Mesopotamian Architecture

Mesopotamian Architecture

“Mesopotamia is located between what two rivers?”

Mesopotamia is located between R.Tigris and R. Euphrates (McMahon, 2013).

“What pictograph-like form of writing was used in Mesopotamia? Why does this now bring this culture out of pre-history? What were cylinder seals use for, what was carved into them?” 

They used cuneiform writing. It enabled people to keep accurate records. It facilitated the writing of the laws that were reliable as opposed to the reservation in people’s minds. It promoted a knowledge of stars, history. It also transformed trade, government, war. Cylindrical seals were carved stone cylinders, for instance, agate, chalcedony, marble. They were used in making an impression in the wet clay.

“Mesopotamia was a theocratic society, what does that mean? ”

Mesopotamia’s center of government was the temple. Religious systems blended with political elements. It is where projects, for instance, the building of dykes and irrigation canals were overseen. We also had the division of food after the harvest in the temples.

“In what ways was the White Temple at Uruk, a precursor to the later Ziggurat? What is the purpose, and why is this building important? What is the Ben-Axis plan? “

It represented temple areas for the worship of god Anu and Inanna. The platforms were intended to be utilized as a raised shrine of god that was closer to heaven. It appeared in the early dynasties and is associated with the Sumerian city-states. It was vital as it is where the religious rituals were performed (McMahon, 2013). They had several gods, such as Anu. It was a market place where goods were exchanged. It enabled socialization, and people made offerings to gods. It was also used to store grains and other products. Bent axis plan approach meant that individuals would turn 90 degrees to face the altar.   .

“What is the cella? Where is located? What would be found inside the cella?”

Cella was a simple rectangular room that was rectangular. It had an entrance at one end with the extension of sidewalls to form a porch. They were inner chambers of the temples. They had a cult image or statue representing deities. They also had a table to gather the offerings from the people.

“Explain the structural design of the Ziggurat at Ur? Are the materials or purpose any different than the White temple at Uruk?” 

The Ziggurat was four-sided but had an exterior that was not smooth. It is a rectangular pyramidal structure oriented to the North. It measures 210 by 150 feet. It had three levels of terraces between 70 and 100 feet high (Micale, 2007). Three monumental staircases were leading up to a gate at the first terrace level. We had a single staircase rising to the second terrace that supported the temple’s terrace platform. The Ziggurat used different materials such as mud bricks while It had similar purposes with the white temple of a religious center.

“Who is Hammurabi? Why are his Codes of Law important? “

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the Amorite first dynasty of Babylon. He was also known as khammurabi. The laws served as a model in establishing justice in the cultures, for instance, the property rights. It provided laws to deal with people in the societies. It also helped in shaping the government.

“The city of Hattusa features heavy fortification with decorated entryways. Describe Kings Gate and Lions gate, explain their purpose.”

They have a similar shape and size. They are integrated into a sacred road used for processions from the temple. Two towers flank the lion gate and two-door passages of parabolic shape (Micale, 2007). There were new walls and a bastion. There are statues of two lions carved on both sides of the exterior doors. It plays a protective role in scaring away the evil spirits from the city. Two towers flank King’s gate, and there are two parabolic shaped door passages in interior and exterior. There is a statue of a person holding an axe and a sword in his belt. He also has a helmet. It represents a warrior protecting people who passed the gate, and the warrior represents a god.

“Describe the layout of the Citadel of Sargon II or Citadel of Dur Sharrukin. Why was this city never completed? What is notable about the Ziggurat at this site?”

The Citadel of Dur Sharrukin has a rectangular layout that measured 1758.6 by 1635 M. it has an enclosed area of 3Km. The walls have a length of 16280 units and 157 towers protecting the sides (Micale, 2007). There are seven gates as the entrances to the city. There was a walled terrace containing temples and royal places. We had a royal hunting park and garden. The project was never completed as Sargon was killed in a battle in 705. It was abandoned, and there was the adoption of Nineveh as the capital city by Sennacherib.the ziggurat is notable due to its spiral staircase winding up around it.

“What is the Lamassu or Shedu? How and why were these statues incorporated in the Citadel of Sargon II?” 

Lamassu is a celestial body of Mesopotamian religion with a human head. It has a bull’s body. They protected the gods as they had bull’s strength and intelligence of a human. They were placed as guardians at the doors of the city and palace.

 “Why was the Ishtar gate an important feature at the entrance to the Babylonian city? What figures were featured on the gate? What gods did they represent? The material of the gate? Where did the gate lead to?”

Ishtar gate was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar meant to protect and defend the people. It had representations of animals such as young bulls, lions, and dragons. It represents the goddess of war and sexual love, fertility. It is made of glazed brick; roof and doors were made of cedar. The Ishtar Gate was a ground wall processional way leading into the city built to beautify the capital city by Nebuchadnezzar.

“What is the significance of the Babylonian Ziggurat of Etemenanki? What biblical reference was it associated with? What god was it dedicated to?”

The Ziggurat of Etemenanki was meant to make the temple closer to the heavens. It provided access from the ground to heaven through steps. The temples thus connected heaven and earth. It is associated with the tower of Babel. It is found in the Bible in the book of Genesis, whereby people wanted a passage to god, it was dedicated to the god, Marduk (Shepperson, 2012).

“What is the legend of the hanging garden of Babylon? Why might this may or may not be true?”

They are gardens with a series of tiered gardens. They contain trees, shrubs, and vines that resemble a green mountain made of bricks. It was built in Babylon in Iraq. The trees are planted on raised structures, for instance, terraces. However, it’s a fable as there is no archaeological evidence or Babylonian texts that tell us about the garden, which has been traced in Babylon (Shepperson, 2012).

“Achaemenid Empire– Kings: Darius I and his son Xerxes, 550-330 BCE (Persia) Main palace of Persepolis was built for what purpose?”     

The palace of Persepolis was built as a ceremonial center where the subject states representatives came to pay respect to the kings. It served as a showplace and center for festivals of kings and his empire.

         “At Persepolis, what is the Apadana, how is this room a Hypostyle hall? Which King ordered this room to be built?”

It is the largest building built with a large number of columns about 20M tall on a terrace at Persepolis (Shepperson, 2012). It is where Kings received tribute. It has an audience hall. It has open columned verandas on three sides. It was built by Darius 1 and Xerxes 1.

“What is a protome where would it be placed on a fluted column? What purpose do they serve in the Apadana? How large/long are they?”

A protome is an adornment with a form of the head. There is an upper torso of an animal. There are massive primary columns with tall bases, the palm of leaves, and fluted 57-foot shafts. It is an art meant to glorify powerful rulers, and it serves as a connection to divinity. They were made of different sizes.

“What was the purpose of the Throne Hall? Who had this room built?”

Throne hall served as a reception hall for the representatives of emperor subjects and the army commanders. It was later used as a storehouse. It was started by Xerxes then completed by Artaxerxes 1.

References

McMahon, A. (2013). Space, sound, and light: Toward a sensory experience of ancient monumental architecture. American journal of archaeology, 117(2), 163-179.

Mesopotamia Study Guide, Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap

Micale, M. G. (2007). ‘From Drawing to Vision.’ The Use of Mesopotamian Architecture Through the Construction of its Image. In Cultural Heritage and New Technologies. Workshop (Vol. 11).

Shepperson, M. (2012). The Rays of Šamaš: Light in Mesopotamian architecture and legal practice. Iraq, 74, 51-64.