Mesopotamian Architecture

West Asiatic Architecture: Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia means "the land between the rivers," specifically the Tigris and Euphrates.
• It is often called the "cradle of civilization".

Influences on Mesopotamian Architecture

• Geographical: Developed in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Geological: Frequent floods led to the use of clay for brick production.
• Climatic: Dominated by floods.
• Religious: People worshipped heavenly bodies and natural forces.
• Social/Historical: City-states were ruled by kings.
• Historical: Eannedu (c. 4500 BC) is the earliest known Babylonian king.
  • Sargon (722-705 BC) was the most celebrated Assyrian king.
  • The Assyrians conquered Egypt in 672 BC and sacked Thebes in 666 BC.
  • Darius (529-485 BC) and Xerxes (485-465 BC) also ruled.

Architectural Character

• Buildings used abundant clay, pressed into molds and dried.
• Characterized by massiveness, monumentality, and grandeur.

Periods: Sumerians

• Arose in the fertile river valley of Euphrates and Tigris.
• People had little interest in the afterlife.
• Sumerians reigned for around 1000 years and were agricultural.
• Uruk was a strong walled town.
• The White Temple Ziggurat at Uruk (3500-3000 BC) was dedicated to the sky god, Anu.

Great Ziggurat of Ur

• Had three stacks of terraces with four corners oriented towards the cardinal points.

Babylonian Period

• The Temple of Birs-Nimrud was dedicated to the seven heavenly spheres.
• Every city had its ziggurat (holy mountain).
• It represents a temple-building epoch.
• Key structures included the Ishtar Gate, the Ziggurat of Etemenanki, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Ishtar Gate

• Built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 575 BCE.
• This grand entrance to Babylon was adorned with dragons, bulls, and lions.
  • Dragons symbolized the god Marduk.
  • Bulls symbolized the goddess Adad.
  • Lions symbolized the goddess Ishtar.
• It was the eighth gate of the inner city.

Ziggurat of Etemenanki

• It functioned as a religious monument.
• Served as a symbolic "foundation platform of heaven and earth”.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

• Constructed with ascending terraces supported by stone columns.
• It was a gift from Nebuchadnezzar II to his wife Amytis.

Symbols and Characteristics

Marduk's Dragon

• A hybrid with a serpent body, lion forelegs, and dragon head.
• The symbolized supreme power, authority, and protection.

The Bull

• Symbolized strength, fertility, and agricultural abundance.

The Lion

• Embodied strength, courage, and royal authority.

Key Figures of the Babylonian Empire

• Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) created the Code of Hammurabi.
• Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) also played key role.

Assyrian Period

• Palace-building epoch.
• The Palace of Sargon in Khorsabad (722-705 BC) was raised on a platform faced with stone and had three apartment groups.
  • Seraglio: Men's apartments and reception rooms.
  • Harem: Private apartments for the prince and family.
  • Khan: Service chambers around a courtyard.

Persian Period

• The Persians adapted the architecture of conquered Assyrians.
• Persepolis was one of the important capitals of Persia.
• Notable buildings included Darius's Palace, Xerxes's Propylaea, and the Hall of a Hundred Columns.

Hall of a Hundred Columns

• It measures 2225 feet square.
• The hall was used as an audience and throne room.
• A brick wall surrounds it, measuring 10 feet 9 inches thick.
• The Hypostyle Hall of Xerxes (485 BC) served as a throne room, had no walls, and contained roughly 72 marble columns.

Susa

• Important remains of the palaces of Xerxes and Artaxerxes
• Splendid examples of colored and glazed brickwork have been excavated.

Tombs of Darius, Naksh-i-Rustam

• Features a rock-cut façade, reproducing Darius's palace.
• It is one of four Akhaemenian king's sepulchers.
• Columns are double-bull type with cornice, supporting a prayer platform.

Jewish Architecture

• Hebrews borrowed architectural forms from Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Rome.
• The Temple of Jerusalem was commenced by Solomon (1012 BC), and included entrance pylons, woodworking, metalwork, and brazen columns named Jachin and Boaz.

Comparative Analysis (Plan)

• Buildings were raised on terraces, grouped around quadrangles.
• Assyrian palaces aimed to be effective internally and externally.

