-
The summerian known as the Cradle of Civilization, because they presented a sofistication never seen before in their city-states, the division the labor force, they teocratic form of goverment. The use of mud brick, alabaster, clay, limestone, lapis lazuli, gold, shells used in their art. The early written expression called cuneiform, a greater example the Epic of Gilgamesh. Their ziggurat where the gods and humans talked.
-
The Head of Warka is a depiction of the human head with detailed carving. The eyes and eyebrows were removed. It is considered to depict the goddess Inana (Ishtar) because it was found in the temple dedicated to the goddess and part of a bigger relief. -
In Mesopotamia one of the first Empire known to humanity has rose to power the Akkadian Empire (northern) had defeated the Sumerians, lead by Sargon. The Akkadian had their peak under Naram-sin, their power fell circa 2150. Their art reflects the power progress, the divine and the man.
-
The bronze head demonstrates the development of metal manipulation; it represents the naturalistic and the abstract. It depicts the first great leader that unified the Mesopotamic world Sargon, regardless, his eye has been mutilated probably after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. -
The carved limestone depicts a hierarchic scale of Naram-Sin with empathic suggestion of authority and victory over the defeated lullaby. The Akkadian where the first empire through military conquest might have placed the stele within the city as reminder and commemoration of their military progress. -
The Sumerian had defeated the Akkadian Empire. The period known as the Neo-Sumer has started under a new king called Gudea. A new Ziggurat has been built in honor to Nanna. Under his rule he built and restored temples, and within them placed the new votive status made of diorite. This period of time lasted a centurie where Mesopotamia was a contested land.
-
The grandiose architecture of Ziggurat represents a great advancement in engineering the use of mudbrick and backed brick allowed a better preservation of the structure. The temple signifies a renewal and offering to the gods, after defeating the Akkadian Empire. -
Babylon rose to power by c. 2000 BCE under the rule of Hammurabi. The new Empire dominated Mesopotamia for almost 1000 years. Regardless of their dominance the area saw several changes in their rulers. By the year 1000 BCE Babylon fell under control of the Assyrains just to rise againt to power c. 612 BCE and finally be under control of the Persians.
-
The composite posture of the king or god depicts strength, power, and authority the combination of the sacred realm with the world with his mace. According to the Met it might be used as sealing compared to the cylinders to sign a contract, since it was produced for the masses, a merchant might be used for trading or other transactions. -
Mesopotamia has been an area of conflict since its beggining. The Assyrians dominanted part of the northen Mesopotamia, their rose to power came in the c. 1000 BCE, when Babylon fell under their control. The use of mud brick but albaster and limestone has taken part of the decorarive in the new capitals around the area. Internal conflict and the fight against the Babylonian, the Empire came to an end by the 7th century BCE.
-
The relief in alabaster of a winged creature, with human head, lion legs, bull or lion body and the horned hat demonstrates the influence of previous artistic Mesopotamic traditions like Akkad. Lamassu were used as guardians typically located at the entrance of the royal palaces or temples built around Mesopotamia during the Assyrian rule. -
The depiction of a pacing and roaring lion, made of glazed ceramic part of Ishtar gate. The lion symbolized the strength of the regain of control of the Mesopotamic area by the Babylonian under Nebuchadnezzar II. -
Under Cyrus, the Persians rose to power by defeating and vanquishing the Babylonians. Their vast territory stretched from Persepolis to the Mediterranean. The empire reach his peak under Darius the Great, but the dawnfall began under his son Xerxes. By 330 BCE, Alexander the Great swept thought the Mesopotamian area and the Persians became part of the Western World.
-
Relief carved on limestone depicting two human figures each bearing food and drink. This relief might be part of a larger scene from Persepolis, where delegation from different regions presented the tributes as symbol of loyalty.