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What is one of the primary characteristics of Persian architecture?
What is one of the primary characteristics of Persian architecture?
Which structure is considered the most important in Babylonian architecture?
Which structure is considered the most important in Babylonian architecture?
What describes the architectural style primarily used in Assyrian buildings?
What describes the architectural style primarily used in Assyrian buildings?
Which structure in Babylon is built with a rectangular plan and designed with several stages?
Which structure in Babylon is built with a rectangular plan and designed with several stages?
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Which significant feature is found at the Palace of Persepolis?
Which significant feature is found at the Palace of Persepolis?
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What is the primary function of the seraglio in Assyrian palaces?
What is the primary function of the seraglio in Assyrian palaces?
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The elevation of the palace platform at Persepolis is approximately:
The elevation of the palace platform at Persepolis is approximately:
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What are the main orientations of the ziggurat's corners aimed at?
What are the main orientations of the ziggurat's corners aimed at?
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What was a significant characteristic of Persian architecture during the ancient period?
What was a significant characteristic of Persian architecture during the ancient period?
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Which building innovation is most closely associated with Assyrian architecture?
Which building innovation is most closely associated with Assyrian architecture?
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What purpose did ziggurats serve in Babylonian architecture?
What purpose did ziggurats serve in Babylonian architecture?
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Who was a notable ruler who established the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC?
Who was a notable ruler who established the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC?
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What construction technique was commonly used by the Babylonians to create durable bricks?
What construction technique was commonly used by the Babylonians to create durable bricks?
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How did the climate affect Babylonia's architectural style?
How did the climate affect Babylonia's architectural style?
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Which of the following was a reason for the Assyrians' military superiority reflected in their architecture?
Which of the following was a reason for the Assyrians' military superiority reflected in their architecture?
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Which characteristic of Assyrian architectural materials distinguishes it from that of Persia?
Which characteristic of Assyrian architectural materials distinguishes it from that of Persia?
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What is a distinguishing feature of Persian columns compared to those of Babylonians and Assyrians?
What is a distinguishing feature of Persian columns compared to those of Babylonians and Assyrians?
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Which architectural feature is commonly used in Babylonian and Assyrian doors but not in Persian doors?
Which architectural feature is commonly used in Babylonian and Assyrian doors but not in Persian doors?
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What unique structural element distinguishes Babylonian ziggurats from other ancient architectural forms?
What unique structural element distinguishes Babylonian ziggurats from other ancient architectural forms?
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What was a significant aspect of the construction techniques utilized in Persian architecture?
What was a significant aspect of the construction techniques utilized in Persian architecture?
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Which king is noted for renovating and improving Susa before founding Persepolis?
Which king is noted for renovating and improving Susa before founding Persepolis?
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Which of the following describes the decorative reliefs found at Persepolis?
Which of the following describes the decorative reliefs found at Persepolis?
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What was a typical construction material for the walls of Assyrian architecture?
What was a typical construction material for the walls of Assyrian architecture?
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How were Persian windows designed compared to those of Babylonian and Assyrian architecture?
How were Persian windows designed compared to those of Babylonian and Assyrian architecture?
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Study Notes
Ancient Near East Architecture (Mesopotamian Architecture)
- Period: Circa 5,000 BC-641 AD
- Region: Ancient Near East, encompassing Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers), Persia, Assyria, and Babylon. Currently, a major part of Mesopotamia is modern Iraq.
- Cyrus the Great established the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC, bringing Mesopotamia under Persian rule.
- The Persian Empire rose to become the largest known empire.
- Darius I established Persepolis as the empire's capital and ceremonial center (late 6th century BC).
- Persepolis served as a royal residence and for large receptions.
Geographical Context
- The Ancient Near East, or West Asia, is characterized by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—Mesopotamia.
- This area included regions like Persia, Assyria, and Babylon.
Geological Factors
- Mesopotamia experienced frequent floods and heavy rains, leading to the use of clay for bricks in construction.
- Persia, lacking heavy rainfall, used timber and colored limestone.
Climatic Factors
- Mesopotamia's climate led to the construction of ziggurats.
- Persia's dry climate resulted in the development of open-plan temples.
Religious Influences
- Mesopotamian religions were polytheistic, superstitious, and emphasized symbolism, genies, and demons.
- The rulers of Mesopotamian cities were also considered semi-divine, blurring the lines between political and religious authority.
