Week 2: Ancient Near Eastern Art

Name: Cylinder Seal and its Modern Impression
Location: The tomb of Pu-abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2600 BCE
Material: Lapiz lazuli
Size: 2" high
Museum: British Museum, London
Significance: 1) It is believed that the images carved on seals accurately reflect the trending artistic styles of the day. 2) The iconography of the cylinder seal is a source of cultural information that can reflect the clothes worn, food eaten, popular buildings, role of women, state of warfare, worship practices, and social ranks of the time)
Modern Day: Sealing an envelope with wax and a monogram
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Name: Cylinder Seal and its Modern Impression
Location: The tomb of Pu-abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2600 BCE
Material: Lapiz lazuli
Size: 2" high
Museum: British Museum, London
Significance: 1) It is believed that the images carved on seals accurately reflect the trending artistic styles of the day. 2) The iconography of the cylinder seal is a source of cultural information that can reflect the clothes worn, food eaten, popular buildings, role of women, state of warfare, worship practices, and social ranks of the time)
Modern Day: Sealing an envelope with wax and a monogram
Image: Name: Cylinder Seal and its Modern Impression Location: The tomb of Pu-abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca. Date: 2600 BCE Material: Lapiz lazuli Size: 2" high Museum: British Museum, London Significance: 1) It is believed that the images carved on seals accurately reflect the trending artistic styles of the day. 2) The iconography of the cylinder seal is a source of cultural information that can reflect the clothes worn, food eaten, popular buildings, role of women, state of warfare, worship practices, and social ranks of the time) Modern Day: Sealing an envelope with wax and a monogram
Name: White Temple and Ziggurat
Location: Uruk, (modern Warka), Iraq ca.
Date: 3200 - 3000 BCE
Material: Mud bricks and whitewashed materials
Size: Rectangular Temple 17.5 x 22.3 meters, 40 ft. high Ziggurat
Significance: The Ziggurat were loft bridges between Earth and heaven, and the Temple was the main structure in Uruk tha was dedicated to Anu (the god of the Sky and Uruk).
Image: Name: White Temple and Ziggurat Location: Uruk, (modern Warka), Iraq ca. Date: 3200 - 3000 BCE Material: Mud bricks and whitewashed materials Size: Rectangular Temple 17.5 x 22.3 meters, 40 ft. high Ziggurat Significance: The Ziggurat were loft bridges between Earth and heaven, and the Temple was the main structure in Uruk tha was dedicated to Anu (the god of the Sky and Uruk).
Name: Votive Figures, Statuettes of Worshipers
Location: the Square Temple at Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2700 BCE
Material: Gypsum or limestone
Size: Varying sizes
Signficance: These figures were a gift of gratitude to a deity that was usually made in fulfillment of a vow. It was believed that people were present in their image, so the figures were made in a prayer stance and with large eyes that represented eternal awakeness and eye contact with God.
Image: Name: Votive Figures, Statuettes of Worshipers Location: the Square Temple at Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar), Iraq ca. Date: 2700 BCE Material: Gypsum or limestone Size: Varying sizes Signficance: These figures were a gift of gratitude to a deity that was usually made in fulfillment of a vow. It was believed that people were present in their image, so the figures were made in a prayer stance and with large eyes that represented eternal awakeness and eye contact with God.
Name: Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
Location: Susa, Iran
Date: 2258 - 2218 BCE
Material: Pink sandstone
Size: 6'7"
Significance: This relief sculpture commemorates the Akaddian ruler's defeat of the Lullubi, a people of the Iranian mountains to the East. Using symbolic visual language and hieratic scale, the King is the largest figure and is assuming the position of God.
Image: Name: Victory Stele of Naram-Sin Location: Susa, Iran Date: 2258 - 2218 BCE Material: Pink sandstone Size: 6'7" Significance: This relief sculpture commemorates the Akaddian ruler's defeat of the Lullubi, a people of the Iranian mountains to the East. Using symbolic visual language and hieratic scale, the King is the largest figure and is assuming the position of God.
Name: Bull-Headed Harp with Inlaid Sound Box
Location: the tomb of Pu-Abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE
Material: Gold plating, wood, lapiz lazuli
Size: 40 x 25 x 19 cm
Signficance: Bulls are animals with totem symbolism, so the bull head represents the strength, wealth, power, masculinity, and superiority of the King in whose tomb the harp was found.
Image: Name: Bull-Headed Harp with Inlaid Sound Box Location: the tomb of Pu-Abi (tomb 800), Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca. Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE Material: Gold plating, wood, lapiz lazuli Size: 40 x 25 x 19 cm Signficance: Bulls are animals with totem symbolism, so the bull head represents the strength, wealth, power, masculinity, and superiority of the King in whose tomb the harp was found.
