The Rise of Civilization: The Art of the Ancient Near East
THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS
SUMERIAN ART
AKKADIAN, NEO-SUMERIAN, BABYLONIAN, AND HITTITE
ELAMITE AND ASSYRIAN ART
NEO-BABYLONIAN AND ACHAEMENID PERSIAN
NEAR EASTERN ART AFTER ALEXANDER
ELAMITE AND ASSYRIAN ART
The Elamite Empire lasted until 641 B.C., when its capital city, Susa, was destroyed by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal.
The rise of Susa:
To the east of Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon, in what is western Iran today, a civilization flourished that historians refer to by the Biblical name Elam.
An immovable portrait of a queen:
A statue cast features a solid bronze core and an outer surface of hollow-cast copper.
2-19 Statue of Queen Napir-Asu, from Susa, Iran, ca. 1350-1300 B.C. Bronze and Copper, 4' 2" high. Louvre, Paris.
The fortress-palaces of the Assyrians:
The Assyrians undertook ambitious building projects, such as the citadel of Sargon II, which was decorated with large-scale stone sculptures of lamassu and with relief carvings illustrating the king's prowess in war and hunting.
2-20 Reconstruction drawing of the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca. 720-705 B.C. (after Charles Altman).
Sargon's monstrous guardians:
Guarding the gate to Sargon's palace were colossal limestone monsters.
2-21 Lamassu (winged human-headed bull), from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca. 720-705 B.C. LIMESTONE, APPROX. 13' 10" HIGH. LOUVRE, PARIS.
2-22 Assyrian archers pursuing enemies, relief from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud), Iraq, ca. 875-860 B.C. GYPSUM, 2' 10 5/8" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON.
Chronicles of great deeds:
The Assyrian kings expected their greatness to be recorded in unmistakable, exact forms in their palaces.
Assyrian court ritual:
The Assyrian palace reliefs frequently portrayed the king and his retinue in ceremonial roles or paying homage to the gods.
2-23 Ashurnasirpal II with attendants and soldier, from his palace at Kalhu, Iraq, ca. 875-860 B.C. GLAZED BRICK, 11 3/4" HGIH. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON.
Noble animal adversaries:
Two centuries later, sculptors carved hunting reliefs for the Nineveh palace of the conqueror of Elamite Susa, Ashurbanipal.
2-24 Ashurbanipal hunting lions, relief from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik), Iraq, ca. 645-640 B.C. GYPSUM, APPROX. 5' HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON.
2-25 Dying lioness, detail of a relief from the palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik), ca. 645-640 B.C. GYPSUM, APPROX. 1' 4" HIGH. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON.
THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS
SUMERIAN ART
AKKADIAN, NEO-SUMERIAN, BABYLONIAN, AND HITTITE
ELAMITE AND ASSYRIAN ART
NEO-BABYLONIAN AND ACHAEMENID PERSIAN
NEAR EASTERN ART AFTER ALEXANDER