Art History: Ancient Near Eastern Art
ARCHITECTURE OF DOMINATION
Controlled spaces, to impress and intimidate. Reinforce the idea of absolute power. King is intermediary between citizen and god.
Lamassu: hybrid guardian-protector. Head of a man, body of a bull (lion), wings of an eagle, headress of divinity (horns).
Five legs, seen from front and sides differently. Movement / dynamic in a stone statue.
Unmistakable political mission!
Fertile Crescent
Agriculture way before Europe
Chatal Huyuk is one such location
City-states: governments, specialized laborers, polytheistic (most cities had their own patron gods)
Jericho
Catal Huyuk
Ain Ghazal
AIN GHAZAL
Terraces, bigger than Jericho, specialized population, life-sized figures. Similar to votive figures?
CYLINDER SEAL
Like a middle-ages signet ring, was used to show ownership - distinct design belonged to owner. Way to preserve secrecy or prevent tampering.
STELE OF NARAMSIN
concept of imperial authority was literally carved in stone, 6.5 ft stele (upright stone slab). Commemorates a victory of NARAMSIN, Sargon's grandson.
SARGON: Akkadian ruler who rose to godhood, conquered
Sumerians, most of Mesopotamia.
They used stones shape as a dynamic part of the composition (see mountain). Sharp break from visual tradition, replaced horizontal REGISTERS with wavy ground lines.
Which figure is the godlike king?
He is watched over by three solar deities, represented by rays of light / suns. He ascends mountain wearing the horned headdress associated with deities (Lamassu). HEIRATIC relationship. Enemy soldiers dead at feet or begging for mercy. (only dominated Mesopotamia for ~100 years)
LAGASH
We have 20 votive remaining, making him a popular face in near eastern art history. Represented as strong, peaceful, pious - worthy of divine favor. Robes give room to have long cuneiform inscriptions. Vessel with life-giving water, flows into two streams with leaping fish.
It is MONUMENTAL - gives impression of grandeur.
Sculptors treatment of body (as with all Mesopotamian sculpture) emphasizes "power centers," the eyes, head, smoothly muscled chest and arms. Sheepskin hat, eyes large and attentive to the deity in temple.
HAMMURABI
Amorites reunited Sumer under Hammurabi. Capital was made Babylon, citizens Babylonians. Legal code that listed not only the laws, but the punishments for breaking those laws (in effect, a megalith).
Stele shows Hammurabi on mountaintop (represented by three flat tiers) on which Shamash (sun god and god if justice) rests his feet. He stands respectfully, in a position associated with prayer. Shamash holds measuring rod and rope circle, symbols of judgement.
Gods giving written laws on tablets are a common theme in near eastern art (Moses). While many laws seems harsh, it was revolutionary to have standard laws, and not be subject to the whims of a judge / king.
AS KINGSHIP AMD EMPIRE became more important, less emphasis was put on temple architecture and more placed on palaces. ZIMRILIM, Hammurabi's contemporary, built a huge palace with a great alabaster courtyard, shrines, rooms, massive art collection. He and HAMMURABI had once been allies, but Hammurabi marched on Mari (capital 250 mi N of Babylon). A few of the murals of the palace remain intact..
INVESTITURE OF ZIMRILIM (investiture means coronation)
Ishtar (Babylonian goddess of war, fertility, and love) grants authority to Zimrilim. Central panels devoted to investiture. Formal symmetrical style as with earlier Sumerian art.
Above: Ishtar holding weapons with foot on lion (power), extends rod and ring (ruler).
Below: two goddesses holding red vases with plants in them surrounded by streams of water that spring out of the vases. (like Gudea statue, life-giving water).
Flanking: aloe-like plants, three tiers of animals (bulls, winged lions, crowned human headed winged creatures), date palms being climbed by two fruit pickers, and two giant goddesses with arms raised in approval.
Colors darkened over past 4,000 years, probably included blue orange red brown and white.
