3. Ancient Near East Architecture

Mesopotamia

Known as the “cradle of civilization,”

Babylon

capital of ancient of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia now the modern Iraq.

Cuneiform

one of the earliest known forms of written expression

Cyrus the Great

established the Persian Empire as the most powerful state in the world.

Sun-dried

for ordinary finish

Kiln-Dried

for facing important buildings

Colored glazed

for decorative purposes

Ziggurats

terraced pyramids with temples at the summit, believed to connect heaven and earth.

cella

The central hall, meeting place for priests and gods

White Temple, Uruk

earliest development of the ziggurat • one-step ziggurat

Great ziggurat

built by King Ur-nammu • three-tiered ziggurat • had a solid core of mud bricks and faced with burnt bricks • top temple was used as the last line of defense in times of war

Temple Oval, Khafaje

an example of a city temple • walls enclosed the temple from the city

PALACE OF SARGON, KHORSABAD

built by King Sargon II • all buildings arranged around a courtyard • decorated with relief sculptures and glazed bricks

lamassu

Assyrian protective deity, often depicted as having a human’s head, a body of an ox or a lion, and bird's wings.

King Hammurabi

the first king of Babylon, recorded a system of laws called the Code of Hammurabi.

King Nebuchadnezzar II

was the greatest king of ancient Babylon.

The City of Babylon (Gate of God)

was largely the creation of Nebuchadnezzar II • owes its fame to the many references in the Bible • was the most famous and the largest city in ancient Mesopotamia in 1770-1670 BC.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Great Palace

Hanging Gardens

The Ishtar Gate

was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, blue glazed tiles with alternating rows of bas-relief of dragons and lions.

Temple of Marduk

also called the Esagila was the center of the state cult.

Tower of Babel

the builders intended the tower to reach heaven.

Palace of Persepolis

was built on an immense terrace, where an impressive palace complex was created inspired by Mesopotamian models, was the richest ancient city

Tripylon

Reception Chamber and Guard Room

Tachara Palace of Darius

oldest and smallest palace

The Treasury

served as storehouse for objects brought regularly to Persepolis as a form of gift-tribute.

The Throne Hall or Hall of the Hundred Columns

constructed to receive the nobles and dignitaries

Arch of Ctesiphon

• was part of the Imperial Palace of Sasanian kings has the largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world