The Ancient Near East

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the study of the Ancient Near East, including geographical terms, significant structures, and historical artifacts.

Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East known for its rich soil and early agriculture.

Ziggurat

A rectangular stepped tower, often with a temple at the top, used in ancient Mesopotamia.

Cella

The inner chamber of a temple where the deity's statue was housed.

Hieratic scale

A visual scale that shows the importance of figures through size.

Stele

A stone or wooden slab, often used as a monument or grave marker.

Composite pose

A way of depicting human figures in art where they are shown in profile for clarity.

City-state

A city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

Dur Sharrukin

An ancient Assyrian city, also known as Khorsabad.

Mari

An ancient city of Mesopotamia located on the Euphrates River.

Uruk

An important Sumerian city known for its monumental architecture and as a cultural center.

Ur-Nammu

The founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur, known for his contributions to Sumerian architecture and governance.

Law Code of Hammurabi

One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi.

Royal Standard of Ur

An important artifact that reflects the social structure of ancient Ur, depicting scenes of war and peace.

Great Ziggurat of Ur

A massive architectural structure built in ancient Mesopotamia during the reign of Ur-Nammu.

Stele of Naram-Sin

A monument that celebrates the military achievements of Naram-Sin, king of the Akkadian Empire.

Abu Temple figurines

Small sculptures found in the Abu Temple, significant for their depictions of deities and fertility.