ASSYRIA
Built huge palaces atop high platforms inside the different fortified cities that served as Assyrian capitals. Decorated with scenes of victorious battles, presentations of tribute to their king, combat between men and beasts, or religious imagery.
During his reign, ASSURNASIRPAL II made the capital at Nimrud, on the east bank of the Tigris. Built 5 miles of mud brick walls, 42 feet high (!) and constructed a canal that irrigated the fields and provided water to the booming population.
According to an inscription commemorating the event, he gave a feast to celebrate the dedication of the new capital Nimrud, serving 69,574 people in 879 BCE.
Lamassu guardians flanked major portals, alabaster and limestone decorations on mud brick buildings. Low relief sculpture panels decorated city.
KILLING LIONS
Assurnasirpal in chariot, lion struck by four arrows already, another slain on ground. Probably a ceremonial hunt, in which the king was protected by men with shields, but rode back and forth in an enclosed area killing animals one by one as they were released.
Marks a shift in Mesopotamian art - away from timelessness and toward a visual narrative. Like in earlier works it features a man and animals, but differs because he is completely dominating them. There is no question as to who will prevail.
In 669-627 BCE, Assurbanipal made Nineveh the capital. Palace decorated with know relief alabaster panels just like before. Most show king and his subjects in victory, battle, or hunting; others show palace life.
Which is this?
King and queen in pleasure garden. King and queen relaxing, servants with food, fans to keep insects away. It's actually a victory celebration. Weapons on table behind king, severed head of vanquished enemy hanging upside down on a tree. Common to display defeated enemies as a kind of psychological warfare - Assurbanipal's generals would have sent him the head as a trophy.
ISHTAR GATE
Nebuchadnezzar II of Bible book of Daniel fame, known for suppressing the Jews. Great patron of architecture, built temples dedicated to Babylonian gods throughout his realm. Made Babylon (the cultural, economic, political hub of his empire) into the most splendid cities of its day. Babylon straddled Euphrates river, connected by bridge. Huge paved processional way (66ft wide at some points) went through older quarter, was used in religious processions to city patron god Marduk, a Zeus-like deity. Gate is a literal symbol of Babylonian power.
Mushhushshu: horned dragons with the head and body of a snake forelegs of a lion and the hind legs of a bird of prey
Protection or theft? British have Rosetta Stone (French forced out of Egypt), Germans have Ishtar Gate.
ELAM
Looted Stele of Naramsin, carved inscription into it saying "were just holding on to it to protect it." Stele of Hammurabi also looted, both discovered in Elam.
vessels (beakers, bowls, jars) decorated in brown glaze on yellowed clay. Highly stylized geometric form (horned Ibex) reduced to basic shapes.
Circular horn motif (ROUNDEL) contains leaf pattern or birds in flight.
Susa's artisans also produced a compound that could be molded while soft, and carved once hardened, called bitumen: an asphalt-like compound. WOMAN SPINNING shows elegantly styled hair, ornamented, bordered dress - was important woman. Spinning thread. Fish and fruit on table being made as an offering to the deity that may be off the broken edge (long flounced garment as deities wore)
HITTITES
Moved into mountains and plateaus west of Mesopotamia. Established capital at Hattushash around 1600 BCE, city was destroyed around 1200 BCE. Grew powerful through trade, expanded along Mediterranean Sea, conflicts with Egyptians who were pushing into the same region from the south. They also made incursions against the mesopotamians.
May have been the first people to work with iron. War chariots, weapons, farming tools, chisels for masons and sculptors. Known for fine metalwork and imposing double-walled citadels with massive fortified gateways.
Hattushash's foundations and base walls were made of stone from local quarries around 1400 BCE. Upper walls, stairs, walked were finished in brick. Huge blocks of stone used to frame portals and doors decorated in HIGH RELIEF with various guardian figures - some of which include half human, half animal creatures, others were naturally depicted animals, such as that lions of LION GATE.
LION GATE
Seem to emerge from the massive stones that form the gate, unlike later Assyrian guardians who seem to stand independently (Lamassu). The lion gate harmonizes with the scale of the wall; despite weathering it still retains its power and permanence.
