Sumerian Art

Characteristics/Conventions: The enduring architectural monument was the temple. Reflects the view of life in which human beings were meant to serve the gods, who personified the powerful forces of nature. Strong fortifications were necessary. The city-states of Mesopotamia were so often at war with each other. Depicting the power and authority of the king. Kings sensed that art could help glorify their reigns, and tell narratives that would last into the ages. Resulted in steles to commemorate military victories and laws - palaces to glorify. Hybrids of animals and men are common themes. Protective guardians and symbols of power. Deification of the king. The use of hierarchy of scale, composite figures, and registers. Use of whitewashed plaster, glazed tile, and paint on mud-brick buildings due to lack of good stone in region.

SUMERIAN Architecture: Ziggurats are a form of temple common to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. The ziggurat was a pyramidal structure, built in receding tiers upon a rectangular, oval, or square platform, with a shrine at the summit. The core of the ziggurat was of sun-baked mud bricks, and the facings were of fired bricks, often glazed in different colors, which are thought to have had cosmological significance. Access to the summit shrine was provided by a series of ramps on one side or by a continuous spiral ramp from base to summit. The temple corners are in the cardinal points of the compass. The shrine for gods was only big enough for the select few whom were allowed in.. Temples were where the priests waited for the gods to appear from heaven. 2-4 Ziggurat of Ur, 2100 B.C. 2-3White Temple and Ziggurat at Uruk (biblical Erech, modern Warka), B.C.

Sumerians established 1st city-states -also developed 1st writing system -cuneiform= "wedge-shaped" = writing 2-11 Cylinder seal and impression, 2600 B.C., 2” high Cylinder Seal (2600 BC) Tomb of Puabi, Ur- made of a cylindrical piece of stone, had a piercing for a cord, they were worn as amulets and were treasured. Decorated with a raised pattern. Intaglio (incised ) design carved in stone and used as identification.

Statuettes from temple of Abu ( BC) Tell Asmar- Statuettes were modeled after actual people in the city and put in the temples to pray for the god at all times. They were made of cone shapes. Different sizes (descriptive perspective) show the person’s importance in the city. Huge eyes to shoe they were in awe of the gods. They were made of cylindrical shapes. Votive statues, c B.C.