HOA 2: Architecture in the Ancient Near East (Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Kassites and Hittites, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Persian, and Parthian)

Mesopotamia

It is often referred to as the cradle of civilization; it is the area between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Egypt, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, the Gulf States, and Turkey

Name the modern nations that comprised Mesopotamia

Cuneiform

It is the earliest form of writing, dating back to around 3,000 BCE; it was invited by the Sumerians

Astronomical text

The latest known example of cuneiform is known to be an \___________ from CE 75

Massiveness, Monumentality, Grandeur

What is the architectural character of Mesopotamia?

Sumerians (4500 BC to 2000 BC)

They are known for their innovations in language, governance, and architecture. They are considered the creators of civilization as modern humans understand it

Sumerians

They "invented" time by dividing day and night into 12-hour periods, hours into 60 minutes, and minutes into 60 seconds

The huge Ziggurat of Ur

This structure had enormous battered walls, monumental flights of stairs, and a temple on the summit of the platform

Ubaid, Uruk, Early Dynastic, Akkadian, Gutian, Ur II

Sumerians were divided into 6 eras namely?

Sumerian Uruk

It is one of the claimants to the title "oldest city in the world"

Warka

Uruk was a major Sumerian city by 3300 BC. The name Iraq is derived from the Uruk; What is its other name in Arabic?

The White Temple

It is one of the earliest development of Sumerian temples aside from Ziggurat

Nnanna

The Great Ziggurat Ur is sacred to the moon god called

The priests

The temple of the Great Ziggurat Ur can only be accessed by who? Where it is believed that gods come down and give instructions

Heavens and Earth

The Great Ziggurat Ur is believed to unite what?

Oval Temple-Khafaje

It is a second type of Sumerian temple wherein the temple is named oval because of its massive oval walls surrounding the temple

Sargon

He was part of Akkad's unification of the Sumerian city-states and creation of a first Mesopotamian empire that profoundly affected the art of his people, as well as their language and political thought

Sargonid dynasty

It is known that this dynasty had a hand in the reconstruction and extension of many Sumerian temples

Wet clay

The Akkadian buildings were made of what material?

Mud-brick construction

In ancient Babylon, architecture was characterized by what?

Tower of Babel, Ishtar Gate, and Hanging Gardens of Semiramis

Among the famous structures found in the city of Babylon were the?

The Gate of God(s)

The word "Babylon" is Akkadian "babilani" which means?

Nebuchadnezzar II

The Neo-Babylonian ruler is known to be the real genius and builder of Babylon. He ruled for 45 years and proved to be one of the mightiest monarchs of all time

Tyre, Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Jerusalem

The cities Nebuchadnezzar II's invaded and plundered

Nebuchadnezzar's palace

It was considered to be the most magnificent building ever erected on earth

3

How many walls were built around Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II?

The Ishtar Gate

It is the 8th gate to the inner city of Babylon

Ishtar

The Ishar Gate was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess?

The lion and the eighth-pointed star

Ishtar was known as the "Queen of Heaven" and was the patron goddess of the Eanna Temple at the city of Uruk. Her prominent symbols include

120

The gate of The Ishtar Gate was lined with walls showing how many lions, bulls, dragons, and flowers on enameled yellow and black glazed bricks, symbolizing the goddess Ishtar?

Ishtar, Adad, Marduk

The Ishtar Gate only depicted gods and goddesses including

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

It is considered as one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient world

Queen Amytis

According to one legend, Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens for his Median wife ,\_______________, because she missed the green hills and valleys of her homeland (SANA ALL??!?!!!)

Ziggurat

It is not only a religious center but also a center of civic pride

Huge "stepped" structures with, on their summit, a temple

What was one of the most important aspects of Babylonian religion and tradition when it comes to Ziggurats?

Agriculture

What formed the economic base of Babylonian civilization with production of barley, wheat, fruits, vegetables, with cattle, and sheep predominating

Hittites

These were people who lived in Anatolia (today the country of Turkey and parts of Syria); this part of the world is also known as Asia Minor

Cyclopean masonry

The Hittites used a style of stonework called

4

How many temples were built in Hattusa, only one of which has ever been excavated

Assyrian

This empire dominated Mesopotamia and all of the Near East for the first half of the first millennium

Military

Assyrian society was entirely \__________, with men obliged to fight in the army at any time

Nineveh, Dun, Khorsabad, Nimrud, and Assur

What are the principal cities of Assyria?

City of Khorsabad

It was designed as the royal capital of Assyria

The Palace of Sargon

This palace is approached at ground level through a walled citadel. Within the citadel is found the main palace, two minor palaces and a temple dedicated to Nabu

Lammassu

Protective spirit or deity

Fars

The heart of ancient Persia is in the region called

Greeks

Who were the sworn enemies of the Persians?

Persian

It was the first empire known to have acknowledged the different faiths, languages, and political organizations of its subjects

The Apadana

Persepolis included a massive columned hall used for receptions by Kings called \_____________. This hall contained 72 columns and two monumental hallways

Alexander the Great

The Persian Empire was conquered by

Darius III

Alexander buried the last Persian emperor called

Parthians

After the death of Alexander the Great, there was turmoil in Iran until the rise of the \____________

Ghale Dokhtar or Dokhtar Castle

Structures left to exist by the Parthians

Passive cooling and water supply

Two technologies appear to have been commonly used in the Ancient Near East

Courtyards

These were used for cooling to create livable environments in houses