Ancient Mesopotamian Architecture - Coursework Example

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN ARCHITECTURE The art and design of construction, also known as architecture, refers to building of structures. Engineers design and come up with appealing and relevant structures. It happened from time immemorial and today, more structures are in place. Traditionally, considerable design and building was witnessed in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia is the land between two rivers, Tigress and Euphrates. The Egyptians ways of constructions stand up to be remembered in the minds of historians. They came up with fascinating structures1. These were the houses, churches, the kings’ palaces and several other structures. These structures were mostly built for the government, royal families, and the noble class. Focusing on Mesopotamia, these people believed on earthly god. They also believed that their distinguished architecture came from god. The god, whom they believed, enabled men to design and construct buildings. Shedu-Lamassu, Palace of Tikulti-Ninurta I Some of the material they used for construction was the clay. And clay made the basis of the construction. This is because different materials were structured from the clay, and these materials were used for construction of houses and other objects. Bricks of varying grades were also made from the masonry of clay2. Bricks were very valuable in ancient Mesopotamia since they were his main material used in the construction of buildings. Bricks were made in different sizes and shapes depending on the type of building they were to construct. For instance, brick used to construct palace were different from one that build walls around the empire. Two main examples of bricks used in construction industry included Adobe bricks and the vitreous bricks. Adobe bricks dominated over the other bricks because of their outstanding heat properties. In addition to this, they were cheaper to construct. On the other hand, Vitreous bricks were usually glassy. The process of making the bricks included, mixing soil with water using specific ancient tools and sun drying. Durability of the structures depended on the type of soil used to make bricks thus, long lasting was associated with good soil while short-term were associated with poor soils. Buildings that were constructed using bricks that were made from bad soil deteriorated easily and faster, and did not last longer. These made them work from time to time. Attempts were to restore the deteriorated buildings. With time the Assyrians came up with a way of constructing using the stones3. This was adapted by the Babylonians and it made a significant move in the architecture of the people of Mesopotamia. The reason was that stones are strong, long lasting, and smart. Another considerable issue to mention is the character of the Assyrians and the Babylonians to build the three sided structures. Also people from Babylon excelled in the manufacture of earrings, bracelets, gold, copper and jewelers. These made a significant move in the field of architecture in the Mesopotamia. Detail of kudurru of king Melishipak I Just to mention a little the people of Egypt were also potters, and embroider4. They made the porcelain and very transparent glass. The two rivers, the Tigress and the Euphrates did not have the minerals to be used as the material for construction, for this reason, they entirely depended on the clay for the construction5. The structures were not strong and long lasting. These people largely feared the demons that had the wings. They believed that demons had the wings because of their culture of worshiping the god on the earth, the idol god. Briefly the people of Mesopotamia were interested in the planning of the city. These formed a remarkable effort in the tradition of these people to construct. They had a history of unique architecture. The way they conducted their building promoted their reputation. And these explain why they have the history of notable construction. The way they did plan their city is another fact. They placed the towers in the city6. They built very high towers that served a remarkable move in the field of providing security. The security men could watch wider area while over these towers. They built walls, streets, markets, temples and gardens. Uruk is the center of urban culture, which finally thrived in the western culture7. How the city was organized was a unique factor. It is said to have began earlier in the days of the early man. Shown in how the walls were built. These were very high walls and very strong walls of stone. Very high temples were built. These was because of there traditional believe that in so doing they did pleased there gods. They had very strong faith in their gods. In addition to these they came up with very wide canals in order to establish the harbors. Even though the harbors sometime are dangerous when they are not natural, they may harbor disease causing organisms. The reason is they usually contain stagnant water. And these are normal phenomena with the artificial canals. Sometimes, they do not provide required gradient for water to flow thus enabling water to be stagnant. A considerable case is when the Nagana caused by the tsetse flies breaks out. Figure: Ancient Mesopotamia Also another thing to consider is how they came up with the structures where they lived. They are the houses to reside in. The trading areas were the sights to behold. They were the areas the Sumerians built and did business in8. In coming up with a plan for the trading areas, they put in mind, the density of the population. With these they put in mind the number of people that were in the city9. They considered the density per squire area. The type of goods brought into the market they were constructing. Also they considered the value of the goods that were to be traded in the commercial area, and the density of the goods to be sold. A given city was partitioned according to the means of ensuring order in the street. These are the attempts to construct the street considering where people reside, where people do commercial activities, where administration is practiced and recreation is also considered. In consideration of the residential areas, the city was planned according to the social class. The richer people residing in very good houses were partitioned in one area, these is because they resided in distinguished areas10. These were areas where houses were of high prices and quite expensive. Then the poor people’s houses were constructed in other areas where they belonged. The middle class was grouped elsewhere in there section. The administration was placed elsewhere where the services could be delivered efficiently to the civilians. The administration formed the basis of everything in the city. It formed the basis of security. The planning was in there hands and the rule of law was ensured and forced by them. The streets were also planned for. The well planned streets ehanced accessibility. It is easier to move from a place to another in a town. Accessibility, transport and communication are the main factors in determining an ideal city suitable for development. A network of canals was in the city. This explains why Mesopotamia was the agricultural centre. The canals provided water for irrigation, and this is why they were constructed11. And the city was a good agricultural area. Religion was also a factor in the street. Temples were constructed for praise and worship. They constructed house using the normal mud, brick, mad plaster and wooden doors. The rooms of the house were the square design. The palaces were large and decorated. They sometimes served as the centers for social and economic centers12. They contained a number of burial chambers for dead priestesses and halls for the ceremonies. Also the sanctuaries were available. Just to mention a few the ziggurats were the huge temple towers, in form of pyramids. They were built on a stand of either rectangle or a triangle or sometimes oval like platforms. Bibliography Lloyd, Seton, Martin, Roland and Müller, Hans. Ancient architecture: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Crete, Greece. New York: H. N. Abrams, 1974. Moffett, Marian, Fazio, Michael and Wodehuse, Lawrence. World History of Architecture. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2003. Read More