PERSIA
Formerly nomadic tribes seized power during 6th century. Overwhelmed Mesopotamia and the rest of the ancient Near East to establish a vast empire. The kings of this empire traced their lineage to a semi-legendary Persian king named Archaemenes, consequently became known as Archaemenids.
Darius I proclaimed (rightly so), "I am Darius, great King, King of Kings, King of countries, King of this earth.". They owned everything.
Organized Persia into 20 tribute-paying areas managed by a governor. Left LOCAL RULERS in place, along with maintaining local customs and religions. Gained him massive loyalty.
Created a system of fair taxation, created standard currency (Daric, useable propaganda!), improved communication across empire. Minting coins came from concept of Lydia's king Croesus. Most valuable coin today is a Daric.
Created palaces and citadels as visible symbols of his authority. Made Susa his capital, and commissioned a 32-acre administrative compound. Later (518 BCE) began building Parsa, a new capital (see plan). Known as Persepolis, name Greeks gave it, it is the best preserved most impressive site in all of the ancient near east.
In Assyrian fashion, the imperial complex was laid out on a platform and kept in a grid pattern. 40ft high, 1,500 x 900 ft. Only a single wide ramp made of shallow steps, to allow horsemen to ascend without dismounting. Darius lived only to see a treasury, adapana (audience hall), and a very small palace for himself. ADAPANA could hold several thousand people, and had open porches on three sides.
Xerxes was Darius's son, added a sprawling complex for himself. Enlarged the treasury and began a huge reception hall: The Hall of 100 Columns.
Sculpture at Persepolis displayed unity and economic prosperity of the empire. Ranks of soldiers in relief sculpture seem ready to defend the structure, and lions attack bulls on the stairs. The animal combats depict the ferocity of the leaders and their men, seen next to the larger generals.
Darius and xerxes receiving tribute depicts Darius sitting with his heir behind, was painted in rich tones: deep blue, scarlet, green, purple, turquoise - metal objects (crown and necklace) in gold leaf.
ARCHITECTURE OF DOMINATION
Controlled spaces, to impress and intimidate. Reinforce the idea of absolute power. King is intermediary between citizen and god.
Lamassu: hybrid guardian-protector. Head of a man, body of a bull (lion), wings of an eagle, headress of divinity (horns).
Five legs, seen from front and sides differently. Movement / dynamic in a stone statue.
Unmistakable political mission!
Fertile Crescent
Agriculture way before Europe
Chatal Huyuk is one such location
City-states: governments, specialized laborers, polytheistic (most cities had their own patron gods)
Jericho
Catal Huyuk
Ain Ghazal
AIN GHAZAL
Terraces, bigger than Jericho, specialized population, life-sized figures. Similar to votive figures?
CYLINDER SEAL
Like a middle-ages signet ring, was used to show ownership - distinct design belonged to owner. Way to preserve secrecy or prevent tampering.
STELE OF NARAMSIN
concept of imperial authority was literally carved in stone, 6.5 ft stele (upright stone slab). Commemorates a victory of NARAMSIN, Sargon's grandson.
SARGON: Akkadian ruler who rose to godhood, conquered
Sumerians, most of Mesopotamia.
They used stones shape as a dynamic part of the composition (see mountain). Sharp break from visual tradition, replaced horizontal REGISTERS with wavy ground lines.
Which figure is the godlike king?
He is watched over by three solar deities, represented by rays of light / suns. He ascends mountain wearing the horned headdress associated with deities (Lamassu). HEIRATIC relationship. Enemy soldiers dead at feet or begging for mercy. (only dominated Mesopotamia for ~100 years)
LAGASH
We have 20 votive remaining, making him a popular face in near eastern art history. Represented as strong, peaceful, pious - worthy of divine favor. Robes give room to have long cuneiform inscriptions. Vessel with life-giving water, flows into two streams with leaping fish.
It is MONUMENTAL - gives impression of grandeur.
