Ancient Near Eastern Art - Grace Roldan

  • Period: 5500 BCE to 330 BCE

    The Art of the Ancient Near East

    This period of time contains 5 civilizations. Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Persia. All of them consist of Civilization, Kingship, Organized Religion, Political history of art, Monumental Architecture, Religious Centers, and Writing.
  • Period: 4100 BCE to 1750 BCE

    Sumerian and Neo Sumerian Art

    Sumerian art mainly consists of monumental architecture, sculptures and cylinder seals. The materials/techniques include mud brick, shells, clay, lapis lazuli, alabaster, gold. This is part of Ancient Near Eastern art because of the architecture and the sculptures are depictions of their religion (gods) or their rulers (kingship).
  • Cylinder Seal of Queen Pu-abi
    2600 BCE

    Cylinder Seal of Queen Pu-abi

    This is a cylinder seal made of lapis lazuli and is 4.9 x 2.6 cm. It was used by Queen Pu-abi as an identity marker for administrative purposes.
  • Votive Figure of Ebih-ill
    2500 BCE

    Votive Figure of Ebih-ill

    A statue made of gypsum, shells, lapis lazuli and schist and was discovered in the temple of Ishtar. The figure is a visual representation of your devotion to the gods. The bigger the figure is the more wealthier and devoted you are. Sumerian art because it has lapis lazuli and is a sculpture.
  • Period: 2500 BCE to 605 BCE

    Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian Art

    Assyrian art consists of architecture, writing, sculptures, cylindrical seals and mythological imagery. This is Ancient Near East art because it includes kingship, monumental architecture and writings.
  • Period: 2350 BCE to 2150 BCE

    Akkadian Art

    Akkadian art consists of a more natural style. They used royal/divine iconography, sculptures, bas-relief, hieratic symbolism, and depictions of historical events. This is part of Ancient Near East Art because it contains Kingship, Monumental Architecture, and political history of art.
  • Head of Akkadian Ruler Sargon the Great (?)
    2334 BCE

    Head of Akkadian Ruler Sargon the Great (?)

    The Head of Akkadian Ruler is made of bronze and is purposely damaged. It has bull horns around the head and a bun which means he is a king and powerful. This is Akkadian art because it is a sculpture and natural.
  • Victory Stele of Naram Sin
    2254 BCE

    Victory Stele of Naram Sin

    The Stele of Naram Sin is made of pink sandstone and was created to remember the victory over the Lullubi people. Naram Sin is the largest one on the stele and wearing a horned helmet, showing that he is in favor of the gods. This is Akkadian art because it shows hieratic symbolism, depictions of historical events and royal/divine iconography.
  • Cylinder seal with clay impression
    2076 BCE

    Cylinder seal with clay impression

    This cylinder seal is made from lapis lazuli which indicates wealth. The clay impression is what the cylinder has on it. This is Assyrian art because cylinder seals were used during this time.
  • Period: 1894 BCE to 539 BCE

    Old Babylonian and Neo Babylonian Art

    Babylonian art consists of architecture, cylindrical seals, iconography of deities/kings, and writing. This is Ancient Near East art because of civilization, writing, kingship and architecture.
  • The Stele of Hammurabi
    1780 BCE

    The Stele of Hammurabi

    The Stele of Hammurabi is made of black basalt and is the first written code of laws. On top of the Stele is a deity giving Hammurabi a rod and a ring. This is Babylonian art because it is writing.
  • Lamassu at the Palace of Assurnasirpal
    883 BCE

    Lamassu at the Palace of Assurnasirpal

    The Lamassu have a human head, bull feet, and eagle wings and is made of alabaster. They are the divine guardian of the king. This is Assyrian art because it is architecture and mythological imagery.
  • Ishtar Gate
    575 BCE

    Ishtar Gate

    The Ishtar Gate was the main gate into the inner part of the city of Babylon. It was first made with unbaked mud brick and later with baked mud brick and tar mortar. There are relief animals, and deities on the walls to protect the people in the city. This is Babylonian art because it is architecture and iconography of deities.
  • Period: 550 BCE to 330 BCE

    Persian Art

    Persian art consists of architecture, reliefs, writings, royal ceremonies. This is Ancient Near East art because of the writings, architecture, political history of art and kingship.
  • Cyrus Cylinder
    539 BCE

    Cyrus Cylinder

    This cylinder is made of baked clay and is 8.6" x 3.9-3.1". The cylinder was the first bill of human rights. It freed jewish people and called for the restoration of all places of worship. This is Persian art because it is has writing.
  • Behistun Inscription
    522 BCE

    Behistun Inscription

    The Behistun Inscription is 49"ht x 82" width and can be found on Mount Behistun, Iran. This was made to enforce Darius I rule. It depicts his great military victories as well as how the previous rulers lied of their right to rule. This is Persian art because it is reliefs and carvings and depiction of royal ceremonies.