MESOPOTAMIAN ART
Map of Mesopotamia
"Mesopotamia" means "between the rivers." It was the site of the world's first civilizations, in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. |
Early Empires of Mesopotamia
The four early civilizations of Mesopotamia are Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria. For a simple introduction to Mesopotamia, go to http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0036-sumerian-civilization.php. (Begin with the section on Sumerian City-States and then go to the next two sections.) For a more detailed history of Mesopotamia, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia. |
Virtual Museum of Iraq
An excellent resource to see artifacts from Mesopotamia is the Virtual Museum of Iraq. Click here. You should use this resources when studying each of the four Mesopotamian civilizations. Pay particular attention to the "Description" and "Video" for items you choose to view up close. The "Explore" feature may not work.
Sumerian Art
This is a statue of a Sumerian at worship. It would be set in a temple to constantly represent the person who put it there. 2750–2600 B.C.; Early Dynastic period II; Sumerian style Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City |
A larger sample of statues placed in temples to continually worship the deity on behalf of people.
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Golden Lyre of Ur
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Golden Lyre or “Bull-headed Lyre,” constructed with gold, silver, lapis lazuli, shell, bitumen and wood, ca 2550 BCE at Ur. 
"The lyre’s panel depicts a hero grasping animals and animals acting like humans—serving at a banquet and playing music typically associated with banquets. The bottom panel shows a scorpion-man and a gazelle with human features. The scorpion-man is a creature associated with the mountains of sunrise and sunset, distant lands of wild animals and demons, a place passed by the dead on their way to the Netherworld." For more information about the Golden Lyre and other Sumerian artifacts found at the royal cemetery of Ur, click here. |
Standard of Ur
"When found, the original wooden frame for the mosaic of shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli had decayed, and the two main panels had been crushed together by the weight of the soil. The bitumen acting as glue had disintegrated and the end panels were broken. As a result, the present restoration is only a best guess as to how it originally appeared."
"The main panels are known as 'War' and 'Peace'. 'War' shows one of the earliest representations of a Sumerian army. Chariots, each pulled by four donkeys, trample enemies; infantry with cloaks carry spears; enemy soldiers are killed with axes, others are paraded naked and presented to the king who holds a spear."
"The 'Peace' panel depicts animals, fish and other goods brought in procession to a banquet. Seated figures, wearing woollen fleeces or fringed skirts, drink to the accompaniment of a musician playing a lyre. Banquet scenes such as this are common on cylinder seals of the period, such as on the seal of the 'Queen' Pu-abi, also in the British Museum."
For more information on the Standard of Ur go to http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/t/the_standard_of_ur.aspx.
Akkadian Art
Copper Mask
One of the finest samples of Akkadian art is this copper mask. We know that it represents a person of extremely high rank because of the quality of the workmanship and the design of the hair and beard. It may represent King Sargon the Great. Sargon united the Sumerian city-states under his authority to create the Akkadian empire.
(The people of Sumer spoke a non-Semitic language. The Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians spoke Semitic languages.)
To learn more about this magnificent head, go to the Virtual Museum of Iraq at http://www.virtualmuseumiraq.cnr.it/homeENG.htm, select the Akkadian Hall, then the "Head of King." Read the description and watch the video.
The following is a story about the birth of King Sargon:
My mother, a high priestess, conceived me, in secret she bore me. She placed me in a reed basket, with bitumen she caulked my hatch. She abandoned me to the river from which I could not escape. The river carried me along: to Aqqi, the water drawer, it brought me. Aqqi, the water drawer, when immersing his bucket lifted me up. Aqqi, the water drawer, raised me as his adopted son. Aqqi, the water drawer, set me to his garden work. During my garden work, Istar loved me (so that) 55 years I ruled as king.
What other story does this remind you of? See http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/sargon.html.
Cylinder seal impression
Ancient cylinder seals were made from hard stone with reverse images carved into the surface. When the cylinder was rolled onto soft clay the image would appear. This Akkadian seal is made out of greenstone and was made around 2300-2200 BCE.
To find out what this Akkadian seal represents, go to http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/g/greenstone_seal_of_adda.aspx.
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
c. 2200 BCE
A stele is a stone slab erected as a monument to honor an event or a person. This stele depicts King Narim-Sin, the grandson of Sargon the Great, conquering his enemies. Narim-Sin, like his grandfather, was called "the god Akkad." For an enlarged image of the stele along with an explanation of the meaning of the images, go to http://www.historians.org/tl/lessonplans/nc/kinard/naramsin.htm
Babylonian Art
Two Babylons
There were two great periods of Babylonian history: Old Bablyonia and Neo-Babylonia (also called Chaldea.) Hammurabi (1728–1686 BCE) was the greatest king in Old Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar II (604–561 BCE) was the greatest king in Neo-Babylonia.
