The document provides an overview of art from the Ancient Near East between 5500-1500 BCE, including major periods and locations. It highlights important artistic developments like the rise of cuneiform writing and monumental architecture like ziggurats. Specific artworks are discussed that demonstrate the connection between religious and political power, including the Standard of Ur and steles depicting kings. Materials like lapis lazuli and techniques like hieratic scale and the bent axis are examined.

2. 2-3, Warka Vase, Protoliterate Sumerian, 3300-3000 BCE

3. Pg. 35, The Great Lyre, Early Dynastic, Sumerian, 2600-2500 BCE

4. 2-1, Stele of Naram-Sin, Akkadian, 2254-2218 BCE

5. 2-8, Votive of Gudea, Neo-Sumerian, 2090 BCE

8. Early Dynastic Sumerian: 3000-2340 BCE

9. Akkadian: 2340-2180 BCE

10. Neo-Sumerian: 2125-2025 BCE

11. Old Babylonian: 2025-1594 BCE

12. Assyrian: 1350-612 BCE

13. Neo-Babylonian: 612-539 BCE

15. Protoliterate Pottery Bowl, Protoliterate Mesopotamian, Samarra, 4200-3000 BCE

16. Bowl, Protoliterate Mesopotamian, Samarra, 4200-3000 BCE

17. Bowl, Protoliterate Mesopotamian, Samarra, 4200-3000 BCE

18. Beaker, Protoliterate, Mesopotamia, Susa, 4200-3000 BCE

19. Sumer: 3300-2500 BCE Eshnunna

21. Mud Bricks

25. Lioness, Tutub (Eshnunna), Iraq, Protoliterate Sumerian, 3300-3000 BCE

26. Iraq, 3300-3000 BCE Germany, 32,000 BP

28. The Rise of Cuneiform

29. Cylinder Seal, Protoliterate Sumerian, 3300-3100 BCE Cylinder Seal, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2900-2334 BCE

30. Inventory Tablet with Archaic Cuneiform, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 3200 BCE Stylus Administrative Tablet, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 3100-2900 BCE Evolution of Cuneiform

31. Gilgamesh: the king who was 2/3 god “Gilgamesh” (Assyrian Hero) The Epic of Gilgamesh in Akkadian

32. Votive Figures from Eshnunna, Early Dynastic, Sumerian, 3000-2340 BCE

33. Royal Cemetery, Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

34. 5’ 5” The Great Lyre with Bull’s Head, from Tomb 789. Royal Cemetery, Ur, Early Dynastic Sumerian, c.2600-2500 BCE

36. Sar-e-Sang, Afghanistan, is site of lapis lazuli mines. lapis lazuli

37. Samples of lapis lazuli.

38. lapis lazuli

40. Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

41. Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

42. Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

43. Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

44. Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2600-2400 BCE

46. Akkadian: 2500-2200

47. Head of Akkadian Ruler, Akkadian, 2340-2180 BCE

49. Nanna Ziggurat, Uruk, Iraq, Neo-Sumerian, 2100-2050 BCE

51. Old Babylonian: 1792-1750 BCE

52. Head of Old Babylonian Ruler (Possibly Hammurabi), Old Babylonian, 1900-1700 BCE

54. Size Matters Akkadian, 2254-2218 BCE Early Dynastic Sumerian, 2900-2600 BCE Old Babylonian, 1792-1750 BCE Neo-Sumerian, 2100-2050 BCE

55. Material Matters

56. Material Matters

57. Neo-Sumerian Old Babylonian Akkadian Kingly Faces

58. Critical Questions How is religious and political power connected in the cultures of the ancient Near East? How do these connections manifest in their art? What is hieratic scale? How is it used in ancient Near Eastern art? How is the bent axis used in Near Eastern architecture? What is its significance? What is the importance of materials like lapis lazuli and gold? What social institutions and activities do they indicate? What are cylinder seals? What function do they serve? What cultural institutions do they indicate?