mesopotamia/ancient near east vocab

Apadana

A large audience hall used for receptions by kings (like in Persepolis).

Ziggurat

A stepped temple platform made of mud brick; used to worship gods.

Bent-Axis Approach

A design where the entrance to a temple isn’t straight; visitors turn corners to reach the altar.

Registers

Horizontal bands or levels used to organize a story in art.

Votive

An object offered to a god as a gift or prayer, often a small statue.

Cuneiform

The world’s first writing system, made of wedge-shaped marks in clay.

Stele

An upright stone slab with carvings or inscriptions to commemorate events or laws.

Cylinder Seal

A small carved stone rolled over clay to leave an impression, often showing ownership or identity.

Hieratic Scale

Artistic system where more important figures are shown larger than others.

Lamassu

A winged, human-headed bull or lion that guarded Assyrian palaces.

Capital (of a column)

The decorative top part of a column.

Cella

The main room of a temple that housed the statue of the god.

Citadel

A fortress or fortified area that protected a city and its important buildings.

Crenellated

Having notched or battlemented tops (like castle walls) for defense.

Gold Leaf

Thin sheets of gold applied to decorate objects or sculptures.