- Persians believed in both good and evil. The good was believed to typically triumph.
Religious and Political Intertwining
- In Mesopotamia, religion and politics deeply intertwined.
- Kings were also the chief priests and were considered semi-divine.
- Activities revolved around ziggurats (step-like pyramids).
- Ziggurats were used for religious ceremonies, education, and trade, and were also central to Sumerian temple complexes.
- Although the city-states of Sumer shared deities, each worshipped a unique god.
Social and Political
- Babylonians were considered the most advanced civilization (among the three areas).
- Assyrians and Persians emphasized military superiority, which was reflected in their architecture.
- Hammurabi, King of Babylon, united diverse tribes through strategic conquests.
- During his reign (1792-1750 BC), he was a skilled administrator and codified a set of laws (The Code of Hammurabi), which became a cornerstone of Mesopotamian law.
Historical Sequence of Civilizations
- Sumerian culture (4500-2000 BCE) peak in 3300 BC
- Akkadian period (2350-2200 BCE)
- Babylonian culture (2000–1600 BCE)
- Kassites and Hittites (1600-1717 BCE)
- Assyrian Culture (1350–612 BCE)
- Neo-Babylonian Culture (612–539 BCE)
- Persian Culture (539–330 BCE)
Cuneiform Tablets
- Records in Mesopotamia were written using cuneiform script on clay tablets.
Architectural Character
- Mass, monumentality, and grandeur were key architectural characteristics common to the cultures of Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Persia.
Persian Architecture
- Persian architecture often featured columnar and trabeated styles, with flat timber roofs that sometimes incorporated domes.
- Styles often reflected older, foundational Mesopotamian developments.
Assyrian Architecture
- Assyrian architecture primarily focused on palaces.
- Characterized by arcuated construction (using arches and vaults).
- Buildings often incorporated glazed adornments and buttresses.
Babylonian Architecture
- Babylonian ziggurats were important architectural pieces.
- The style often utilized arch, vault and flat strips and buttresses with glazed adornment.
Examples of Babylonian Structures
- Ziggurats: Important structures, typically square or rectangular in plan with tiered levels (also called holy mountains), with steeply sloped sides and open platforms on top. Their orientation was connected to important directional points or landmarks.
- The City of Babylon: Known for its impressive size (250 towers and 100 bronze gates), significant walls.
- Temple of Marduk: The grandest Babylonian temple.
Examples of Assyrian Structures
- The Palace of Sargon at Khorsabad: Featured numerous rooms (700) and entered through portals flanked by statues of winged bulls and lions.
Examples of Persian Structures
- Palace Platform, Persepolis: A large platform (1500-1000 ft), elevated 40 feet, built by Darius I, was a key part of royal architecture.
- Guardian Bulls: Huge stone statues at the entrance to the gate of Xerxes, part of the ceremonial entryway.
- Carved Stairway of Persepolis: Stairway's walls were covered with detailed carvings.
- Palace of Darius: Part of the larger Persepolis complex.
- Palace of Xerxes: A related part of the larger Persepolis complex.
- Hypostyle Hall of Xerxes: A columned hall.
- Hall of Hundred Columns: A large, extensively columned hall.
- Propylaea: Entrance way designed by Xerxes
- Remains of the Apadana: Part of the palace complex and shows impressive and elaborate columns
Architectural Elements:
- Openings: Babylonian and Assyrian doors commonly utilized semi-circular archways; Persian doors often used lintels. Windows, though existent, were not a standard common design.
- Roofs: In many cases, buildings had flat roofs; some also incorporated tunnel vaults and domes.
- Columns: Babylonians and Assyrians had a limited use of columns, while Persians used them extensively (frequently in columnar halls); Persian column designs included bases, shafts, bracket forms on capitals and the addition of figures like bulls, dragons or humans.
- Mouldings and Ornaments: Persian, Assyrian and Babylonian styles had distinctive moulding and ornament features, such as the prevalence of brickwork in many cases, in addition to designs in relief.
Additional Structures
- Archers of Darius: Colorful bricks representing archers and discovered in Susa.
- Processions of Gift-Bearers: Reliefs along the stairway of the Apadana showcasing foreign tribute bearers to the king. (Often included people of varying ethnic and religious background).
- Lion and Bull: A relief featuring a lion and a bull, part of the larger Apadana complex.
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