Sculptors treatment of body (as with all Mesopotamian sculpture) emphasizes "power centers," the eyes, head, smoothly muscled chest and arms. Sheepskin hat, eyes large and attentive to the deity in temple.
HAMMURABI
Amorites reunited Sumer under Hammurabi. Capital was made Babylon, citizens Babylonians. Legal code that listed not only the laws, but the punishments for breaking those laws (in effect, a megalith).
Stele shows Hammurabi on mountaintop (represented by three flat tiers) on which Shamash (sun god and god if justice) rests his feet. He stands respectfully, in a position associated with prayer. Shamash holds measuring rod and rope circle, symbols of judgement.
Gods giving written laws on tablets are a common theme in near eastern art (Moses). While many laws seems harsh, it was revolutionary to have standard laws, and not be subject to the whims of a judge / king.
AS KINGSHIP AMD EMPIRE became more important, less emphasis was put on temple architecture and more placed on palaces. ZIMRILIM, Hammurabi's contemporary, built a huge palace with a great alabaster courtyard, shrines, rooms, massive art collection. He and HAMMURABI had once been allies, but Hammurabi marched on Mari (capital 250 mi N of Babylon). A few of the murals of the palace remain intact..
INVESTITURE OF ZIMRILIM (investiture means coronation)
Ishtar (Babylonian goddess of war, fertility, and love) grants authority to Zimrilim. Central panels devoted to investiture. Formal symmetrical style as with earlier Sumerian art.
Above: Ishtar holding weapons with foot on lion (power), extends rod and ring (ruler).
Below: two goddesses holding red vases with plants in them surrounded by streams of water that spring out of the vases. (like Gudea statue, life-giving water).
Flanking: aloe-like plants, three tiers of animals (bulls, winged lions, crowned human headed winged creatures), date palms being climbed by two fruit pickers, and two giant goddesses with arms raised in approval.
Colors darkened over past 4,000 years, probably included blue orange red brown and white.
ASSYRIA
Built huge palaces atop high platforms inside the different fortified cities that served as Assyrian capitals. Decorated with scenes of victorious battles, presentations of tribute to their king, combat between men and beasts, or religious imagery.
During his reign, ASSURNASIRPAL II made the capital at Nimrud, on the east bank of the Tigris. Built 5 miles of mud brick walls, 42 feet high (!) and constructed a canal that irrigated the fields and provided water to the booming population.
According to an inscription commemorating the event, he gave a feast to celebrate the dedication of the new capital Nimrud, serving 69,574 people in 879 BCE.
Lamassu guardians flanked major portals, alabaster and limestone decorations on mud brick buildings. Low relief sculpture panels decorated city.
KILLING LIONS
Assurnasirpal in chariot, lion struck by four arrows already, another slain on ground. Probably a ceremonial hunt, in which the king was protected by men with shields, but rode back and forth in an enclosed area killing animals one by one as they were released.
Marks a shift in Mesopotamian art - away from timelessness and toward a visual narrative. Like in earlier works it features a man and animals, but differs because he is completely dominating them. There is no question as to who will prevail.
In 669-627 BCE, Assurbanipal made Nineveh the capital. Palace decorated with know relief alabaster panels just like before. Most show king and his subjects in victory, battle, or hunting; others show palace life.
Which is this?
King and queen in pleasure garden. King and queen relaxing, servants with food, fans to keep insects away. It's actually a victory celebration. Weapons on table behind king, severed head of vanquished enemy hanging upside down on a tree. Common to display defeated enemies as a kind of psychological warfare - Assurbanipal's generals would have sent him the head as a trophy.
ISHTAR GATE
Nebuchadnezzar II of Bible book of Daniel fame, known for suppressing the Jews. Great patron of architecture, built temples dedicated to Babylonian gods throughout his realm. Made Babylon (the cultural, economic, political hub of his empire) into the most splendid cities of its day. Babylon straddled Euphrates river, connected by bridge. Huge paved processional way (66ft wide at some points) went through older quarter, was used in religious processions to city patron god Marduk, a Zeus-like deity. Gate is a literal symbol of Babylonian power.
