The Ancient Near East

Neolithic 9000 - 4000 BCE

Mesopotamia: “land between two rivers”

Sumerian Rule 3500-2300 BCE

Akkadian Rule 2300 - 2100 BCE

Old Babylonian Rule 1900 - 1600 BCE

Assyrian Rule 1300 - 612 BCE

Neo-Babylonian Rule 612 - 539 BCE

Persian (Achaemenid) Rule 539 - 331 BCE

Sumerian culture Cuneiform

Sumerian culture(Sumerian Rule: c. 3500 - 2300 BCE)

Pictograph Tablet

Early form of writing, developedfor accounting

Cuneiform Tablet

Sumerian Sculpture 3D objects

Cylinder Seals - c. 3500-3000 BCE

Sumerian ArchitectureTemple of sky god Anu (White Temple) on a ziggurat (ziggurat = temple platform), Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq), 3500-3000 BCE

Sumerian Architecture

Nanna Zigguratc. 2100-2050 BCE

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Face of a Woman(Inanna?)

c. 3500-3000 BCEalabaster, height approx. 8”

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Face of a Woman

Artist reconstruction

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Uruk Vase

c. 3300-3000 BCEalabaster, 36”

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Votive Statues from Abu Temple at Tell Asmar

c. 2700-2500 BCELimestone, alabaster and gypsumHeight of largest 30”

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Bull’s Head Lyrec. 2685 BCE

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects

Head of Sargon I (?) Bronze, height 12” c. 2300 BCE

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects

Stele of Naramsin

Limestone, 6’6”c. 2254-2218 BCE

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects

Stele of Naramsin - details

Babylon(Babylonian Rule 1800 - 1400 BCE)

Stele of Hammurabi

Susa (Iran), c 1792-1750 BCEBasalt, approx. 7’(height of carved relief approx. 28”)

Assyria(Assyrian Rule 1400 - 600 BCE)

Lamassu guardian figures

reign of Assurnasirpal II c. 880 BCE

reign of Sargon II c. 720 BCE

Assyria

Artist conception of lamassu guardian figures in the throne room of Assurnasirpal II

Assyrian Palace reliefs

1. Assurnasirpal II Hunting Lionsc. 850 BCE

2. City Attacked with a Battering Ram c. 850 BCE

3. Dying Lionessc. 650 BCE (King Assurbanipal)

King Assurnasirpal II c. 883-859 BCE

Assyria - Palace reliefsc. 850 BCE

Assurnasirpal II Hunting Lions

Assyria - Palace reliefsc. 850 BCE

City Attacked with a Battering Ram

Assyria - Palace reliefs

Dying Lionessc. 650 BCE

Neo-Babylonia(Neo-Babylonian Rule 612-539 BCE)

Reconstruction drawingof Babylon in the 6th century BCE

Neo-Babylonia Ishtar Gate c. 575 BCE, glazed brick (restoration)

Neo-Babylonia

Ishtar Gate reconstruction

Achaemenid Persia(Persian Rule 539 - 331 BCE)

Current excavation of Persepolis (Iran) c. 500 BCE

Persia Ceremonial complex, PersepolisView facing the Apadana (audience hall)

Persia

Persia

Wall relief from Apadana:Lion Attacking a Bull

Persia

Artist conception of palace interior - note structural function of bull capitals

Column capitals with bull imagery

Persia

Darius and Xerxes receiving Tribute

Apadana stairway, ceremonial complex, PersepolisLimestone, 8’4” 491-486 BCE