top of page
Unit 2: c. 3,500 BCE - 300 CE
Ancient Mediterranean
Images 12-47
Main Ideas:
-
As civilizations started to form, people appointed leaders to govern their civilizations, and they made artworks to showcase the power of their leaders, emphasizing a social hierarchy
-
As civilizations started to expand, they often had conflict with other civilizations, so people created works of art to showcase their own civilization as superior
.jpeg)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
anea
-
Often use long beards and elaborate headdresses to showcase the power of the king
-
Show that the kings humbly accept God as their overlord in order to legitimize their own power
-
Use hierarchy of scale to emphasize the strict Mesopotamian social hierarchies and king's power
Image 12: White Temple and its Ziggurat
Name
White Temple and its Ziggurat
Location
Uruk (Modern Warka, Iraq)
Culture
Sumerian
Date
c. 3500 - 3000 BCE
Material
Mud Brick
-
Ziggurat is the main temple in each state → Shows the idea that the emperor rules on behalf of God (theocracy)
-
Its large size emphasizes the power of the emperor and of God
-
-
White temple is high above the ziggurat → Implies that God is higher than humans
-
Dedicated to Goddess Anu
-
White limestone glaze of the temple symbolizes God's purity and prominence
-
The temple had some waiting rooms → Allow Anu to purify herself before seeing people
-
Image 14: Statues of Votive Figures
Name
Statues of Votive Figures
Location
The Square Temple at Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar, Iraq)
Culture
Sumerian
Date
c. 2700 BCE
Material
Gypsum inlaid with shell and black limestone
-
Buried under a temple to stand-in for an elite person to show that the person is always praying to God
-
Elite people (such as priests and rulers) are quite busy, so they cannot be praying to God all the time; hence, these figures replace them in temples and pray to God 24/7
-
Have trapezoidal torso, huge eyes, and a head pointing upward to show that these figures are always humbly praying to God
-
Long beard and long hair signify the high social status of the elite people for which these figures stand-in
-
Image 16: Standard of Ur
Name
Standard of Ur
Location
Royal Tombs at Ur (modern Tell el-Muqayyar, Iraq)
Culture
Sumerian
Date
c. 2600 - 2400 BCE
Material
Wood inlaid with shell, lapis lazuli, and red limestone
-
Both images show a social hierarchy with the king & nobility at the top, and commoners & slaves at the bottom
-
Divided into 3 registers: Top has the king, middle has high-ranking commoners, and the bottom has commoners and slaves
-
Hierarchy of scale: The king is larger in size than the other figures due to his importance
-
-
Peace side: Depicts a typical scene at the king's court
-
In the bottom and the middle registers, commoners and priests give offerings of animals (such as rams) to the king
-
In the top register, seated nobles offer libations of wine to the king (on the left), and two musicians (on the right) play music for the king
-
-
War side: Depicts a war scene
-
In the bottom register, chariots are galloping & trampling opponents
-
In the middle register, soldiers are defeating opponents & taking them captive
-
In the top register, the king (in the middle) is offered prisoners of war
-
Image 19: The Code of Hammurabi
Name
The Code of Hammurabi
Location
Babylon (modern Iran)
Culture
Susian
Date
c. 1792 - 1750 BCE
Material
Basalt
-
These laws concern all aspects of society → Showcases Hammurabi's control over all aspects of society
-
Different laws concern family life, agriculture, daily life, etc.
-
There are around 300 laws
-
Most laws are very strict (e.g. an eye for an eye) → Showcase Hammurabi's concern for maintaining stability through strict authority
-
-
These laws are based on a social hierarchy → Reflect the social hierarchy of the Babylonians
-
Different social classes got different punishments for the same crime (the lower classes got more severe punishments)
-
-
At the top, Shamash (god of the sun) gives Hammurabi the power to administer justice
-
As god of the sun, Shamash can control light and dark, a metaphor for the good and bad things
-
Shamash gives Hammurabi a staff and a ring; These signify building tools → Show that Hammurabi can "build" the social order of Babylon through his law code
-
Image 25: Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II
Name
Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon II
Location
Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad, Iraq)
Culture
Neo-Assyrian
Date
720 - 705 BCE
Material
Alabaster
-
Uses anthropomorphism and imagery to emphasize the power of King Sargon II
-
A lamassu has a human head and a mythical body, possibly a griffin → Alludes to the supreme/supernatural powers of the king
-
Shows the elaborate headdress, long curly beard, and long hair of King Sargon II → Emphasizes King Sargon II's power and elite status
-
A cuneiform inscription tells that Sargon II receives his power from God → Legitimizes King Sargon II's power
-
-
Looking at the lamassu from different perspectives shows a different image
-
When looking from the front, the lamassu looks static → The king is watching is and has the power to prevent us from entering the citadel
-
When looking from the side, the lamassu appears moving toward us → We are on the king's good side and can enter the citadel
-
Image 30: Audience Hall (apadana) of Darius and Xerxes
.png)
Name
Audience Hall (apadana) of Darius and Xerxes
Location
Persepolis, Iran
Culture
Persian
Date
c. 520 - 465 BCE
Material
Limestone
-
Showcases the immense power, scope, and influence of the Persian Achaemenid Empire
-
Large hypostyle hall had 72 columns, each crowned with a twin-headed bull, eagle, or lion → Represents Achaemenid royal authority
-
The Achaemenid king receives guests in this hypostyle hall → Those guests are easily impressed by the king's power due to the hall's elaborate decorations
-
The monumental staircase has relief sculptures of subject nations bringing tribute gifts to the king → Represents the idea that the Achaemenids are superior to all these lands
-
Predynastic & Old Kingdom Egyptian Art
pokea