Law Code of Hammurabi
This stele records Hammurabi's code of law, one of the world's earliest collections of laws. 282 laws are listed. Here are a few of them:
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Hammurabi before the god Shamash
The top of the stele portrays King Hammurabi coming before the god Shamash, the god of justice. This law helped regulate the government and the power of the king. It is carries the idea of the presumption of innocent until proven guilty. |
Ishtar Gate in the Walls of the City of Babylon
Sirrush
Be sure to see the video on Babylon in the Virtual Museum of Iraq, Click below, go to the Babylonian Hall, and click the Babylon image in the center of the hall. Click here.
Auroch
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Lion
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Assyrian Art
A human-headed,
winged bull and lion are pictured below. They were found at Nimrud where Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE), the first great Assyrian king, built a palace. This type of fantastic creature is called a lamassu.
"The horned cap attests to their divinity, and the belt signifies their power. The sculptor gave these guardian figures five legs so that they appear to be standing firmly when viewed from the front but striding forward when seen from the side. These lamassi protected and supported important doorways in Assyrian palaces.” For more information go to http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.143.2.
"The horned cap attests to their divinity, and the belt signifies their power. The sculptor gave these guardian figures five legs so that they appear to be standing firmly when viewed from the front but striding forward when seen from the side. These lamassi protected and supported important doorways in Assyrian palaces.” For more information go to http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.143.2.
Lamassu Bull
Notice the hoofs, showing it is a bull. |
Lamassu Lion
Notice the claws, showing it is a lion. |
Destruction of Susa of Elam by Assyrian Army
An Assyrian tablet describes the destruction of Susa by Ashurbanipal:
“Susa, the great holy city, abode of their Gods, seat of their mysteries, I conquered. I entered its palaces, I opened their treasuries where silver and gold, goods and wealth were amassed...the treasures of Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon that the ancient kings of Elam had looted and carried away. I destroyed the ziggurat of Susa. I smashed its shining copper horns. I reduced the temples of Elam to naught; their goods and goddesses I scattered to the winds. The tombs of their ancient and recent kings I devastated, I exposed to the sun, and I carried away their bones toward the land of Ashur. I devasteated the provinces of Elam and on their lands I sowed salt.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Susa-destruction.jpg
Ashurbanipal II Killing a Lion
Ashurbanipal (668 BCE – c. 627 BCE) was the last great king of the Assyrian Empire. Assyrian love for war and the hunt are often depicted in its art. |
A Dying Lion
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Blending art from other civilizations
This is an ivory winged sphinx. Can you recognize various Egyptian influences in the design? (We will examine the art of ancient Egypt next.) Assyria grew to be a powerful empire, controlling Egypt, Palestine, and even parts of Iran. If you would like to see more ivories that show artistic influences from other nations on Assyria, go to the Virtual Museum of Iraq, the Assyrian Hall, and look at the ivories on display.
EGYPTIAN ART
Egyptian Symbols
Pyramids of Giza
Egyptian art is filled with symbols. Even the writing system of hieroglyphics refers to picture symbols.
Perhaps the best known creation of the Egyptians would be the pyramids. These blend two symbolic concepts that are explained below.
The Sacred Mountain
The ben-ben stone was in the shape of a pyramid. It was found on top of a pyramid and on top of an obelisk. It could also stand alone.
According to Egyptian creation traditions, water covered the whole earth in the beginning. The first hill that emerged from the primeval waters was the place upon which the god Atum created life. Therefore the ben-ben represented the first hill from which all life sprang. To join a dead person with a ben-ben (such as a pyramid) was to join that person with the source of life. |
The Sun
The ben-ben stone was kept in the sun temple in Heliopolis, and it was situated to make sure the first rays of the sun fell upon it. A ben-ben stone was often covered with gold and represented the rays of the sun which bring life. The ben-ben also topped obelisks. Atum and Re were both solar deities. They were linked together to form the solar god Atum-Re. To get a better view of Hatshepsut's obelisk shown on the left, and to see close-up the hieroglyphics along with translations, click here. |
Akhenaten
Egyptian art remained surprisingly consistent over a period of about 3,000 years without serious change from outside influence. But during the reign of Akhenaten both religion and art forms underwent drastic changes for a short period. Akhenaten, who is known as the heretic pharaoh, worshiped only the solar disk called the Aten. This relief carving shows Akhenaten, his wife and daughters worshiping the solar disk. Notice that the rays of the disk form a two-dimensional representation of what the ben-ben also represents--the rays of the sun.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
was a written collection of magic spells to help the dead person journey through the underworld into the light and joy of the afterlife. There was no single official copy of the text, and it was often illustrated with paintings depicting the stages through which the dead person must pass. You will find two sample pages below from a papyrus scroll for the dead man Hunefer. From about 1300 BCE.
Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
Hunefer is shown in the center of the picture. Facing him are his wife and daughter. Behind them stand three priests. Two of them are holding tools used for the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony. It was believed that after this ceremony the dead person, once the tomb was sealed, would be able to live again, at least long enough to recite the magical texts in the Book of the Dead so he could enter the afterlife.
For a more complete description, click here. |
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Temple of Karnak
The temple complex at Karnak is the largest ancient religious site in the world. approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to its various temples and structures. It even has a sacred lake.
For a more complete view of Karnak, go to http://www.discoveringegypt.com/karnak1.htm. For a more complete view of the Hypostyle Hall shown above, go to http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/hypostyle/. |
Temple of Luxor
The massive Temple of Luxor complex is only about three kilometers from Karnak. It was connected with the temple complex of Karnak by an Avenue of Sphinxes. Here is an entrance to the Luxor complex, the Pylon of Ramses II. Notice the massive statues of Ramses on either side of the gateway.
For more information about the Temple of Luxor, go to http://www.discoveringegypt.com/luxor1.htm. For a video tour of the temple of Luxor complex, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz9dVI3I9Oo |
HITTITE ART
Lion's Gate
Lion's Gate at Hattusha
At one time many scholars doubted that the Hittites ever existed, even though they were mentioned a number of times in the Bible. It was not until the last part of the 19th century and the early 20th century that their existence was definitely established by archaeology. Today we know that the Hittites were a major power, ruling from their capital city Hattusha in Anatolia (Western Turkey) from c.1650 till c.1200 BCE.
“Sometime around 1200 B.C., Hattusha was violently destroyed and never recovered. Who destroyed the capital is unknown but it was apparently part of the wider collapse of Hittite power. The reasons for the rapid disappearance of the Hittites, who had dominated Anatolia for centuries, remains unexplained.”
Source of quote: The Hittites | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For an easy to read introduction to the Hittites, go to http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/westasia/history/hittites.htm.
For a detailed study of the Hittites, go to http://www.hittites.info/history.aspx.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has a number of Hittite objects worth examining. You can go to The Hittites | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art to learn more about each of the objects shown below.
 A silver and gold rhyton (drinking cup) in the shape of a stag. 14th–13th century BCE. Be sure to check detail images on this cup when you go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art site. |
 A silver rhyton in the shape of a bull. 14th–13th century BCE. |
 Seated goddess with a child. Gold. 15th–13th century BCE. |
 Winged deity. Bronze and gold. 13th century BCE. |
PHOENICIAN ART
Sub-Sahara Africa
The Phoenicians were great travelers by sea and traders. Their chief cities were Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and Arwad on the eastern end of the Mediterranean. But they also established cities and trading posts in numerous other locations, most notably Carthage in North Africa on the Gulf of Tunis. This ivory shows their knowledge of Nubia to the south of Egypt. The Nublain has an oryx, monkey and a leopard skin, exotic items worth much in trade. For more information on this object, click here. Glass Bottle
They were especially well known for producing objects in glass, such as this bottle. |
A Scarab
The Phoenicians borrowed artistic styles for the people they traded with. Most of their objects of art were small. They appeared to be more concerned with the beauty of the object more than with stylistic orthodoxy. This Phoenician scarab seal is borrowed from Egyptian art.
To learn more about this object, click here. Glass Bead
Here is another glass object made by Phoenicians. To learn more about their glass making techniques, click here. |
IRANIAN ART
Scythians
The Scythians were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the steppes to the north of the Black and Caspian Seas and further to the east. They were nomadic peoples who were famous for their horseback riding skills. Since they were nomadic, most of their art was portable. Artistic skills were often used to decorate their horses, tents and wagons. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythian_art for more details.)
Scythians are especially famous for their elaborate workmanship in gold. This golden crown was discovered in a Scythian grave in Afghanistan. To see more treasures discovered in tha grave, click here
Achaemenids
Tomb of Cyrus the Great
There were three ancient Iranian empires: the Achaemenids, the Parthains, and the Sassanians. The Achaemenids became a powerful empire under the rule of Cyrus the Great. It eventually extended its reach to become the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen.
To the left is the simple but elegant tomb of Cyrus located in southern Iran.
