Maddison Wright
Intro to Art History
11/21/2013
The region of Mesopotamia, like many other ancient nations, had very defined and careful carvings and sculptures. Unlike Egypt, Mesopotamia (which is now present-day Iraq) sought to have more political meanings to there architectural structures. The first cities built around the southern region of Mesopotamia were by the Sumerians around 3400 B.C.E. Though their reign was short, they left artifacts and key symbols for their language they had developed, called cuneiform. A temple they had built called the ziggurat, was strategically placed on high grounds to acknowledge the belief that the higher up one was the closer to heaven they were. This shrine was built as a place of worship where priests would travel up the many stairs to talk with their gods above - and more specifically this structure was dedicated to the moon god Nanna. Though most of their art pieces were used with clay, one piece called the Ram in Thicket used wood, stone, and gold foil to complete the ten inch sculpture. Sumerian art showed attention to detail and much of a decorative style throughout their art forms.
When Sumerian cities were no longer standing due to the destruction by people of Akkadian, the Akkadians established the first empire built in that region. They as well produced amazing art such as the one named the Head of an Akkadian ruler (sculpted in bronze). This piece suggested the replication of an actual person, or ruler, in their empire because the craftsmanship was so precise. This is looked at as a naturalistic piece which was not usually the type of art made during that time. Akkadian artists liked to create majestic-like creatures in their art to frighten visitors.
In the 7th century B.C.E. Babylonians built an arch-like structure with glazed ceramic bricks that was called the Ishtar Gate. Under the gate was Nebuchadnezzar, an art patron who constructed the capital city in Babylon (and later became ruler over the Babylonians), their he sat receiving his subjects. Babylon’s art culture is a foundation for many of the art made today, they had used many different materials including zinc, gold, terracotta, etc.
Mesopotamia not only used their art for beauty and pleasure, but had symbolic ideas behind sculpting all their pieces.
Intro to Art History
11/21/2013
Mesopotamia
When Sumerian cities were no longer standing due to the destruction by people of Akkadian, the Akkadians established the first empire built in that region. They as well produced amazing art such as the one named the Head of an Akkadian ruler (sculpted in bronze). This piece suggested the replication of an actual person, or ruler, in their empire because the craftsmanship was so precise. This is looked at as a naturalistic piece which was not usually the type of art made during that time. Akkadian artists liked to create majestic-like creatures in their art to frighten visitors.
In the 7th century B.C.E. Babylonians built an arch-like structure with glazed ceramic bricks that was called the Ishtar Gate. Under the gate was Nebuchadnezzar, an art patron who constructed the capital city in Babylon (and later became ruler over the Babylonians), their he sat receiving his subjects. Babylon’s art culture is a foundation for many of the art made today, they had used many different materials including zinc, gold, terracotta, etc.
Mesopotamia not only used their art for beauty and pleasure, but had symbolic ideas behind sculpting all their pieces.
Nanna Ziggurat, mud-brick, 2100-2050 B.C.E.
Ram in Thicket, wood, gold foil, and lapis lazuli, 2600 B.C.E.
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