Title: Ruins and the Plan of the Anu Ziggurat and White Temple Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 3300-3,000 BCE Patron: Original Location: uruk (Present-day Warka, Iraq) Material: Subject: Temple/Ziggurat Technique & Description: Ziggurat--stepped structure with a temple on top; large chamber containing alter and smaller spaces on each side; White Temple built on top of platform Context: Meeting place for humans and gods; Statues for gods and donors were placed inside temples Meaning: Worshipping gods--first Sumerian city-state. Dedicated to Inanna (goddess of love and war) and to Anu (sky god)--uneasiness with gods (nature/climate and other groups)
Ruins and the Plan of the Anu Ziggurat
Title: Carved Vessel from Uruk Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 3000 BCE Patron: Original Location: Iraq Material: Alabaster (a fine, white stone) Subject: Vessel depicting stories of Sumerians delivering gifts Technique & Description: Hieratic Scale; Composite Perspective; Registers; Lowest register- sources of life in the natural world, animals; Middle register- naked men carrying baskets of food; Top register- Inanna accepts an offering from two standing figures; ceremonially dressed figure Context: Placed in temple, showing loyalty to gods Meaning: Time of uneasiness with their gods; giving gifts and trying to win favor
Carved Vessel from Uruk
Title: Sumerian Votive Figures Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2900-2600 BCE Patron: Original Location: Square Temple, Eshnunna (Iraq) Material: Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum Subject: Figures of men and women with wide eyes Technique & Description: Stylized faces an diodes, dressed in clothing that represents pure cylindrical shapes. Solemnly, hands clasped, bold wide eyes; female figures as massive as the men Context: Placed in temples towards alters of gods Meaning: People could have these figures made and placed in temples--state of perpetual prayer; approaching the gods with awe
Title: Sumerian Votive Figures Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2900-2600 BCE Patron: Original Location: Square Temple, Eshnunna (Iraq) Material: Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum Subject: Figures of men and women with wide eyes Technique & Description: Stylized faces an diodes, dressed in clothing that represents pure cylindrical shapes. Solemnly, hands clasped, bold wide eyes; female figures as massive as the men Context: Placed in temples towards alters of gods Meaning: People could have these figures made and placed in temples--state of perpetual prayer; approaching the gods with awe
Title: Standard of Ur Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2600 BCE Patron: Original Location: Iraq Material: 3-dimensional trapezoid. Subject: 2, 3-register panels of victory of war and then celebration Technique & Description: 1st Panel Victory of War--1st register: big man going outside register/narrative. 2nd register: naked prisoners of war. 3rd register: chariots and horses trampling people. 2nd Panel Celebration of Victory--1st register: Big man, party, music, drinking. 2nd register: Bringing food to the party. 3rd register: Getting the food to bring to the party (Maybe the defeated paying taxes) Context: Time of interaction/aggression with other groups/city-states Meaning:
Title: Standard of Ur Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2600 BCE Patron: Original Location: Iraq Material: 3-dimensional trapezoid. Subject: 2, 3-register panels of victory of war and then celebration Technique & Description: 1st Panel Victory of War--1st register: big man going outside register/narrative. 2nd register: naked prisoners of war. 3rd register: chariots and horses trampling people. 2nd Panel Celebration of Victory--1st register: Big man, party, music, drinking. 2nd register: Bringing food to the party. 3rd register: Getting the food to bring to the party (Maybe the defeated paying taxes) Context: Time of interaction/aggression with other groups/city-states Meaning:
Title: Ziggurat of Ur (Nanna Ziggurat) Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2100-2050 BCE Patron: Leader= King Urnammu of Ur Original Location: Ur (Iraq) Material: Mud-brick Subject: Ziggurat dedicated to moon god Nanna (also called Sin) Technique & Description: Foundation is ziggurat (temple on top); Sloped to prevent rainwater from forming puddles Context: Built to impress! Only divine have such architecture! Inside holds votive figures, offerings and images of divine. Performance space on top; figures and priests inside (sacred space) Meaning: Reaching towards heavens, performance and ritual-->project power and authority
Title: Ziggurat of Ur (Nanna Ziggurat) Artist: Sumerians Period/Style: Date: 2100-2050 BCE Patron: Leader= King Urnammu of Ur Original Location: Ur (Iraq) Material: Mud-brick Subject: Ziggurat dedicated to moon god Nanna (also called Sin) Technique & Description: Foundation is ziggurat (temple on top); Sloped to prevent rainwater from forming puddles Context: Built to impress! Only divine have such architecture! Inside holds votive figures, offerings and images of divine. Performance space on top; figures and priests inside (sacred space) Meaning: Reaching towards heavens, performance and ritual-->project power and authority