Mud brick
dedicated to the sky
god Anu
White Temple and its
Ziggurat
Uruk (Iraq)
Sumerian
c. 3500 – 3000 BCE
The sides of the
ziggurat were very
broad and sloping but
broken up by
recessed stripes or
bands from top to
bottom
Visual focal point of
Gods
Temple: tri-partite
plan: a long
rectangular central
hall with rooms on
either side
Oriented to cardinal
points
Façade
Cella
Forces person to look
at façade to enter
Bent Axis - Altar
ceremonial object
Greywacke
Palette of King Narmer
Predynastic Egypt
3000-2920 BCE
Relief Sculpture
alettes were generally flat,
minimally decorated stone
objects used for grinding
and mixing minerals for
cosmetics. Dark eyeliner
was an essential aspect of
life in the sun-drenched
region
one of the most important
artifacts from the dawn of
Egyptian civilization
ritual object dedicated to a
god
Research suggests that
these decorated palettes
were used in temple
ceremonies, perhaps to
grind or mix makeup to be
ritually applied to the
image of the god.
Statues of Votive
Figures, from the
Square Temple at
Eshunna
Tell Asmar, Iraq
Sumerian
2700 BCE
Seated Scribe
Saqqara, Egypt
Old Kingdom
4th Dynasty
c. 2620-2500 BCE
Great expression of
early dynastic
Sumerian art
Gypsum inlaid with
shell and black
limestone
Forever offering
prayers to the god
Wide eyes
Sense of attentiveness
Attentive to a sculpture
of a god, embodied in
statue
Elite member or
Sumerian culture paid
to have this made and
be “continually
attentive” to the god.
Looks informal
Cross-legged
Very natural looking
Painted Limestone
Iris is rock crystal
Funerary sculpture,
meant for afterlife…not
to be seen by anyone
Different from
Egyptian sculpture
which represents
kings.
“Symbol of the peson”
who paid for it to be
made
Seems humble, not
Naturalistic
Not of kingly/divine
status
Little bit of fat was
signifier for wealth
Important b/c he can
write & read
Sense of wisdom
Standard of Ur from
the Royal Tombs at Ur
Iraq
Sumerian
2600-2400 BCE
Wood inlaid with shell,
Lapis lazuli, red
limestone
Intentionally buried in
a ritual
Maybe a soundbox for
musical instrument?
One side represents a
scene of peace, most
powerful at top of
register.
Other side is scene of
violence/war
Blood/wounds men
falling
Shows 3 levels of upper
society in scale of
figures
Line of soldiers ready
for
battle/order/structure
King at top register is
largest
Great Pyramids
(Menkaura, Khafre,
Khufu) and Great
Sphinx
Giza, Egypt
Old Kingdom
Fourth Dynasty
c. 2550-2490 BCE
Cut Limestone
Tombs
Cardinal Points
Scale model of
hemisphere
The shape of the
pyramid was a solar
reference, perhaps
intended as a
solidified version of
the rays of the sun.
Texts talk about the
sun’s rays as a ramp
the pharaoh mounts to
climb to the sky
Everyone in profile.
Looking out
the Great Sphinx. This
close association to
Khafre’s temple
indicates that this
massive depiction of a
recumbent lion with
the head of a king was
carved for Khafre.
King Menkaura and
queen
Old Kingdom
Fourth Dynasty
c. 2490-2472 BCE
The Code of
Hammurabi
Babylon(Iran)
Susian
1792-1750 BCE
Greywacke
Slate
Basalt
Statues of king/queen
They both face to the
front, although
Menkaure’s head is
noticeably turned to
his right—this image
was likely originally
positioned within an
architectural niche,
making it appear as
though they were
emerging from the
structure.
Sensuously modelled
with a beautifully
proportioned body
emphasized by a
clinging garment, she
articulates ideal
mature feminine
beauty.
They both look
beyond the present
and into timeless
eternity, their
otherworldly visage
displaying no human
emotion whatsoever.
Earliest law codes ever
written
Sun god Shamash
handing Hammurabi a
rope, ring and rod of
kingship
Humans are secondary,
stand before the gods
God appear larger,
enthroned.
