2. The Art of Mesopotamia (≈10,000-300 BC)

March 02, 2023

2. The Art of Mesopotamia (≈10,000-300 BC)

Some notes taken from this article by Kyril Vantonavitch, and this article by Dr. Senta German from Smarthistory.

A bit of history:

The civilizations of Mesopotamia are some of the earliest on Earth, and extend far back, beyond written history, so most of what we know about these groups of people comes from archeology. Mesopotamia consists of the land of the Middle East and Persia, specifically the fertile strip between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. It's where you'll find modern day Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran. The people who lived here built the world's first farms, villages, and temples. The developed from the Stone Age into the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC, and then Iron Age (1200-550 BC).

Mesopotamia was a crossroads of the ancient world. While Egypt was relatively isolated and secure, developing its society and culture independently, Mesopotamia was consisted of countless nation states and empires, constantly at war and facing invasion: from the Amorites, Hittites, Kassites, Elamites, Chaldeans, and so on. This epoch in history has an endless list of names for cultures that migrated, fought, and mixed together, making the land a multicultural melting pot of cultures and customs.

Here is a list of some of the major civilizations:

The Sumerians (5500-1800 BC)

The Akkadians (2334-2154 BC)

The Assyrians (2025-609 BC)

The Babylonians (1890-539 BC)

The Hittites (1650-1180 BC)

The Mitanni (1600-1260 BC)

Art of Mesopotamia:

Art has always been a display of wealth, and sophistication. As such, art was used in the ancient world to give a level of majesty and authority to the ruling classes - the aristocracy and the priesthood. Despite the near constant warring and political upheaval, art flourished throughout Mesopotamia, as kings built palaces, temples, and elaborate tombs.

The underlying philosophy of this age:

Mesopotamians aren't particularly famous for their philosophers - they're mostly credited with other advancements, like inventing the wheel and religion, and written language. These early civilizations are still quite mysterious. Until the last century, no one was able to translate their written language, called cuneiform, written on clay tablets - so new translations and discoveries are adding to what we know about them. Their earliest writings were practical - merchant records of purchases, and royal geneologies:

A receipt showing workers were paid with beer, from the ancient city of Uruk, 3100-3000 BC

According to Kyrel Zantonavitch, this writing began taking literary strides starting around 2500 BC with the introduction of creative stories and proverbs which give insight into the thoughts and traditions of these people:

Whoever has walked with truth generates life.

A loving heart maintains a family; a hateful heart destroys a family.

Wealth is hard to come by, but poverty is always at hand.

The poor are the silent ones of the land.

Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life.

     You should not cut the throat of that which has already had its throat cut.

     What has submitted will exhibit resistance.

     Whatever it is that hurts you, don't talk to anyone about it.

     He who possesses many things is constantly on guard.

Good fortune is embedded in organization and wisdom.

To be wealthy and insist on demanding more is abominable.

Don't pick things now; they will bear fruit later.

In the city where there are no dogs, the fox is boss.

He who does not support a wife, he who does not support a child, has no cause for celebration.

To be sick is acceptable; to be pregnant is painful; but to be pregnant and sick is just too much.

If a singer knows only a single song but he performs it well, he is indeed a singer!

The wolf circles around it, the lion just picks it up.

By grasping the neck of a huge ox, you can cross the river. By moving along at the side of the mighty men of your city, my son, you will certainly ascend.

A palace will fall of its own accord.

For his pleasure he got married. On his thinking it over he got divorced.

Tell a lie and then tell the truth: it will be considered a lie.

How was their culture represented in other arts – music, architecture, and literature?

We just quoted some literature. Mesopotamians also created the first mythologies and epic quests - focusing on the hero Gilgamesh. The Sumerians, or at least their predecessors invented architecture and town/city planning. They created the first great ziggurats - a kind of step pyramid, used as religious temples:

The White Temple & Ziggurat of ancient Uruk, 3517-3358 BC

Digital reconstruction of the White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk (modern Warka), c. 3517–3358 BC © artefacts-berlin.de; scientific material: German Archaeological Institute.

So far as music, while little if any of their music exists today, we know of it through their art and writing. Cuneiform symbols for music and instruments exists in some of their earliest writing tablets, and seems to have played a central role in their culture, from festivals to funerals and even in battle.

Detail of a lyre player, from the Standard of Ur, 2600 BC

Mesopotamians created stringed, percussion, and wind instruments, and even worshiped a goddess, Ningizibara, of the lyre, an ancient form of harp:

Golden Lyre (reconstruction), Sumerian, 2650-2550 BC. AP Artwork.

Mesopotamians also created many elegant forms of jewelry and clothing:

headdress of an attendant, 2650-2550 BC

headdress of Pu-Abi, from the city of Ur, 2650-2450 BC

What made it great?

These were the first civilizations in history - they created civilization and history. Every one of us owes a great debt to these people who lived and worked and suffered and persevered so that we can enjoy our own modern civilizations today. These ancient people were skilled and creative craftsmen and artists and storytellers - it's surprising how much of their art and style still mirrors ours today.

Some of the most famous sites and artworks of the time: