Art History: Near East

Ziggurat

multi-tiered structure with a temple at the top

Votive Figures

small sculptures of townspeople placed at religious sculptures so they could constantly worship

• also found in tombs

Cuneiform

earliest form of written word

Cylindrical Seals

form of signature, showed political status

Lyre of Ur

made of wood and adorned with a gold boars head and lapis lazuli

Sumerian Religion

worshipped Ishtar/Inanna: goddess of love and fertility

• Anu: father of the gods and lord of heaven

Akkad

rise of militarism and supremacy of the king

Head of a Ruler

bronze head depicting Sargon, left eye and ears were damaged as a way of trying to take away the “power” of the sculpture

Stele of Naram Sin

grandson of Sargon, stele depicts him leading the Akkadians in a victory against the Lullubi People, uses hierarchical scaling and composite pose

Stele of the Law Code of Hammurabi

set of moral codes, laws, and punishments which varied based on gender and social standing

• Hammurabi at the top receiving authority from Shamash (god of justice)

Assyrian artistic characteristics

strong military focus with victories and hunts

• built large military castles and complexes

• had strict law codes

Assurbanipal II Killing Lions

shows the king on a lion hunt

• servants are doing most of the killing so it represents his authority and power

Lamassu

large guardian figures at entryways of buildings

• bodies of nulls, human faces, wings

Ishtar Gate

Neo-Babylonian gate made of blue stone with golden art of dragons, bulls and lions (to represent Ishtar)

King Darius

maintained unity in his conquered kingdoms by making them pay tributaries

Persepolis and Apadana

sprawling Persian complex which depicted imperial authority

• Apadana reflects subordinates paying tribute and being subservient