1. The Ancient Near East Neolithic 9000 - 4000 BCE Mesopotamia: “land between two rivers” Sumerian Rule 3500-2300 BCE Akkadian Rule 2300 - 2100 BCE Old Babylonian Rule 1900 - 1600 BCE Assyrian Rule 1300 - 612 BCE Neo-Babylonian Rule 612 - 539 BCE Persian (Achaemenid) Rule 539 - 331 BCE

2. Sumerian cultureCuneiform

3. Sumerian culture (Sumerian Rule: c. 3500 - 2300 BCE) Pictograph Tablet Early form of writing, developed for accounting

4. Cuneiform Tablet

5. Sumerian Sculpture 3D objects Cylinder Seals - c. 3500-3000 BCE

6. Sumerian Architecture Temple of sky god Anu (White Temple) on a ziggurat (ziggurat = temple platform), Uruk (modern Warka, Iraq), 3500-3000 BCE

7. Sumerian Architecture Nanna Ziggurat c. 2100-2050 BCE

8. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects Face of a Woman (Inanna?) c. 3500-3000 BCE alabaster, height approx. 8”

9. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects Face of a Woman Artist reconstruction

10. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects Uruk Vase c. 3300-3000 BCE alabaster, 36”

11. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects Votive Statues from Abu Temple at Tell Asmar c. 2700-2500 BCE Limestone, alabaster and gypsum Height of largest 30”

12. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

13. Bull’s Head Lyre c. 2685 BCE

14. Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

15. Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects Head of Sargon I (?) Bronze, height 12” c. 2300 BCE

16. Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects Stele of Naramsin Limestone, 6’6” c. 2254-2218 BCE

17. Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objects Stele of Naramsin - details

18. Babylon (Babylonian Rule 1800 - 1400 BCE) Stele of Hammurabi Susa (Iran), c 1792-1750 BCE Basalt, approx. 7’ (height of carved relief approx. 28”)

19. Assyria (Assyrian Rule 1400 - 600 BCE) Lamassu guardian figures reign of Assurnasirpal II c. 880 BCE reign of Sargon II c. 720 BCE

20. Assyria Artist conception of lamassu guardian figures in the throne room of Assurnasirpal II

21. Assyrian Palace reliefs 1. Assurnasirpal II Hunting Lions c. 850 BCE 2. City Attacked with a Battering Ram c. 850 BCE 3. Dying Lioness c. 650 BCE (King Assurbanipal) King Assurnasirpal II c. 883-859 BCE

22. Assyria - Palace reliefs c. 850 BCE Assurnasirpal II Hunting Lions

23. Assyria - Palace reliefs c. 850 BCE City Attacked with a Battering Ram

24. Assyria - Palace reliefs Dying Lioness c. 650 BCE

25. Neo-Babylonia (Neo-Babylonian Rule 612-539 BCE) Reconstruction drawing of Babylon in the 6th century BCE

26. Neo-Babylonia Ishtar Gate c. 575 BCE, glazed brick (restoration)

27. Neo-Babylonia Ishtar Gate reconstruction

28. Achaemenid Persia (Persian Rule 539 - 331 BCE) Current excavation of Persepolis (Iran) c. 500 BCE

29. Persia Ceremonial complex, Persepolis View facing the Apadana (audience hall)

30. Persia

31. Wall relief from Apadana: Lion Attacking a Bull

32. Persia Artist conception of palace interior - note structural function of bull capitals Column capitals with bull imagery

33. Persia Darius and Xerxes receiving Tribute Apadana stairway, ceremonial complex, Persepolis Limestone, 8’4” 491-486 BCE