Study Notes on Ancient Civilizations and Representation of War Art&Pow 03/16/26

Date of workshop: Wednesday (Upcoming) and Friday (Research Project Deadline)
Expectations for Students:
- Majority of research completed by Friday
- Rough draft of thesis should be prepared
Purpose of Workshop:
- Facilitate meaningful feedback among students on individual works of art
- Ensure alignment of arguments regarding each artist's perspectives

Topic Exploration:
- Examination of Confederate monuments and representation of war
Discussion Points:
- Monuments represent narratives shaped by victorious sides in conflict.
- Victory leads to the glorification of certain individuals/groups while others are belittled.
- Example of the Civil War: Anomaly in losing side representation.
- The significance of critical examination of these monuments, emphasizing their lack of absolute truth.
Key Questions:
- How do monuments represent defeated groups?
- What narratives are constructed around victory and defeat?

Origin of Civilization: Eastern Mediterranean, notably Ancient Mesopotamia
Comparisons:
- The region corresponds to modern Iraq, with a climate that supported agriculture.
- Major rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) as vital for civilization development.
Sumerian Civilization:
- First identifiable civilization in Mesopotamia.
- Structure: Politically independent city-states with a theocratic system.
- Polytheism: Each city identified a patron god amidst broader belief in multiple deities.
- Evidence of inter-city conflict through archaeological findings.
- Language: Shared spoken and written language (Cuneiform).

Burial Customs: Evidence of strong social hierarchy in royal cemeteries.
Example: Grave at Ur contained elaborate tombs showing wealth and status.
Notable Findings:
- Some tombs contained multiple individuals to accompany the primary burial, indicating the sacrifice of retainers/servants.
- This indicates a power differential where some lives are valued less than others.
Cultural beliefs associated with proper burials affecting the afterlife of the deceased.

Description of the Art Piece:
- Two sides: Peace side (banquet scene) and War side (military representation).
- Hierarchical scale used in Sumerian art to indicate importance of individuals.
Details of Peace Side:
- Banquet scene showing higher-status individuals and musicians, emphasizing social order.
Details of War Side:
- Depicts the Sumerian army in formation, contrasted with naked captives symbolizing defeat and powerlessness.

Akkadian Domination:
- Unified under hereditary kings as opposed to Sumer's decentralized city-states.
- Cultural advancements such as adopting Cuneiform and similarities in language.
Akkadian Art Examples:
- Copper head potentially from a statue of a king, emphasizing power and individuality.
The Victory Stele of Naramsin:
- Depicts battles, highlights the king's heroism, and captures the aftermath of conflict.

Assyrian Art Characteristics:
- Emphasis on military might and royal propaganda in palace decorations.
- Guardian figures at palace entrances symbolizing protective authority.
Notable Examples:
- Lion hunt reliefs and narrative depictions of military conquests.
- Siege scenes illustrating Assyrian military strategies and terror tactics against conquered cities.

Persian Governance Philosophy:
- Emphasis on maintaining local customs and governance after conquest.
Art Characteristics:
- Scenes depicting tribute from various conquered peoples instead of warfare.
- Example: Reliefs from Persepolis celebrating the richness and diversity of the empire's subjects.

Transition of power through various ancient civilizations:
- Sumerians to Akkadians, then Assyrians, culminating with the Persians.
Each empire's artistic expressions reflect their governance ideologies, military successes, and societal values.

Importance of understanding art and architecture as reflections of the values and power structures of ancient civilizations.