1. MESOPOTAMIAN ART
Near Eastern Art

2. Where was Mesopotamia?
Mesopotamia was known as "The land between the rivers“
This name was given to the lands lying between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.
The space we call Mesopotamia is roughly the same as that of the modern country of Iraq.

3. Timeline 9000 – 5000 BC Early Farming Communities
5000 – 3500 BC Pre-Sumerians
3500 – 1900 BC Sumerians
1900 – 500 BC Babylonians and Assyrians

4. An area in conflict
Unlike their southern neighbors, the Mesopotamian area was in conflict between warring nations very frequently.  
This area also required much more maintenance of their agriculture systems. 
Because of these and other factors, this area had a more limited development of art as compared to Egypt.

5. Mythical creatures
Mesopotamian sculptures included mythical creatures at times.
The figure to the right is an Assyrian genie.
A genie is an Islamic ´jinn´ a spirit capable of appearing in human and animal form to influence humans for good OR evil.

6. Human Figures
Sculptures in this area often showed long beards on the peoples faces. 
The long beard represented power in their society. 
Most reliefs and paintings would tell stories of battles or proclaimed the power of the ruler. 

7. Ziggurats
In Sumerian cities they built ziggurats for their worship.  A ziggurat is a step pyramid with a temple at the top. 
Normally each city would have one main ziggurat dedicated to the city´s special god.

8. Lion leading to Ishtar's Gate

9. Persian Bull

10. Human-Headed Lions

11. Hunting scene, 2250–2150 B.C.

12. Eye idol, 3500–3100 B.C
This figurine is made of stone and having incised eyes.
It was excavated at Tell Brak, where thousands were found in a building now called the Eye Temple.
The idols are thought to be offerings—wide eyes demonstrate attentiveness to the gods in much Mesopotamian art.