Notes on Ancient Mediterranean – Egypt and Mesopotamia

Unit Overview

  • Unit Title: Ancient Mediterranean – Egypt and Mesopotamia (3,500 B.C.E. – 300 C.E.)

  • Instructor: Tice

Geographic Context

  • Major Locations:
      - Black Sea
      - Ancient Near East
      - Mediterranean Sea
      - Key Sites:
        - Çatal Hüyük
        - Jericho
        - Boghazköy (Anatolia)
        - Nineveh, Kalhu, Dur Sharrukin (Assyria)
        - Susa, Babylon, Ur (Mesopotamia)
        - Key Rivers:
          - Jordan River
          - Tigris River

Goals of Study

  • Understand how geography influences a culture's worldview, values, and concerns.

  • Analyze a culture's architecture as a reflection of its societal structure.

  • Examine artistic materials, techniques, subject matter, styles, and conventions of ancient Near East and Egypt art.

Egyptian Art Goals

  • Explain why Egyptian art reverted to earlier stylistic conventions and the brevity of the Amarna period.

  • Identify and understand the conventions of the New Kingdom and recognize the prevalence of rock-cut tombs and mortuary temples over mastabas and pyramids.

  • Describe key characteristics of Old Kingdom sculpture and comprehend the relationship between form and function in these works.

  • Understand architectural evolution from the mastaba to the pyramid in the Old Kingdom and the associated stylistic conventions.

  • Explore the evolution of Egyptian culture, particularly its relationship with the Nile River.

Religious Beliefs of Ancient Egyptians

  • Key Beliefs:
      - Maintenance of "order" as essential; traditions guide behavior.
      - Resemblance of rulers to the Nile: calm, cool, benevolent.
      - Polytheism central to beliefs; supreme god is Amen-Re.
      - Emphasis on afterlife preparation; "permanence" is a desired quality in art and artifacts.
      - The pharaoh regarded as a god.
      - Creation story involving Atum as the creator of the world.

Art Historical Context

  1. Predynastic Period
       - Example: Palette of King Narmer, ca. 3000–2920 BCE, from Hierakonpolis, Egypt, Slate, 2’ 1” high (Egyptian Museum, Cairo).
         - Visual Elements:
           - Narmer depicted with symbols of power; themes of authority and conquest evident.

  2. Old Kingdom Art
       - Significant Works: Seated scribe, Khafre enthroned, Menkaure and Khamerernebty.
       - Ordinary to extraordinary transformations in representation.
       - Emphasis on rigidity and frontalism in sculpture, adhering to conventions of pharaonic dignity.

  3. Pyramids and Funerary Structures
       - Transition: From mastabas to step pyramids.
       - Example: Great Pyramids of Gizeh, Fourth Dynasty (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure).
       - Notable dimensions of Khufu's pyramid: Approx. 137m (449ft) height.

  4. New Kingdom and Amarna Period
       - Reasons for the artistic revolution of the Amarna Period include shifts toward more naturalistic representations of figures.
       - Key Figure: Akhenaton, Nefertiti, depicted in domestic scenes (uncharacteristic of prior artistic conventions).
       - Common artistic features include un-idealized representations and naturalistic movement.

Transitional Figures and Styles

  • Amarna Characteristics:
      - Introduction of naturalism, serpentines, and movement over rigid forms.
      - Notable artistic shift in familial depictions (e.g., Akhenaton and family).

  1. Law Codes and Authority
       - Example: Stele of Hammurabi, ca. 1780 BCE, showcasing the laws and social responsibilities.
       - Prominent laws include punishments for theft, accusations, and judgment errors.

Major Cultures of the Ancient Near East and Their Characteristics

  • Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians

  • Each culture contributed significantly to the development of art and societal structures.

Architectural Advances in the Persian Empire

  • Significant structures: Persepolis and the Citadel of Sargon II, characterized by monumental architecture and use of columns.

  • Introduction of complex city layouts and grand public spaces during construction of palaces, temples, etc.

Influence of Greek Culture

  • Cross-cultural interactions shape the development of Greek artistic styles, architecture, and representation of human form (e.g., Classical vs. Hellenistic).

  • Major Periods:
      - Geometric, Orientalizing, Archaic, Classical (High and Late), Hellenistic.

  • Emphasis on idealism and realism in the depiction of human anatomy and emotional expression.

Etruscan Art

  • Recognized for its stylized works and incorporation of individual characteristics, alongside an emphasis on funerary practices.

  • Etruscan culture gradually assimilated into Roman traditions, impacting subsequent artistic developments.

Conclusion

  • The study of ancient Mediterranean cultures, especially Egypt and Mesopotamia, reveals significant insights into religious beliefs, artistic conventions, and the societal structures that shaped early civilizations. The lasting impacts of these cultures continue to influence modern artistic and architectural practices.