Analysis of the Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia - Essay Example

Insert Analysis of the Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia Art of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia’s art has withstood its prominence through archaeological history, from ancient hunter-gatherer communities that existed during the Bronze Age societies of the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian kingdoms. These kingdoms were eventually substituted in the Iron Age. This replacement was effected by the Neo-Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian reigns. Widely believed to be the origin of civilization, the society brought vital cultural developments, encompassing the earliest examples of literature.

For instance, a bas relief symbolizing Naram-Sin was reportedly traced to Diyarbakır, in what became of the contemporary Turkey. Additionally, Assyrian art design was different from the structure of Babylonian art, which eventually became the main modern designs in Mesopotamia, resurfaced during the 1500 BC and prevailed until the end of Nineveh reign in 612 BC. Generally, the main aspect of Assyrian art design was the chopped stone relief of polychrome structure that was used to festoon imperial arts.

The clearly delineated reliefs symbolized royal affairs, mainly hunting and organizing for successful battles. The art predominantly captures animal designs, especially a horse and lion; these were elegantly portrayed in the art in a comprehensive manner (Begemann et al 135-169). Additionally, though, important personalities are fairly rigid they are also benignly represented, as in victorious scenes of operations, wars, and individual military contribution. Assyrian reliefs that apparently popular include the lion-hunt sculptures depicting Assurbanipal of 7th century BC and Assurbanipal II of the 9th century BC (Ulrichsen 349-377).

Both carvings are archived by the British. Guardian nature composed of lions and other flying wildlife with hairy human face. The models were presented in incomplete curves for strong regal entrances. It is notable, though, that Nimrud-carved elephant tusks and bronze plates were located by archaeologists. The items are colored in the Assyrian form, and were the brainchild of and Aramaic and Phoenician artisans (Landes, Mokyr, and Baumol 164-168). Architecture of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia’s structural designs are the earliest designs of the society of the Mesopotamia region, which is popular for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The designs include several unique cultures and lasting between the 10th millennium BC and the 6th century BC when the oldest structures were erected. Notably, the Mesopotamian architectural achievements encompass the growth of towns through proper structuring techniques, the courtyard structure, and ziggurats. Landes, Mokyr, and Baumol (164-168) indicated that no architectural expertise existed in the region; nonetheless, scribes were structured and informed the setting up of buildings for the governing bodies, aesthetic civilian residences, or kingdoms residences.

The Mesopotamians believed architectural designs were a spiritual gift to the male population segment by the spiritual forces (Brandoni, Ferrero, and Brunetto 1547-1558). According to Gadotti and Kleinerman (72-77), Mesopotamia architecture is largely the one which involved the use of clay building material and of increasingly compound aspects of heaped mud-brick. For instance, adobe-brick was more commonly used as opposed to vitreous material due to its powerful thermal qualities and limited manufacturing expenditures involved in its processing.

Baked brick was employed, albeit in small proportions involving water, embellishment, and huge constructions. Later on, vitreous shiny bricks were incorporated into the construction. Although, Sumerian bricks were also incorporated into the work in mortar-less form, bitumen was at times incorporated. Brick forms, which underwent evolution, are classified with respect to the actual periods when they were invented. Since curved bricks are to some extent weaker, Mesopotamian masons would vertically place a column of bricks, while others lay horizontally every few lines (Laneri 121-135).

The benefits of plano-convex bricks revolved around the pace of manufacture and the rough surface on which the finishing coat stuck as opposed to smooth face from other building bricks. Works Cited Begemann et al. Lead isotope and chemical signature of copper from Oman and its occurrence in Mesopotamia and sites on the Arabian Gulf coast. Arabian Archaeology & Epigraphy, 21.2 (2010): 135-169. Brandoni, Diego, Ferrero, Brenda S., and Brunetto, Ernesto. Mylodon Darwini Owen from the Late Pleistocene of Mesopotamia, Argentina, with remarks on individual variability, paleobiology, paleobiogeography, and paleoenvironment.

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 30.5 (20110): 1547-1558. Gadotti, Alhena, and Kleinerman, Alexandra. Here is what I have. Send me what I am missing: Exchange of Syllabi in Ancient Mesopotamia. Zeitschrift für Assyriologie & Vorderasiatische Archäologie, 101.1 (2011): 72-77. Landes, S. David., Mokyr, Joel, and Baumol, J. William. The Invention of Enterprise: Entrepreneurship from Ancient Mesopotamia to Modern Times. Journal of Economic Literature, 49.1 (2011): 164-168. Laneri, Nicola.

A Family Affair: The Use of Intramural Funerary Chambers in Mesopotamia during the Late Third and Early Second Millennia B.C.E. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 20.1 (2010): 121-135. Ulrichsen, Kristian Coates. The British occupation of Mesopotamia, 1914-1922. Journal of Strategic Studies, 30.2 (2007): 349-377.