Mesopotamian Art, 3500 – 300 B.C.E WHERE: Mesopotamian civilizations were situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. What is now IRAQ WHY: intended to serve as a way to glorify powerful rulers and their connection to divinity. WHAT MEDIA: made from natural resources such as stone (lapis), shells, alabaster and marble container depicting war and peace. Made of shell, lapis lazuli and limestone. a visual representation of a civilization’s conquest and the peace of victory to follow. profile figures (eye front head sideways) in the narrative within registers (horizontal bands) was typical for art from this period. Through size differences and central placement of important figures, it becomes clear who the important people are. The Standard at Ur From Ur (ancient Southern Iraq) BCE Currently at the British Museum

Mesopotamian Art, 3500 – 300 B.C.E. Shows the two most important roles of an early Mesopotamian ruler: warrior who protected the people and secured access to water and natural resources leader who served as an intermediary between the people and the gods.

In ancient Mesopotamia temples to the Gods were only for priests, so people had smalls statues made: “These statues embodied the very essence of the worshipper so that the spirit would be present when the physical body was not” carved in gypsum or limestone. Many have inlaid eyes and painted hair. The statues are usually carved with the hands clasped, right over left, at the chest or waist in a gesture of attentiveness. Facial characteristics offer little variation from one statue to the next. dedicated to Abu, the ancient Near Eastern god of fertility Votive Statues BCE From the Temple at Tel Asmar Ancient Ur (ancient city, now Iraq)