Walls

• In Assyria, the massive but thin walls disappeared.
• Door and window openings, columns, and stairways survived over time.
• Lighting was likely affected by a "clerestory," though this is conjectured.

Roofs

• The arch, both circular and pointed, was used.
• Semi-circular arches originated from the backs of winged bulls.
• Timber beams rested on "double-bull" capitals between columns.

Columns

• Primarily made of wood, not as massive as in Egypt.
• Capitals featured "double-bull," "double-unicorn," or "double-griffin" designs.

Mouldings

• Sculpted slabs and colored surfaces replaced moldings in Assyrian palaces.
• At Persopolis, bead, hollow, and ogee moldings were noted in the bases.

Ornament

• The sculptured friezes, colored decorations, and honeysuckle/guilloche ornaments were adapted by Greeks from Assyria.

Egyptian Architecture

Influences

• Geographical: Egypt's sandy deserts and fertile Nile banks impacted structures.
• Geological: Abundant limestone in the north, sandstone in the central region, and granite in the south influenced building material.
• Climatic: Warm temperatures impacted design.
• Religious: Monotheism evolved into polytheism, with strong beliefs in the afterlife influencing monuments.
• Social/Political: Cheap labor facilitated large-scale construction.

Historical Periods

• Prehistoric Period: 23000-4777 BC
• Ancient Empire (Dynasties I-X): 4777-2821 BC; Memphis was the capital, tombs at Abydos, Nakadeh, Memphis, and others.
• Middle Empire (Dynasties XI-XX): 1738-950 BC; Thebes became the capital and imposing buildings were constructed.
• Period of Foreign Period (Dynasties XXI-XXV): 950-663 BC
• Late Egyptian Period (Dynasties XXVI-XXX): 663-332 BC
• Graco-Roman Period: 332 BC-AD 640; Alexander and Ptolemaic period with Roman and Byzantine influence
• Medieval Egypt (Manometan Period): AD 640-1517
• Modern Egypt (Turkish Domination): AD 1517 to present
• The 19th Dynasty was founded by Rameses I and is considered the most brilliant of Egyptian art.
• The 26th Dynasty resulted in conquest by Persians.

Architectural Character

• Early mud architecture shifted to stone/granite over time.
• Bundled reeds were placed vertically to add strength.
• Key remains include royal tombs and temples in contrast to Assyrian royal palaces.
• Pyramids are extravagant ancient buildings.

Examples: The Sphinx

• Positioned near the great pyramids.
• Has a head of a king, hawk, ram or more rarely a woman.
• Measures 65 feet high and 188 feet long and 13 feet 6 meters wide.

The Pyramids

• Located at Gizeh near Cairo
• Constructed during the Fourth Dynasty.
• Served as future tombs intended to secure immortality.
  • The Great Pyramid was built by Cheops (Khufu). (B.C. 3733- B.C. 3700).
  • The Second Pyramid was built by Cephren (Khafra).(B.C. 3666 -B.C. 3633).
  • The Third Pyramid was built by Mycerinos (Menkhara). (B.C. 3633-B.C.3600).

The Tombs

• The buildings were constructed for royals or others.

Mastabas

• Derives from stones piled over graves

• Rectangular structures with sloping sides and flat roofs are a feature of the Ancient Empire. - Outer chamber had offerings to the Ka" double, with decorated festival and other scene walls. -Inner chamber had statues of the deceased. -There were deep wells.

• The Mastaba of Thy, Sakkara, from the Fifth Dynasty, had vestibules and courts for offerings

• Middle Empire tombs involved pyramidal forms at Abydos or rock-cut designs.

  • Tombs at Beni-Hasan in Upper Egypt, the rock-cut example from the 12th Dynasty.

• New Empire tombs were rock-cut and structural, paired with sepulchral temples.

• Several tombs could be found in Thebes during the New Kingdom.

The Temples

• These were mostly reserved for kings and priests and used for religious purposes.
• The Temple of Khons is a typical example. - Pylons are a feature of the entrance. - The Great Temple of Ammon (Karnac) was a 6 Pylon feature a great court, the great hypostyle hall, and sanctuary were other features. - Temple of Sethos I (Abydos) dedicated to Osiris with fine-grained limestone walls.

The Great Temple of Abu-Simbel

• Constructed by Rameses II. - A four court feature consisted of entrance to a decorated vestibule with eight pillars and adjoining structures. - The Temple of Isis and Temple of Hathor are other examples without pylons.

