ARTHIST 101D Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Apadana, Ziggurat, Ishtar Gate
10 May 2018
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Lecture 7 The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Empire
January 23, 2015
Ashurbanipal hunting, reliefs from Nineveh (645-640 BCE)
Come from Assyrian cities
Stone is not the primary material, most art is made out of mud brick
Centered around physical force
Decorative elements on the lion
Relief from Nineveh (675 BCE)
Image of prisoners of war/slaves worshipping the Gods
Pattern and repetition
Decorative elements on the prisoners
Assyrian antiquities ended up at the British Museum
Commercialization of works of art by the British empire
Khorsabad, the royal palace
Temple, ziggurat, harem court
Babylonia – south of Assyria
Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BCE) and Babylon
The Ishtar Gate (575 BCE)
Made up of glazed tile
Parts of the gate on site have been eroded, but part of it taken to the Berlin Museum is preserved
Contrast of realism and decorative patterning
Modeling of clay = adding more material to shape
o Compare with modeling with stone = chiseling away at a piece of stone
System of molds to mass produce a type of pattern of uniform animal figures
The Persian Empire – started with Emperor Cyrus and ended with Darius III (defeat by Alexander the
Great)
Relief from Persepolis showing Darius I (522-486 BCE)
Achaemenid Persia
Darius is the largest figure, sitting on a throne
Subjects trailing behind him, carrying his stuff (similar to Palette of King Narmer)
Stylistic focus on patterning (contrast of smoothness and complexity)
Persepolis, the ruins
The ceremonial staircase to the apadana hall
Reliefs of the staircase walls are figures marching up the stairs, bearing gifts
Alternation of different clothing and headdresses
o Different conquered areas – indicates different peoples
The royal palace at Persepolis (521-465 BCE)
Lamassu
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Document Summary
Lecture 7 the assyrian, babylonian, and persian empire. Stone is not the primary material, most art is made out of mud brick. Image of prisoners of war/slaves worshipping the gods. Assyrian antiquities ended up at the british museum. Commercialization of works of art by the british empire. Parts of the gate on site have been eroded, but part of it taken to the berlin museum is preserved. Modeling of clay = adding more material to shape: compare with modeling with stone = chiseling away at a piece of stone. System of molds to mass produce a type of pattern of uniform animal figures. The persian empire started with emperor cyrus and ended with darius iii (defeat by alexander the. Relief from persepolis showing darius i (522-486 bce) Darius is the largest figure, sitting on a throne. Subjects trailing behind him, carrying his stuff (similar to palette of king narmer) Stylistic focus on patterning (contrast of smoothness and complexity)
