Ancient Imperial Powers of Western Asia

Ancient Imperial Power in Western Asia

Politics and Religion

In many ancient cultures, politics and religion were intertwined.
Sacred places often had political/administrative functions.
Political entities/locations also held divine status.

Overview

Focus on ancient, imperial power in western Asia (Mesopotamia).
Region includes present-day Iraq, parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
Ends with the Macedonian empire of Alexander the Great.

Akkadian Empire (c. 2340-2180 BCE)

First imperial Mesopotamian power.
Founded by Sargon, who usurped power from the King of Kish.
Introduced loyalty to a head of state (imperial ruler).
Sargon's life parallels the legend of Moses (abandoned in a reed basket).
Adopted Sumerian culture, including language and cuneiform script.

Cylinder Seals

Used as formal signatures on cuneiform tablets.
Reflected the owner's social rank and name.
Contests between heroes and animals were a favorite subject.
Imagery demonstrates cultural interaction between the Akkadian empire and the Indus Valley civilization.

Akkadian Art

Broke away from Sumerian geometric forms, showing interest in naturalism and individualized portraiture.
Possible portrait of Sargon or Naram-Sin.

Stele of Naram-Sin

First known monumental work to glorify an individual ruler.
Commemorative function, erected in a public place.
Depicts Naram-Sin conquering the Lullabi people.
An example of spolia, showcasing power and authority.
Uses hieratic scale to show Naram-Sin's importance.
Most figures shown in composite (frontal-profile) pose.

Babylonia (c. 1700 BCE)

Akkadian empire declined after Naram-Sin's death.
Hammurabi of Babylon reunified Mesopotamia.
Hammurabi instituted centralized control of industry, supervised breeding programs, and oversaw production.
Codified legal codes of Mesopotamia, including "an eye for an eye" and presumption of innocence.
The stele of Hammurabi depicts the Sun-God, Shamash, giving King divine sanction for the laws.
Figures depicted in composite pose

Hittites (c. 1600-1500 BCE)

Conquered the Babylonian empire.
Came from Anatolia (Central Turkey).
Lion-Gate at Hattusa.

Assyrian Empire (c. 900-600 BCE)

Conquered the region after the Hittites.
Known for violent fighting skills.
Apogee of power: 900-600 BCE, with cities like Nimrud, Khorsabad, and Nineveh.
Conquered Egypt until about 627 BCE.

Citadel of Sargon II

Planned as a large, fortified city.
Built on a massive earth platform.
Fortified appearance was more visual than functional.

Lamassu

Winged, human-headed bulls placed at gateways.
Heraldic emblems and guardian figures.
Male features under Assyrian rule.
Wear horned caps symbolizing divine origins.
Five legs to appear striding from the side and standing from the front.

Nineveh

Capital and largest city of the Assyrian empire.
Focus of monumental expansion projects under Ashurnasirpal II.

Palace of Ashurbanipal

Included themes of luxury and status.
Stupendous library with over 30,000 clay tablets.
Relief carvings focused on court life, military events, and hunting scenes.

Lion Hunting

Royal sport symbolizing the ruler's ability to protect his people.
Hieratic scale used.
Emphasis on surface pattern and some degree of naturalism.

Ashurnasirpal II Statue

Describes him as “king of the universe”.
Emphasize on solidity stressing his eternal power and strength.

Babylonian Empire (Neo-Babylonian)

After Assyria's decline, Babylon regained power under Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE).
Nebuchadnezzar's wife inspired the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Ishtar Gate

Principal gate to the palace at Babylon.
Dedicated to Ishtar (Inanna).
Made of fired bricks with blue and yellow glaze.
Depicts a procession of aurochs, lions, and dragons.

Persia

Conquered by Cyrus the Great (559-529 BCE).
The Persian empire took on elements of Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture, influencing the Greco-Roman world.

Statue of Darius

Made in Egypt as an imperial statement of power.
The statue includes hieroglyphs and cuneiform

Persepolis

Seat of government for the Persian Empire.
Setting for the New Year festival.
Plan based on Assyrian palace design.

Palace of Darius I and Xerxes

Trilingual inscriptions in Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite.

Apadana

Main audience hall with hypostyle plan.
200 sq. feet, 72 columns that supported a 75 ft high ceiling.
Columns show Egyptian and Greek influence.
Capitals depicted as twin-headed bulls, eagles, or lions.

Stairway to Apadana

Carved in shallow relief, depicts figures bringing tribute.
Figures are stylized into geometric, patterned features.

Alexander the Great

Philip II of Macedon unified Greece and created the League of Corinth.
Alexander attacked the Persian Empire, defeating Darius III and destroying Persepolis in 331 BCE.
Became pharaoh of Egypt and expanded Greek hegemony.

Battle of Issus Mosaic

Depicts Alexander's victory over Darius III.

Portraits of Alexander the Great

Idealized and youthful, with a distinctive cowlick.
Eyes turned toward heaven, suggesting semi-divine wisdom.

Alexander Sarcophagus

Depicts the battle of Issus and Macedonians/Persians hunting lions together.

Mosaics

Hunting scene from Pella signed by Gnosis.
Human anatomy is proportional

Hellenistic Culture

Golden age for Hellenic culture during Alexander's reign.
Wonders of the World created, including the Colossus of Rhodes.

Alexandria

Founded by Alexander, contained the Library of Alexandria.

Antioch

Second largest city in Hellenistic times, based on the Hippodamian plan.
Organized in a grid pattern with an agora at its center.

New Building Types

Stoa: colonnaded building for public meetings.
Bouleuterion: building for council of citizens.
Theater: semi-circular structure for Dionysian rituals.

Pergamon

Attalid dynasty (282-129 BCE) turned it into a new Athens.

Galatians (Gauls)

Invaded Greece in 279 BCE.
Defeated at Pergamon ca. 240-230 BCE.
Commemorated with sculptures showing naturalistic detail, dramatic posing, and suffering.