Temple of Edfou

• Was constructed during the Graeco-Roman period
• Ptolemy III started the build with a massive pylon and an access to a court.

Obelisk

• These monuments are pillars in pairs.
  • There were also monoliths.

Dwellings

• These were constructed by use of dried bricks.
  • A corridor divided the house which had access to rooms to access a verandah, staircase and flat roof

Compared Architecture

• The Hyostyle Hall has pillars and mystery lighting.
  • Pylons are used for the overall designs.
    • Thick walls were made of granite and bricks.

Openings

• Included a square form with listers.

Roofs

• Had enclosures and closely columns.

Columns

• Plant elements were a key features
• Lotus was a common plant to feature.

Greek Architecture

Influences

• Geographical- Surround by Sea + Natural Harbours - good for trade
• Geological - marble was abundace
• Climate - Sun and Heavy Rains
• Religon - Gods and Personifications
• Social / Political - Inhabitaints were called Pelasgi + Belonged to bronze age

Periods

1. Homeric Greeks - Achaeans w/ Iron Weapons
2. Archens - Fell to Darians
3. Groups - Lonian - Aeolians - Dorians

Historical Context

• Trojan War --> Pelasgia
• Construction of the Temple of Corinth --> Known Doric Templates
• National Games
• National/Public ceremonies - fostering unity

Key Players

• Pericles - peak Athiens progress
• Philip and Alexzanda - turning Greece major powerhouse

Architectural Character - Main features

• Early: Stone Block
• Hellenic - trabeated style + column structure
• No Motor - Stone / Marble held with Iron Clamps
• Early Architect Heavy + Severe
• Temples w/ Unity - Harmony and Simply (contrast to Egypt Temples)
• Refinements - Curves/slight increase

Examples : Ancient + Pre- Ancient Time

1. Archetecture of Mycenaean + Pre - (Minoan influence)

• Trojan and 8th Centuy Structures
• Date back - 300BC
• Knosses Palace in Crete

Wall Contrition

• Cyclopean masonary
• Rectangular Masonary
• Polygonal Masonary

2. Structural Elements

• Inclined Blocks

3. Tombs + Burial Structures

• Found in mycene /orchomenos
  • gate of lions

4. Hallenic Structure

• B/W 700-146 BC
• Achitecutal peak = 480 BC (defeat = persians + Atexander
• Olympian and Sicily - key cities

Template Structure

• Built shrine for Gos

Main elements

• Neos (cella) - chamber holing statue
• Tresuary
• Porticos + Colonnades - Styloate
• Pediments

Light Source

• hypatneral oppening - roof

Temple source clasffition

• columns for aragments
• style - in antis -ampristyle -peripteral

Doric Order

• sturdy
• Perot suggested column and Entabline derive from structures
• Volet - Orginal design

Structure main Points

1. Lacks Base
2. 1 = 4 x or 6 y of base
3. top - tapers 4 . 2- shallow flutes 5 . entails

Capital + Enlature

• Capital* 3 main parta - abacus - echinus and annulots
• Features* - trachlelion + Hypotrachlion

Notable Examples

1. Heraion, Temple of Hera, Olympia
   • long cellsa b. 700 BC
2. Template of zeus Olympia
   • 472- 469 BC
3. Theisen
   • perial and 13 colombs
4. Template of anphina Aegina -470-450 bc 5 Parthenon -454 -438 bc

Ionic Orders

- Development =Egyptian bud mortifs with assyria with muchacean

-Lesbos = plant

• Athens/delos= refiened

- Column type = Diameter x 9

• 24 flutes
• base tonus.
• capital spinals
• Endtablature
• architrave x 3 triple stact fasca = fexze platins = Cornice/no models Discussed
• Tempple and this The excheinion -ahend 420 -atheno 392 bc Three Main elements 3 pillars

Corithm Order

More than lonic

• columsn are greater Derived from lonic Had 2x leavers
• 8 calmicoli

Greek Theathers

• slopes semi circulan seats
  • Orchests - circles
  • stage - low patforns

Bulidings

Minaon

• Knossos Crete Multistory
• Palace Minos in Knosos
• features - frescores - ceilings Terra
• Macian*
• Terans schiemons Steps to outer court with porticoes