Name: Sound-Box of the Bull-Headed Harp
Location: tomb 789 ("King's Grave"), Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Maqayyar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE
Material: Lapiz lazuli
Significance: In the first box, in a heraldic composition, a heroic figure embraces two man-bulls. The rest of the boxes show personified animals taking on different jobs. Additionally, the animals inhabit the dead, so the sound box may have a funerary significance.
Modern Day: These animals are ancient versions of cartoons, that wasn't seen again until Aesop's fables and Disney cartoons.
Image: Name: Sound-Box of the Bull-Headed Harp Location: tomb 789 ("King's Grave"), Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Maqayyar), Iraq ca. Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE Material: Lapiz lazuli Significance: In the first box, in a heraldic composition, a heroic figure embraces two man-bulls. The rest of the boxes show personified animals taking on different jobs. Additionally, the animals inhabit the dead, so the sound box may have a funerary significance. Modern Day: These animals are ancient versions of cartoons, that wasn't seen again until Aesop's fables and Disney cartoons.
Name: Gudea Holding an Overflowing Water Jar
Location: the temple of Geshtinnana, Girsu (Modern Tello), Iraq ca.
Date: 2100 BCE
Material: Calcite, diorite
Size: 2.5'
Signficance: Gudea had many statues of himself made, which shows his piety, wealth, and pride. His statues feature a youthful face with large eyes and a broad, muscular chest that depicts his god-given strength and fullness. The overflow of water depicts Gudea as the source of prosperity for his people. Additionally, diorite is an extremely hard stone and is difficult to carve.
Image: Name: Gudea Holding an Overflowing Water Jar Location: the temple of Geshtinnana, Girsu (Modern Tello), Iraq ca. Date: 2100 BCE Material: Calcite, diorite Size: 2.5' Signficance: Gudea had many statues of himself made, which shows his piety, wealth, and pride. His statues feature a youthful face with large eyes and a broad, muscular chest that depicts his god-given strength and fullness. The overflow of water depicts Gudea as the source of prosperity for his people. Additionally, diorite is an extremely hard stone and is difficult to carve.
Name: Stele With Law Code of Hammurabi
Location: Susa, Iran ca.
Date: 1780 BCE
Material: Basalt
Size: 7'4"
Signficance: Hammurabi created a written set of 300 laws which was not to be attempted elsewhere for years. In the picture above the writing, Hammurabi is receiving building tools from Shamash, a God. This represents his ability to build social order and measure people's lives. Additionally, Hammurabi is almost the same size as Shamash and is standing, while Shamash is sitting. This represents his near-God status.
Image: Name: Stele With Law Code of Hammurabi Location: Susa, Iran ca. Date: 1780 BCE Material: Basalt Size: 7'4" Signficance: Hammurabi created a written set of 300 laws which was not to be attempted elsewhere for years. In the picture above the writing, Hammurabi is receiving building tools from Shamash, a God. This represents his ability to build social order and measure people's lives. Additionally, Hammurabi is almost the same size as Shamash and is standing, while Shamash is sitting. This represents his near-God status.
Name: Lamassu (Winged, Human-Headed Bull)
Location: Citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharukkin (Modern Khorsabad), Iraq ca.
Date: 720 - 705 BCE
Material: Limestone
Size: 13'10"
Signficance: This colossal limestone monster guardian warded off the King's enemies. Lamassu was conceptually built, so that you could see all the feet from the side view.
Image: Name: Lamassu (Winged, Human-Headed Bull) Location: Citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharukkin (Modern Khorsabad), Iraq ca. Date: 720 - 705 BCE Material: Limestone Size: 13'10" Signficance: This colossal limestone monster guardian warded off the King's enemies. Lamassu was conceptually built, so that you could see all the feet from the side view.
Name: Standard of Ur
Location: tomb 779, Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca.
Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE
Material: Wood, lapiz lazuli, shell, and red limestone
Size: 8" x 1'7"
Significance: This piece has an unknown purpose, but may have been mounted on a pole and used in battle. It could also be a sound box or currency container. More importantly, this piece represent long distance trading that was only possible because of Mesopotamia's agricultural achievements.
Image: Name: Standard of Ur Location: tomb 779, Royal Cemetery, Ur (Modern Tell Muqayyar), Iraq ca. Date: 2600 - 2400 BCE Material: Wood, lapiz lazuli, shell, and red limestone Size: 8" x 1'7" Significance: This piece has an unknown purpose, but may have been mounted on a pole and used in battle. It could also be a sound box or currency container. More importantly, this piece represent long distance trading that was only possible because of Mesopotamia's agricultural achievements.
Name: Ishtar Gate (restored) Location: Babylon, Iraq ca. Date: 575 BCE Material: Blue-gazed bricks Museum: Pergamon Museum, Berlin Significance: This gate, as part of the Walls of Babylon, was considered one of the original wonders of the world. The lions demonstrate pride and power, while also representing Ishtar (the Goddess of war, wisdom, and sexuality). The King's inscription speaks across history and shows that he knew that empires come and go.