The Ancient Near EastNeolithic 9000 - 4000 BCEMesopotamia: land between two rivers Sumerian Rule 3500-2300 BCE Akkadian Rule 2300 - 2100 BCE Old Babylonian Rule 1900 - 1600 BCE

Assyrian Rule 1300 - 612 BCENeo-Babylonian Rule 612 - 539 BCEPersian (Achaemenid) Rule 539 - 331 BCE

Sumerian cultureCuneiform

Sumerian culture(Sumerian Rule: c. 3500 - 2300 BCE)Pictograph Tablet

Early form of writing, developed for accounting

Cuneiform Tablet

Sumerian Sculpture 3D objectsCylinder Seals - c. 3500-3000 BCE

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

Sumerian ArchitectureNanna Zigguratc. 2100-2050 BCE

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objectsFace of a Woman(Inanna?)

c. 3500-3000 BCE alabaster, height approx. 8

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objectsFace of a Woman

Artist reconstruction

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objectsUruk Vase

c. 3300-3000 BCE alabaster, 36

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objectsVotive Statues from Abu Temple at Tell Asmar

c. 2700-2500 BCE Limestone, alabaster and gypsumHeight of largest 30

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objectsBulls Head Lyre c. 2685 BCE

Sumerian Sculpture / 3D objects

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objectsHead of Sargon I (?) Bronze, height 12 c. 2300 BCE

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objectsStele of Naramsin

Limestone, 66 c. 2254-2218 BCE

Akkadian Sculpture / 3D objectsStele of Naramsin - details

Babylon(Babylonian Rule 1800 - 1400 BCE)Stele of Hammurabi

Susa (Iran), c 1792-1750 BCE Basalt, approx. 7(height of carved relief approx. 28)

Assyria(Assyrian Rule 1400 - 600 BCE)Lamassu guardian figures

reign of Assurnasirpal II c. 880 BCEreign of Sargon II c. 720 BCE

AssyriaArtist conception of lamassu guardian figures in the throne room of Assurnasirpal II

Assyrian Palace reliefs1. Assurnasirpal II Hunting Lionsc. 850 BCE

2. City Attacked with a Battering Ram c. 850 BCE

3. Dying Lionessc. 650 BCE (King Assurbanipal)King Assurnasirpal II c. 883-859 BCE

Assyria - Palace reliefsc. 850 BCEAssurnasirpal II Hunting Lions

Assyria - Palace reliefsc. 850 BCECity Attacked with a Battering Ram

Assyria - Palace reliefsDying Lionessc. 650 BCE

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

Neo-BabyloniaIshtar Gate c. 575 BCE, glazed brick (restoration)

Neo-BabyloniaIshtar Gate reconstruction

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

PersiaCeremonial complex, PersepolisView facing the Apadana (audience hall)

Persia

PersiaWall relief from Apadana:Lion Attacking a Bull

PersiaArtist conception of palace interior - note structural function of bull capitals

Column capitals with bull imagery

PersiaDarius and Xerxes receiving Tribute

Apadana stairway, ceremonial complex, Persepolis Limestone, 84 491-486 BCE