3. CL103 - PPT3

Introduction to Sumer

  • Sumer is a region in Mesopotamia and is recognized as the first great Mesopotamian civilization.

  • Known for developing the first complex urban societies.

  • Sumer was not a unified country but consists of several independent city-states such as Uruk, Ur, Lagash, and Umma.

  • Religion was polytheistic, each city-state had its chief god.

The Invention of Writing

  • Sumerians developed a method of writing around 3400-3200 BCE using pictographs.

  • These signs gradually simplified over time, leading to cuneiform writing.

  • Cuneiform, meaning 'wedge-shaped', emerged by around 3200 BCE when symbols were pressed into wet clay tablets with a stylus.

Characteristics of Cuneiform

  • The signs evolved to represent sounds, syllables, and entire words.

  • Originally invented by the Sumerians, cuneiform was adapted to write other Near Eastern languages.

Uruk: The Most Important City in Early Sumer

  • Home to significant temple complexes such as the Ziggurat with the White Temple and the Eanna Complex dedicated to the goddess Inanna.

  • Temples functioned as religious, economic, and administrative centers, staffed by priests and scribes and included housing for priests and storerooms.

White Temple and Ziggurat of Uruk

  • Ziggurant: a terraced step pyramid that served as a temple.

  • The temple had a bent-axis plan and was approached via ramps.

  • Size: 61 ft x 57 ft; the cella measured 61 ft x 16 ft, suggesting a smaller functional area intended for specific rituals.

  • Contemporary texts describe temples as 'waiting rooms'.

Recent Hypothetical Reconstruction of the White Temple

  • The structure is depicted as having 1 or 2 stories.

  • The roof's design and whether the temple was roofed are subjects of discussion in existing reconstructions.

Artifacts from the Eanna Temple Complex

  • Female Head (Inanna): Represents the Sumerian goddess of love and war, crafted from marble, measuring 8 inches high. The inlaid eyes/brows and back suggest it was part of a larger sculpture.

  • Vase from the Eanna Complex: An alabaster vase (H: 3 ft. 1 ¼ in.) divided into registers or friezes; the first three registers feature different subjects with priests distinguished by attire.

Votive Statuettes of Worshippers

  • From Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar), ca. 2700 BCE; made from gypsum and inlaid with shell and black limestone.

  • Hands in a gesture signifying libation; functioned as part of worship.

Stele of the Vultures

  • Commemorates a victory by Eannatum, ruler of Lagash, over Umma, ca. 2600-2500 BCE.

  • Definition of stele: monumental stone or slab, often inscribed or carved, to record important events.

  • Contains reliefs showing significant events, including scenes of vultures, symbolizing victory.

  • Hierarchy of scale is used to denote importance of figures.

The Royal Cemetery at Ur

  • Includes 16 tombs from ca. 2600-2400 BCE; graves are located at the bottom of pits, filled after interment.

  • The term 'royal tombs' is applied, but it is uncertain whether they held royalty, priests, or aristocrats.

  • Artifacts unearthed include gold, lapis lazuli, and alabaster vessels.

Leonard Woolley: Archaeological Contributions

  • Distinguished British archaeologist who excavated at Ur from 1922-1934 CE.

  • His findings contributed to our understanding of Sumerian culture and artifacts.

Tomb of Pu-abi (tomb 800)

  • Tomb identified by a unique cylinder seal, containing Pu-abi's remains with close retainer burials signifying the importance of the deceased and rituals surrounding death and afterlife.

  • Numerous artifacts and human sacrifices were found, hinting at the significance of the burial practices.

Cylinder Seals

  • First used around 3500 BCE, designed to leave a unique imprint on wet clay, providing a means of personal identification.

  • The seals depicted scenes and cuneiform inscriptions unique to each owner.

The Standard of Ur

  • Discovered in Tomb 779, ca. 2600-2400 BCE, featuring two distinct sides: the 'War Side' and the 'Peace Side'.

  • Constructed from wood with mosaic inlays, it serves as an emblematic representation of Sumerian society's dual nature.

Conclusion

  • The artifacts and structures from Sumer reveal a complex society with advanced cultural, religious, and artistic practices.