Mushhushshu: horned dragons with the head and body of a snake forelegs of a lion and the hind legs of a bird of prey
Protection or theft? British have Rosetta Stone (French forced out of Egypt), Germans have Ishtar Gate.
ELAM
Looted Stele of Naramsin, carved inscription into it saying "were just holding on to it to protect it." Stele of Hammurabi also looted, both discovered in Elam.
vessels (beakers, bowls, jars) decorated in brown glaze on yellowed clay. Highly stylized geometric form (horned Ibex) reduced to basic shapes.
Circular horn motif (ROUNDEL) contains leaf pattern or birds in flight.
Susa's artisans also produced a compound that could be molded while soft, and carved once hardened, called bitumen: an asphalt-like compound. WOMAN SPINNING shows elegantly styled hair, ornamented, bordered dress - was important woman. Spinning thread. Fish and fruit on table being made as an offering to the deity that may be off the broken edge (long flounced garment as deities wore)
HITTITES
Moved into mountains and plateaus west of Mesopotamia. Established capital at Hattushash around 1600 BCE, city was destroyed around 1200 BCE. Grew powerful through trade, expanded along Mediterranean Sea, conflicts with Egyptians who were pushing into the same region from the south. They also made incursions against the mesopotamians.
May have been the first people to work with iron. War chariots, weapons, farming tools, chisels for masons and sculptors. Known for fine metalwork and imposing double-walled citadels with massive fortified gateways.
Hattushash's foundations and base walls were made of stone from local quarries around 1400 BCE. Upper walls, stairs, walked were finished in brick. Huge blocks of stone used to frame portals and doors decorated in HIGH RELIEF with various guardian figures - some of which include half human, half animal creatures, others were naturally depicted animals, such as that lions of LION GATE.
LION GATE
Seem to emerge from the massive stones that form the gate, unlike later Assyrian guardians who seem to stand independently (Lamassu). The lion gate harmonizes with the scale of the wall; despite weathering it still retains its power and permanence.
PERSIA
Formerly nomadic tribes seized power during 6th century. Overwhelmed Mesopotamia and the rest of the ancient Near East to establish a vast empire. The kings of this empire traced their lineage to a semi-legendary Persian king named Archaemenes, consequently became known as Archaemenids.
Darius I proclaimed (rightly so), "I am Darius, great King, King of Kings, King of countries, King of this earth.". They owned everything.
Organized Persia into 20 tribute-paying areas managed by a governor. Left LOCAL RULERS in place, along with maintaining local customs and religions. Gained him massive loyalty.
Created a system of fair taxation, created standard currency (Daric, useable propaganda!), improved communication across empire. Minting coins came from concept of Lydia's king Croesus. Most valuable coin today is a Daric.
Created palaces and citadels as visible symbols of his authority. Made Susa his capital, and commissioned a 32-acre administrative compound. Later (518 BCE) began building Parsa, a new capital (see plan). Known as Persepolis, name Greeks gave it, it is the best preserved most impressive site in all of the ancient near east.
In Assyrian fashion, the imperial complex was laid out on a platform and kept in a grid pattern. 40ft high, 1,500 x 900 ft. Only a single wide ramp made of shallow steps, to allow horsemen to ascend without dismounting. Darius lived only to see a treasury, adapana (audience hall), and a very small palace for himself. ADAPANA could hold several thousand people, and had open porches on three sides.
Xerxes was Darius's son, added a sprawling complex for himself. Enlarged the treasury and began a huge reception hall: The Hall of 100 Columns.
Sculpture at Persepolis displayed unity and economic prosperity of the empire. Ranks of soldiers in relief sculpture seem ready to defend the structure, and lions attack bulls on the stairs. The animal combats depict the ferocity of the leaders and their men, seen next to the larger generals.
Darius and xerxes receiving tribute depicts Darius sitting with his heir behind, was painted in rich tones: deep blue, scarlet, green, purple, turquoise - metal objects (crown and necklace) in gold leaf.