Lecture Notes: Ancient Near East Art

Introduction

• Focus on the Fertile Crescent area.
• New groups succeeded over old groups.
• Entering Babylonian period (1780 BCE).

Law Code Stele of Hammurabi

• Period: Babylonian (1780 BCE).
• Material: Stone stele made of basalt.
• Content: Contains cuneiform writing with 300 laws.
  • Addresses personal injury, real estate, dowries, adultery.
  • Laws were not equal across classes but aimed for societal stability.
• Location: Would be placed in town squares.
• Artistic Features:
  • Hammurabi depicted in twisted perspective, honoring the sun god Shamash.
  • Shamash has radiating lines and a crown with horns.
  • Foreshortening used to show depth.
  • Implements of rule depicted: staff and ring.
  • Size hierarchy shows Shamash taller if standing.

Ishtar Gates

• Material: Glazed bricks with faience (powdered glass-like material).
• Design: Processional walkway with animals in registers and crenellation at the top.
• Artistic Features:
  • High relief bricks and realistic lions.
  • Protective feature with watchful animals.
• Location: Originally in Babylon, now reassembled in a German museum (not in situ).
• Controversy: Debate over antiquities removal and context loss.

Lamassu

• Period: 720 BCE, Citadel of Sargon II.
• Material: Carved limestone, 14 feet high.
• Function: Guardian figures at entrance gates.
• Artistic Features:
  • Composite creatures with a human face, bullhorned crown, bull body, and wings.
  • Conceptual view rather than optical view (fifth leg included for perspective).
• Modern Reference: Citadel Mall as a modern interpretation.
• Experience: Joy of students visiting and taking photographs with art.

Definitions

• Style: Where and when the art is from (e.g., ancient Near East, 8th century BCE).
• Technique: What it is and what it is made of (e.g., glazed brick gate, stone relief).
• Iconography: What the figures and symbols tell us about the piece.