Chapter 2:
Art of the Ancient Near East
(Bronze & Iron Age art in
present day Middle East)
• TERMS: stele, hieratic scale, cuneiform,
stylus, ziggurat, inlay, register, votive
figure, cylinder seal, portals, low relief,
palace complex, lamassu, crenellated, gold
leaf
Maps: 2-1
Map 2-1
Timeline of Culture:
Ancient Near East
Periods:
• Sumerian: 3500-2300 BCE
• Akkadian: 2300-2100 BCE
• Babylonian: 1800-1400 BCE
• Hittite: 1600-1200 BCE
• Assyrian: 1400-600 BCE
• Neo-Babylonian: 600-500 BCE
• Persian: 550-300 BCE
2-2
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: White Temple
Medium: Mudbrick, bitumen, and paint
Date: 3500–2300 BCE
Location: Uruk, Iraq
2-4
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: Votive Figures
Medium: Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum
Date: 3300–2300 BCE
2-3
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: Carved Vessel
Medium: Alabaster
Date: 3500–2300 BCE
p. 32
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: Head of a Woman
Medium: Marble
Date: 3500–2300 BCE
p. 35 (B & C)
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: Bull’s Head Lyre
Medium: Wood, gold, silver, lapis lazuli, bitumen, and shell
Date: 3500-2300 BCE
2-5
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Sumerian
Title: Cylinder seal (left) and its impression (right)
Medium: Lapis lazuli (left) and clay (right)
Date: 3500-2300 BCE
2-6
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Akkadian
Title: Head of a Man
Medium: Bronze
Date: 2300–2100 BCE
2-1
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Akkadian
Title: Stele of Naram-Sin
Medium: Limestone
Date: 2300–2100 BCE
p. 38
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Babylonian
Title: Stele of Hammurabi
Medium: Diorite
Date: 1800-1400 BCE
2-9
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Hittite
Title: Lion Gate
Medium: Limestone
Date: 1600-1200 BCE
Location: Hattusha, Turkey
2-11
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Assyrian
Title: Reconstruction of Citadel and Palace of Sargon II
Medium: Stone and brick
Date: 1400-600 BCE
Location: Dur Sharrukin, Iraq
2-12
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Assyrian
Title: Guardian Figures at Gate of Citadel of Sargon II
Medium: Limestone
Date: 1400-600 BCE
Location: Dur Sharrukin, Iraq
2-10
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Assyrian
Title: Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions
Medium: Alabaster
Date: 1400-600 BCE
Location: Kalhu, Iraq
2-14
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Neo-Babylonian
Title: Reconstruction of City of Babylon
Medium: Stone anad brick
Date: 600-500 BCE
Location: Babylon, Iraq
2-15
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Neo-Babylonian
Title: Ishtar Gate and Throne Room Wall
Medium: Glazed brick
Date: 600-500 BCE
Location: Babylon, Iraq
2-16
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Persian
Title: Ceremonial Complex
Medium: Stone
Date: 550-300 BCE
Location: Persepolis, Iran
2-17
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Persian
Title: Apadana, Ceremonial Complex
Medium: Stone
Date: 550-300 BCE
Location: Persepolis, Iran
2-18
Culture: Ancient Near Eastern
Period/Style: Persian
Title: Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute, Apadana stairway, Ceremonial Complex
Medium: Limestone
Date: 550-300 BCE
Location: Persepolis, Iran