Click here to see a 42 minute video about the the Achaemenid Empire.
Persepolis
Persepolis became the ceremonial capital city of the Achaemenid Empire. even though it was destroyed by the troops of Alexander the Great, it is still one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in the world today. Click here to see a 41 minute video about the city. |
Golden Chariot
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"The celebration of linguistic and cultural diversity is exemplified by the artwork of Persepolis. As noted by Dawson, 'Persian official art avoided the Assyrian celebration of barbarity.' Assyrian depictions are, in fact, vivid in their depictions of conquered peoples such as Arabs, Jews, or Elamites being trampled, impaled, captured, and humiliated. No such depictions are to be found in Achaeminid arts or architecture, except in the Behistun reliefs, where Darius is seen facing the defeated and bound challengers to his throne and authority. Nevertheless there is no crude depiction of one people having brutally destroyed another; the contest is that between political adversaries rather than ethnic groupings. In the reliefs at Persepolis, subject peoples such as Africans, Arabs, Egyptians, and Lydians are depicted as bringing gifts to the king to symbolize the onset of the Nowruz" [New Year celebration.] Quote from Kaveh Farrokh, Shadows in the Desert, p. 61.
This massive rock carving known as the Behistun inscription shows King Darius the Great standing with his foot on an enemy as he faces captives that represent various peoples he has conquered. The text on this 15 metres high by 25 metres wide carving is written in three languages that tell of Darius' exploits.
Parthians A bronze head of a Parthian prince.
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 A Parthian rhyton.
For more samples of Parthian art, click here. If you would like to read a scholarly article on Parthian art, go to http://www.iranchamber.com/art/articles/art_of_parthians.php. |
Belt or harness ornament with an eagle and its prey. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
Parthian art has not been studied as much as Achaemenid or Sassanian art. To learn more about Parthian art and to see additional samples, click here. |
Sassanians
Sardonyx cameo of Shapur I humiliating Emperor Valerianus. 260 CE.
The Sassanians and the Romans were two great empires which often fought one another for control of land. This cameo shows Shapur I, a Sassanian king, defeating the Roman Emperor Valerian. To read more about the last days of Valerian at the hands of the Sassanian king, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_(Roman_emperor).
Ctesiphon
Although the Parthians built Ctesiphon as their capital, most of their construction has been destroyed. Sassanians built the great arch. It is the widest and highest single-span vault in the world that is constructed from baked bricks. For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taq-i_Kisra.
A King's Head
Ewer
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A King's Head
The bust of another Sassanian king. Plate
Plate showing a king hunting rams. For more information, click here. To read a scholarly article on Sassanian art, go to http://www.iranchamber.com/art/articles/art_of_sassanians.php. |
ART OF ANCIENT INDIA
Unicorn Seal
This is a "large square unicorn seal. The unicorn is the most common motif on Indus seals and appears to represent a mythical animal that Greek and Roman sources trace back to the Indian subcontinent. A relatively long inscription of eight symbols runs along the top of the seal." For the source of this quote and to see additional seals and other ancient Indian objects, click here. Although you can see writing above the unicorn, little progress has been made in deciphering this Dravidian language. So in many ways, this early Indian civilization is prehistoric. |
Dancing Girl
Bronze figurine of a dancing girl from Mohenjo-daro. C. 2500 BCE. "She was British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler's favorite statuette, as you can tell in this quote from a 1973 television program: 'There is her little Baluchi-style face with pouting lips and insolent look in the eye. She's about fifteen years old I should think, not more, but she stands there with bangles all the way up her arm and nothing else on. A girl perfectly, for the moment, perfectly confident of herself and the world. There's nothing like her, I think, in the world.'" Click here to see source of quote. |
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Painted burial pottery.
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Gold and agate ornaments from both Mahenjo-daro and Harappa.
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ART OF ANCIENT CHINA
A Bronze Buffalo
A number of beautiful and complex bronzes from the Shang Dynasty (c.1600 to 1046 BCE) have survived. This is a buffalo-shaped wine vessel. For more information on this bronze, click here.
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A Bronze Drum
A decorated Shang Dynasty drum . To watch a video about two bronze drums from the Shang Dynasty, click here. |
An Army for the Dead Emperor
A terracotta army buried with Emperor Qin of China.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang built the first united empire in Chinese history. Today he is best known for his magnificent army of terracotta soldiers that have guarded his tomb since his death in 210 BCE. |
In a chance discovery, an entire army of terracotta warriors is found. The first emperor of China had them created and buried with him, to protect him in the afterlife. To see a four minute video, click here. |