Lecture on Ancient Mesopotamian Art and Architecture

Akkadian Empire (c. 2300-2250 BCE)

King Sargon

• Rulers of Akkad took over Sumer.
• Loyalty to the king over individual city-states.
• Akkadian kings considered divine or deified rulers.
• Different language but same cuneiform script.

Art and Sculpture

• Head of an Akkadian Ruler:
  • Made from metal (copper alloy).
  • Possibly King Sargon, but not confirmed.
  • Created using the lost wax process.
  • Stylized portrait, over a foot high.
  • Likely had semi-precious jewels in the eyes.
  • Notable for detailed beard and hair.
  • Damaged nose, common in ancient sculptures.
  • Represents wealth and power.

Victory Stele of Naram-Sin

• Stele: Rectangular sculpture with relief, over six feet tall, made from sandstone.
  • Celebrates Naram-Sin’s victory over the Lullubi.
  • Innovative use of angled registers.
  • Naram-Sin depicted in hierarchical scale, ascending a sacred mountain.
  • Twisted perspective, earliest example of a deified king.
  • Enemies shown in disarray, stripped of regalia.
  • Carved cuneiform writing documents victory.

Neo-Sumerian Period (c. 2100-1900 BCE)

Ziggurat at Ur (c. 2100 BCE)

• Monumental architecture, 50 feet high, made of sun-dried mud bricks.
• Artist's Reconstruction: Provides insight into original appearance.
• Features three ramps leading to a temple top (wooden, now vanished).
• Procession Rituals: Elites processed up the ramps, a common cultural practice.
• Cardinal Point Orientation: Building aligned with north, south, east, west.
  • Similar practices observed in other ancient cultures (e.g., Egyptian pyramids, Maya structures).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Efforts to preserve and protect amid regional turmoil.

Importance of Processions

• Cultural significance of dressing up, lining up, and processing.
• Examples in modern and ancient contexts: religious ceremonies, graduations.
• Structures designed to accommodate these rituals.

Preservation Challenges

• Difficulty in maintaining ancient sites in areas of conflict.
• Global efforts to monitor and preserve historical sites through organizations like UNESCO.