Art History Before 1450
Instructor: Roberta A. Mayer, Ph.D.  

Art of the Ancient Near East  3500-330 B.C.
Study Guide 2
STUDY BOARD

Sumerian

Sumerian, White Temple and Ziggurat, Uruk, ca. 3200-3000 B.C.E.

Sumerian, Statuettes from the Temple of Abu, Eshnunna, ca. 2700 B.C.E

Sumerians, Peace side, Standard of Ur, from “Royal” Cemetery, Ur, ca. 2600 B.C.E.

Sumerian, Lyre, from “Royal” Cemetery, Ur, ca. 2600 B.C.E.



Akkadian

Akkadian, Head of an Akkadian ruler, from Ninevah, ca. 2250-2200 B.C.E.

Akkadian, Victory Steele of Naram-Sin, 2254-2218 B.C.E.


Neo-Sumerian

Neo-Sumerian, Ziggurat, Ur, ca. 2100 B.C.E.

Neo-Sumerian, Gudea, praying, ca. 2100


Babylonian

Babylonian, Stele with law code of Hammurabi, ca. 1780 B.C.E.


Assyrian

Assyrian, Palace of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (Modern Khorsabad), ca. 720-705 B.C.E.

Assyrian, Lamassu, ca. 720-705 B.C.E.

Assyrian, Assyrian archers pursuing enemies, from Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud), ca. 875-860 B.C.E.

Assyrian, Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions, Palace of Ashurbanipal at Ninevah, ca. 645-640 B.C.E.



Neo-Babylonian

Neo-Babylonian, Ishtar Gate, Babylon, ca. 575 B.C.E.


Persian

Persian, Persepolis, ca. 521-465 B.C.E.

Vocabulary
ziggurat
stele
Ashurnasirpal
Ishtar
Hammurabi
Naram-Sin
Tigris
Gudea
intaglio
Euphrates
blind arcade
lamassu

Practice Essay Questions

  • Describe an architectural feature used at Persepolis that seems to have been uniquely Persian. How do the reliefs on the Palace of Darius at Persepolis reflect the purpose of the building?

  • What was the importance of the Code of Hammurabi?

  • Describe three stylistic conventions found in Sumerian art.

  • Discuss the social and economic changes that took place in the ancient Near East and that made possible the beginnings of what we call civilization.

  • How did the religion practiced by Sumerians differ from that practiced by Paleolithic hunters?

  • Discuss the development of relief sculpture in the ancient Near East. Consider changes in the proportions of the figures, the depiction of details, and the position of head and shoulders in relation to the body. Cite specific works to illustrate your argument.

  • What does the cylinder seal tell us about the beliefs of the ancient Sumerians?

  • Compare the statuettes from the Abu Temple with the representation of Gudea. In what way are they similar? What types of artistic changes have taken place between the creation of the two works?

  • How might the media used for the image of Gudea and of the Akkadian ruler have affected the style of each?

  • Compare the layout and organization of the Citadel of Sargon II at Khorsabad and the palace complex at Persepolis. What seem to have been the major concerns of the creators of each complex, and what materials and building techniques were utilized by each?

  • What do the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin and the relief of Ashurnasirpal II at War tell us about the concept of sacred kingship in the ancient Near East?