer is taken over by the Akkadians.
Semitic peoples-different language than
Sumerian
The style of rule is different – loyalty to the
king, rather than the city-state
68

69. AKKAD
Art deifies the king – who rules with
the gods’ approval, not assistance
Appropriates Sumerian iconography in their
art
69

70. 70
Head of an Akkadian ruler, from
Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik), Iraq,
ca. 2250–2200 BCE. Copper, 1’ 2
3/8” high. Iraq Museum, Baghdad.

71. 71
Possibly Sargon the
Great, a man from a
lowly family who rose
to power and
founded the royal city
of Akkad

72. 72
•Lost-wax casting

73. 73
Eyes damaged by the Medes
peoples

74. 74

75. 75
Victory stele of Naram-Sin, from Susa,
Iran, 2254–2218 BCE. Pink sandstone, 6’
7” high. Louvre, Paris.

76. The Victory Stele of Naram-
Sin
Defeat of the Lullubi people(Iranian
mountain people)
Composite View
Frontal chest but the rest of
the body in profile. (Same
as Egyptian) This
shows his power and the correct side
“right side” of the ruler.
Symbols of Authority and Kingship –
Largest Figure (Hierarchical
Scale). Larger even than the
Gods.
Wears the horned crown
(attribute of a god)
Large Beard
3 stars represent approval of
gods
Mountain-scaling ladder to
heavens
Disciplined troops
Directional Symbols –
Upward diagonal motion of
King’s soldiers at left, downward
motion of enemy.

77. The Victory Stele of Naram-
Sin
Defeat of the Lullubi people(Iranian
mountain people)
Composite View
Frontal chest but the rest of
the body in profile. (Same
as Egyptian) This
shows his power and the correct side
“right side” of the ruler.
Symbols of Authority and Kingship –
Largest Figure (Hierarchical
Scale). Larger even than the
Gods.
Wears the horned crown
(attribute of a god)
Large Beard
3 stars represent approval of
gods
Mountain-scaling ladder to
heavens
Disciplined troops
Directional Symbols –
Upward diagonal motion of
King’s soldiers at left, downward
motion of enemy.

78. 78

79. The Victory Stele of Naram-
Sin
Taken to Susa by the Elamites in 1150
BCE as “War Booty”
(second inscription attests to this)

80. Lagash and Gudea
The “Guti” people invade from the
mountains and wipe out Akkadians.
Lagash remain independent….a
Neo-Sumerian Dynasty
Gudea, king of Lagash
patron God is Ningirsu
80

81. Seated Statue of Gudea
2100 BCE diorite temple statue
• Ensi of Lagash- 20 statues survive
• Holding temple plans- he built /rebuilt many temples
• Piety
• Abundance symbolized by overflowing vase
• Power and authority:
– messages to the gods, temple plans,
– diorite (rare), bare shoulder,
– muscular physique

82. 82
Seated statue of Gudea holding
temple plan, from Girsu (modern
Telloh), Iraq, ca. 2100 BCE.
Diorite, 2’ 5” high. Louvre, Paris.

83. 83

84. Temple plan
Construction workers treated very
welll…
…as soft as “combed wool”
apparently
84

85. Hammurabi
(Babylonian)
Hammurabi- classic “micro-
manager”
The most far-reaching leader of
Mesopotamian history, describing
himself as “the king who made the
four quarters of the earth obedient.”
85

86. 86
Stele with law code of
Hammurabi, from Susa, Iran, ca.
1780 BCE. Basalt, 7’ 4” high.
Louvre, Paris.

87. Law Code of
Hammurabi
One of the earliest law codes ever
written.
Sun god (Shamash), hands Hammurabi a
coiled rope, a ring, and a (measuring) rod
of kingship
Hammurabi is literally given right to rule
by god.
Shamash-Large beard, multi- horned
helmet, bare shoulder. Feet placed on
mountains. Flames behind shoulders.
Hammurabi engages his God directly, but
is standing in respect.
Made of hard stone (basalt)
87

88. Shamash
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92. 92

93. Half of the Code deals with matters of
contract, establishing for example the
wages to be paid to an ox driver or a
surgeon. Other provisions set the terms of
a transaction, establishing the liability of a
builder for a house that collapses, for
example, or property that is damaged while
left in the care of another.
Approximately a third of the code
addresses issues concerning household
and family relationships such as
inheritance, divorce, paternity and sexual
behavior.
Only one provision appears to impose
obligations on an official; this provision
establishes that a judge who reaches an
incorrect decision is to be fined and
removed from the bench permanently.
93

94. Was found in Susa (Iran)
More war booty for the Elamites..
94

95. 95

96. 96
Statue of Queen Napir-Asu, from Susa,
Iran, ca. 1350–1300 BCE. Bronze and
copper, 4’ 2 3/4” high. Louvre, Paris.

97. Solid bronze- 3,760 pounds
“votive” tradition (found in temple)
Hands over belly signify fertility
97

98. ASSYRIA
Babylon falls to the
Hittites in 1595 BCE
From 900-600 BCE
Assyrians take charge
98

99. ASSYRIA
The culture of the Assyrians
was brutal, the army seldom
marching on the battlefield but
rather terrorizing opponents
into submission who, once
conquered, were tortured,
raped, beheaded, and flayed
with their corpses publicly
displayed. The Assyrians
torched enemies' houses,
salted their fields, and cut
down their orchards.
99

100. 100

101. Sargon II
Makes fortress at Dur Sharukkin
Assyria kings cultivate image of
power- merciless to those that
oppose.
Always mindful of attack
101

102. As a result of these fierce and
successful military campaigns, the
Assyrians acquired massive
resources from all over the Near
East which made the Assyrian
kings very rich. The palaces were
on an entirely new scale of size
and glamor
102

103. 103
Reconstruction drawing of the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca.
720–705 BCE (after Charles Altman).

104. 104
•The Fortified City

105. So you wan’t to see the King do
you??
105

106. 106
Lamassu (winged, human-headed
bull), from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur
Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq,
ca. 720–705 BCE. Limestone, 13’ 10”
high. Louvre, Paris.

107. 107

108. Lamassu
Winged human-headed “guardian”
figures meant to ward off enemies,
seen and unseen
5 legs
Front – at attention
Side – walking
108

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114. 114

115. Assyrian Reliefs
Praised the greatness of the King
Figures are stoic
Animals are expressive
Domination over wild beasts shows
authority of king over his people.
Order vs. Chaos
115

116. Ashurnasirpal
Stone panel from the North-West
Palace of Ashurnasirpal II 883–
859BC.
Royal lion hunts were an ancient
tradition in Mesopotamia. Lions set
loose in a contained enclosure for king
to slaughter.
Ashurnasirpal seems to have been
an especially enthusiastic hunter.
Inscriptions claim that he killed a total
of 450 lions
116

117. 117
Ashurbanipal hunting lions, relief from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (modern
Kuyunjik), Iraq, ca. 645–640 BCE. Gypsum, 5’ 4” high. British Museum, London.

118. Ashurbanipal- “Ashur is creator of the son”
Greeks called him Sardanapalus
118

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126. •Ashurbanipal hunting lions, ca. 645-640BCE. Fig. 1-19.

127. 127

128. Modern sympathies lie with lions
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132. 132

133. Neo-Babylonia
Babylon re-merges after fall of
Assyrian empire
King Nebuchadnezzar
“I caused a mighty wall to circumscribe Babylon…
so that the enemy who would do evil would not
threaten…
King Nubuchadnezzar the biblical Daniel’s
“King of Kings”

134. 134

135. “Hanging Gardens”
135

136. Euphrates river ran directly though
the city
136

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141. 141

142. •Marduk Ziggurat
“Etemenanki’
•temple of the foundation of heaven and earth

143. Tower of Babel
143

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147. 147
•Cyrus did it…. (539 BCE)

148. 148
Ishtar Gate
(restored),
Babylon, Iraq, ca.
575 BCE.
Staatliche
Museen, Berlin.

149. 149

150. 150

151. Ishtar Gate
Glazed brick over mud walls
Animals guard the city
Lions sacred to the goddess Ishtar
Marduk- Patron God of Babylon
151

152. Copper glaze used to create
brilliant blue
152

153. Ishtar (patroness)
Lion
153

154. Marduk (patron god)
dragon
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156. Adad (storm god)
156

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158. 158

159. Nebuchadnezzar’s
inscription
speaking across history
159

160. PERSIA
160

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162. 162
Persepolis (apadana in the background), Iran, ca. 521–465 BCE.

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169. 169
Processional frieze (detail) on the terrace of the apadana, Persepolis, Iran, ca. 521–465 BCE.
Limestone, 8’ 4” high.

170. 170
•Darius and Xerxes

171. 171
Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian, rock-cut relief, Bishapur, Iran, ca. 260 CE.

172. 172•2250 BCE, Akkadian 350 CE, Persian

173. 173
•“repousse”