ART 141 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Art Of Mesopotamia, Hieratic, Nimrud
SEPT 11
Mesopotamia
● Central of civilization
● Alphabet developed 2000 BCE, hebrew and arabic
Cuneiform: Damp clay, pointed tool, letters
Cylinder Seal- Symbols in negative relief, 3300 BCE pressed into clay= entire image
→ Detailed images = artistic style used
→ iconography (type of work) learn history
Sumer
● Fertile territory be/n Tigris and Euphrates
● Sumerian responsible for 1st writing system in west
● Traders and farmers
● Polyamic thinkers
Ziggirat
● Sky god
● Raised platform, shared sides, mud bricks
● Symbolic heart of political system
Apotropaic Device
● Statues, abstract early style
● Buried near Cella
● Possible ownership that stays (image of self)
● Eye large ready for god to see, keeping evil away
The royal cemetery at UR (objects)
● 1800 buried here
● 16 Royal (good findings)
Register Hieratic Scale
● Visual narrative
● Descriptive form, colours
Akkad
● In competition with south
● First known Empire
● Ruled by Sargent
● Absolute Monarch
Head of Akkadian Ruler
● Style of hair geo native
● Cast copper (rare to find)
Stele Hieratic Scale
● Ruler= largest figure
● Literary over people
● Zig zag up
● Horn crown = absolute power
Babylonian Art
● Math, astrology, 1760 BCE
● King w/ Egyptian Pharaohs
Law Code of King Hammurabi
● Founding principle of civilization
● Akkadian scripture
● Prologue, divine laws
● Sun god, agriculture issues stated on Law
Neo Babylonian Art
● Dynasty 575 BCE
● Architecture
● Grazed bricks
Assyrian Art
● Military culture (serious)
● Developed a system of political
Lamassy Apotropaic Device
● Human headed winged bull
● Turns away evil
● @ all gates
● Standing vs walking, legs
Nimrud
● New syrian capital
● 900 acres, brick wall, 20 ft high
● festival 70 000 people
Fugitives Crossing River
● 3 fugitives saving self by crossing river
● Using animals to breath
The persian Empire
● Neogylphic
● Xerxes's persian capital
Egypt 3200-1000 BCE
Ancient Egyptian Art
● Upper and Lower egypt
● Art not meant to be seen, only for the dead
Palette Hieroglyphics Horus
● Hiero- sacred Glyphics- Gods
● Monumental version of everyday use
● Depression for grinding minerals (cosmetics)
● Red and White crown = unity of lower and upper Egypt
Document Summary
Alphabet developed 2000 bce, hebrew and arabic. Cylinder seal- symbols in negative relief, 3300 bce pressed into clay= entire image. Sumerian responsible for 1st writing system in west. Possible ownership that stays (image of self) Eye large ready for god to see, keeping evil away. Sun god, agriculture issues stated on law. 900 acres, brick wall, 20 ft high. 3 fugitives saving self by crossing river. Art not meant to be seen, only for the dead. Red and white crown = unity of lower and upper egypt. It"s ka would be able to enter the body and stay with it for the after life. Necropolis: city of dead, place where tombs are located together. Shape = solidified version of sun rays, ramp to sky. Oriented east to west, can access in the east, sun will rise in the east. Ra- sun god, king was referred to son of ra. Horus wrapping wings around neck of khafra.