Gods elaborately
adorned
Humans wear
respectful, plainer
clothes
Gods carry emblems of
their power
Humans listen
attentively
Represends Justice
Hypostyle Hall was a
Temple of Amun-Re
And Hypostyle Hall
Karnak…Luxor, Egypt
New Kingdom
18th & 19th Dynasties
c. 1550 BCE – temple
c. 1250 BCE – hall
Cut Sandstone & Mud
Brick
House of Worship
Huge columns, tightly
packed together,
massive lintels bind the
columns
Axial Plan – parts of
building organized
longitudinally
large room with columns.
Most of the room was
dark except for the
center aisle which was lit
by small windows cut
into the roof. This hall
represented a marsh in
the beginning of time. It
was filled with columns
that looked like papyrus
plants.
Mortuary Temple of
Hatshepsut
Luxor, Egypt
New Kingdom
18th Dynasty
c. 1473-1458 BCE
Akhenaton, Nefertiti
and three daughters
New Kingdom
(Amarna)
18th Dynasty
c, 1353-1335 BCE
Sandstone
Partially carved rock
cliff
Red Granite
Temple with
3 Terraces & 2 Ramps
Terraces were
originally planted with
gardens
First time
achievements of a
woman are celebrated
in art history. Body
buried elsewhere
Mortuary
Sacred Valley
Tells a story
Limestone
Akhenaton (left) holds
eldest daughter, ready
to be kissed.
Nefertiti holds
daughter (right) with
another daughter on
her shoulder.
State religion changed by
Akhenaton symbolized
by sun-disk w/cobra.
Ankhs( symbol of life)
point to king & queen.
Religion Shift indicated
by:
Smoother curved
surfaces
Low hanging bellies
Slack jaws
Thin arms
Heavy lidded eyes
Tutankhamun’s Tomb,
innermost coffin
New Kingdom
18th Dynasty
c. 1323 BCE
Gold with inlay of
enamel and
semiprecious stones
Famous tomb
discovered by Howard
Carter in 1922
Found In a tomb in the
Valley of the Kings in
Egypt
Mummified body of Tut
buried with 143
objects
Mask idealized features
of boy-king
Crook & flail symbol of
Osiris
Gold coffin containing
body of Pharaoh
Tradition of Pharonic
Burial:


Site chosen: This
was the traditional
burial ground for
Egyptian kings.
 The valley was
naturally protected
by cliffs against
grave robbers
The cliffs & tombs could
easily be dug from the rock
here
Last judgement of
Hu-Nefer, from his
tomb (page from the
Book of the Dead)
New Kingdom
19th Dynasty
c. 1275 BCE
Painted Papyrus Scroll
Illustration from the
Book of the Dead,
Egyptian book of spells
and charms
God of embalming,
Anubis, has Jackals head,
leading deceased named
Hu-Nefer into a hall
where his soul will be
weighed against a
feather. If sins weigh
more, he is condemned.
Elaborate funerary
ceremonies, 143
objects found
w/body.
 Gold symbolizes
eternity, used
extensively
throughout the
tomb.
 Holds a crook &
flail, symbols of
Osiris.
 Above head are
symbols for upper
& lower Egypt :
Cobra & Falcon
 Idealization of
facial features
Hippo/Lion figure will
eat the heart of an evil
soul.
God Thoth has head of
bird, writing down
events.
Osiris, god of underworld
appears enthroned.
Lamassu from the
citadel of Sagon II,
Dur Sharrukin
Khorsabad, Iraq
Neo-Assyrian
c. 720-705 BCE
Alabaster
Persepolis
Audience Hall
(apadana) of Darius
and Xerxes
Persepolis, Iran
Persian
c. 520-465 BCE
Limestone
Built on artificial
terraces
Human headed animal
guardians
Winged
5 legs, seen from front
is standing at attention,
seen from
side…walking by you.
Seat for spectacular
receptions and
festivals
“Gate of All Nations”
announcing this as a
great empire
Ward off enemies both
visible and invisible.
Apotropiac- having the
power to avert evil
influence or bad luck
Many cultures (greek,
Egyptian, Babylonian)
contributed to building
the site
Built to dwarf the
viewer