Overview
This lecture explores the Warka Vase, a Sumerian masterpiece from ancient Uruk, examining its artistic features, symbolic meaning, and cultural significance.
Introduction to the Warka Vase
- The Warka Vase dates to c. 3500–3000 B.C.E. and was found in Uruk, modern-day Iraq.
- It is made of alabaster, stands over one meter tall, and weighs about 270 kg.
- Discovered in a ritual deposit in the temple of Inanna, goddess of love, fertility, and war.
Artistic Features and Iconography
- The vase is carved in relief with four horizontal narrative bands (registers).
- The bottom band shows wavy lines with reeds and barley, symbolizing agriculture.
- The next band depicts alternating rams and ewes, representing livestock and abundance.
- Above is a sequence of naked men carrying goods, likely servants or enslaved individuals.
- The top and most complex register shows a possible sacred marriage between the king (chief priest) and the goddess Inanna.
Symbolic Meaning
- The vase illustrates the ruler’s divine role and reinforces the king’s responsibilities in religious and agricultural success.
- The scene may represent a ritual ensuring fertility and prosperity for the city.
- Inanna is identified by bundles of reeds and a crown, with offerings presented to her.
- Statues and tribute gifts depicted reference religious ceremony and the wealth of Uruk.
Historical Context and Significance
- The Warka Vase is one of the earliest known narrative reliefs in art history.
- Its craftsmanship, material, and location underline its importance in Sumerian culture.
- Looted in 2003 from the Iraq National Museum but later returned.
- The vase’s fate highlights the vulnerability of cultural heritage during conflict.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Register — a horizontal band containing imagery in art.
- Inanna — Sumerian goddess of love, fertility, and war.
- Relief Sculpture — sculpture where figures project from a flat background.
- Sacred Marriage — ritual union between a king and a goddess symbolizing prosperity.
- Uruk/Warka — ancient Sumerian city; Warka is its modern name, Uruk its ancient one.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review lecture notes and study the iconography of the Warka Vase.
- Read related materials on Sumerian religion and early Mesopotamian art.
- Prepare to compare the Warka Vase with other narrative artworks from Mesopotamia.