Art of the Ancient Near East Part 1

SUMERIAN ART, 3,000 BCE

SUMERIAN CITY STATES• Settled in Mesopotamia – birth place of Judaism (Garden of Eden),

Christianity and Islam• Continued the development of sustainable agriculture: canal construction,

crop collection and distribution• These developments allowed portions of the population to focus on

manufacturing , trade and administration• Complex Urban Societies called CITY STATES • THEOCRACY: Each CITY STATE was under the rule and protection of

different Mesopotamian deities• Sumerian kings were the god’s representatives on earth and they directed

all communal activities of their CITY STATE• Monumental temples were erected in honor of the Gods and their power

on Earth• Often at war with each other – WAR and power are common themes in

Sumerian art.

Writing

Pictographs – pictures standing in for words

Cuneiforms – clay tablets carved with wedged shaped forms – beginning of writing

Epic of Gilgamesh pre-datesThe Odyssey. Tells the storyof the legendary King of Uruk.

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: Trades PeoplePatron: Rulers of SumerTitle: White TempleDate: 3,000 BCESize: MonumentalLocation: Uruk, Modern Iraq

What is the medium and technique? (M)

No access to stone.Constructed ofMud Bricks

How is the structure constructed? (FA)

Temple (cella)

Ziggurat

Bent-axis Plan

Why was it created? (CA)

1. Physical Location- Theocratic society and the central role of god’s in daily life- The main temple dedicated to the city’s chief god, Anu (sky god). - Temple was the nucleus of the city.

2. Patron- Priest-King, City

3. Historical Events- Constant war and disease = fear of Gods

4. Concepts and Ideas- Temples were called waiting rooms: believed the deity would

descend from the heavens and appear before the priests and rulers in the cella.

- Commercial and administrative decisions tied to worship and ritual

• Devices used to declare sacred spaces– Exclusivity– Material wealth / decoration– Ritual and Ceremony– History of location adding to the site

MEANING / FUNCTION? (MF)

- Discuss how the building’s exclusivity, material wealth and ritual function support the religious beliefs and political system of its time?

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: Trades PersonPatron: Citizen of SumerTitle: Sumerian Votive OfferingDate: 3,000 BCESize: VariesLocation / findspot: Square Temple at Eshnunna

What is the medium and technique? (M)

Carved Stone, with shell and Black Limestone eyes

What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM)

Mortal rather than deities - Worshippers

How is the subject matter visually represented? (FA)- Standing or sitting- Simple forms: cones and

cylinders- Stiff- Frontal, hands clasped- Clothing and hair, physical

types- Large eyes, awe, fear

WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)

1. PHYSICAL LOCATIONPlaced in temples facing altars or statues of Gods

2. PATRONCommissioned by worshippers for specific gods.

3. HISTORICAL EVENTSConstant threat of war and disease = fear of death

4. CONCEPTS AND IDEASTheocracy, belief in an unpleasant afterlife FUNCTION? (MF)

Surrogate for worshipper, offering constant prayer, awe and reverence to the God to ensure a long life.

Discuss how Sumerian society and beliefs shape the form and function of the artwork?

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: Trades PersonPatron: Sumerian AristocrayTitle: Standard of Ur (War and Peace)Date: 3,000 BCESize: VariesLocation / findspot: Royal Cemetary, Ur

What is the medium and technique? (M)

Mosaic: Wood, lapis lazuli, shell and red limestone

What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) - War- Peace

How is the subject matter visually represented? (FA)Narrative Devices:- 3 Registers. Read left to right. Bottom to top- Sequential ordering of story:- 1: Narrative Frieze of battle- 2: Gathering and leading away the conquered foe- 3: Delivering the captured- Hierarchy of Scale- Twisted perspective, Conceptual representation

WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)

1. PHYSICAL LOCATIONPlaced in burial chamber

2. PATRONCommissioned by family members of the dead or the aristocrat himself.

3. HISTORICAL EVENTSMay depict actual war and the victory celebration

4. CONCEPTS AND IDEASExpresses the idea that the Sumerian King has two principle roles: Mighty warrior and chief administrator who, with the blessing of the Gods, assures the prosperity of the land during peacetime

• Meaning / Function?• Meaning: Communicates two sides of Sumerian

society and the Duties of the King• Function: Unknown objectExplain how the narrative devices used in the Standard of Ur make meaning?