Ancient Near East Architecture PDF

AR. ROYELLE-MAE A. GAA OBJECTIVES: Mesopotamia Sumer Babylon Assyria Persia Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE West Asiatic Architecture flourished and developed i...

AR. ROYELLE-MAE A. GAA OBJECTIVES: Mesopotamia Sumer Babylon Assyria Persia Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE West Asiatic Architecture flourished and developed in the twin rivers. MESOS (MIDDLE) POTAMOS (RIVER) =LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN MESOPOTAMIA Not a country Mesopotamia is a term used to refer to the area where the Earliest Civilizations started. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE & ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING TECHNOLOGY Due to floods and heavy rains it resulted in the conversion of its earthen into clay to produce bricks in Assyria and Babylon. Due to rare experience of rain in Persia, they use TIMBER and COLORED LIME STONE. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ARCHITECTURAL THEORY: CHARACTER MASSIVENESS MONUMENTALITY GRANDEUR Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  o f a r t n St ptia n SEQUENCE OF CIVILIZATION g y t i o E iza v i l B C) Ci 686 4500 BC to 2000 BC Sumerian Civilization (2 2350 BC to 2200 BC Sargon’s rule over Sumerian’s (Akkadian Empire) 1792 BC to 1570 BC Old Babylonian Empire 1350 BC to 612 BC Assyrian Empire 625 BC to 539 BC Neo-Babylonian Empire 560 BC to 275 BC Persian Empire Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  SUMER Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN SUMER Earliest known Civilization Started around 4000 BCE Located at the Eastern part of Mesopotamia Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN City states of Sumer UR These city states all have separate rulers and kings URUK until Sargon, leader of Akkad, UMMA invaded and conquered all states and built an empire KISH (2350 BC). LAGASH Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN Sumerians’ Advanced Technologies Invention of wheel First to use maps Invented sails for navigation. First Literature- Epic of Gilgamesh (written in cuneiform) Mathematical systems based on 60 Ex. 60 mins., 60 seconds. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN Sumerians’ Advanced Technologies Cuneiform- Earliest writing system ever developed. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  Sumerians worshipped many gods (polytheism). Their life was centered around religion. U God DUG L I L of S EN god mis for Main tun e God of the air and clouds Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  Sumerians experience flood but when the sun comes, the land becomes dry. Due to this: The Sumerians established an irrigation system to save their food production. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS AND CHARACTER Mud was their main building material. Walls are built for protection. Walls were thick to compensate the weakness of mud. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS AND CHARACTER Walls were reinforced with buttresses. Buttresses and recesses were used to relieve the monotony of the plastered wall surfaces. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN SUMERIAN ARCHITECTURE SUMERIAN HOUSES The houses were usually punctuated by narrow openings that serve as entrance to houses. Houses have narrow streets between them. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN SUMERIAN ARCHITECTURE TEMPLES Principal Architectural monuments of Sumerian cities. Example: Oval Temple at Khafaje. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN SUMERIAN ARCHITECTURE Oval Temple at Khafaje Constructed around 2600 BC Named Oval because of its massive oval walls surrounding the temple. The temple is raised on a simple platform. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  ZIGGURAT Built of mud-bricks. Considered as their major building. A temple tower, built in diminishing mud bricks, culminating in a summit shrine reached by a series of ramps. Also called: Step temples. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ZIGGURAT Walls are ornamented on their outside surfaces with alternating buttresses and recesses. Interior wall ornament often consists of a patterned mosaic of terra cotta cones sunk into the wall. Their exposed ends dipped in bright colors or sheathed bronze. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT ARCHAIC ZIGGURAT TWO OR MORE STAGES ZIGGURAT SEVEN STAGES Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT Archaic ziggurat- usually have one flat top rectangular mound carrying the upper temple. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT Example of Archaic Ziggurat The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat, Uruk, Mesopotamia 3200-3000 BC Believed to have been dedicated to the sky god, Anu. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT Two or more stages Ziggurat- Rectangular in plan, design with several tiers. Example: Ziggurat of Ur Ziggurat of Ur Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN TWO OR MORE STAGES ZIGGURAT Ziggurat of Ur Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT SEVEN STAGES Hanging Gardens, Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II (NE-BU- CHAD-NE-ZAR) Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURAT Seven stages Temple of Birs Nimrud (2000 bc) Dedicaded to the seven planets, with glazed tiles in different colour. 1. Black Saturn 2. Orange Jupiter 3. Red Mars 4. Yellow Sun 5. Green Venus 6. Blue Mercury 7. White Moon Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  1792 BC Amorites took over the Sumerians Amorites set their capital at Babylon START OF OLD BABYLONIAN EMPIRE Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  BABYLON Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN BABYLON Babylon means ‘The Gate of the God’ Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN BABYLON The old Babylonian Empire was ruled by King Hammurabi Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  HAMMURABI Famous for his codes of law called the Code of Hammurabi. The code of Hammurabi was inscribed on a stele and placed in a public place so that all could see it. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN CODE OF HAMMURABI Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN CODE OF HAMMURABI A ND R S H E HA ESOM AW Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  1350 BC The Assyrians conquer Babylon START OF ASSYRIAN EMPIRE Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  ASSYRIA Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN Assyria They are known for their military might and cruelty. The Assyrians were great warriors and hunters, this was reflected in their art. They produced violent sculptures and carvings in stone that was used to ornament their houses. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE Palaces took precedent over religious buildings. TEMPLES LOST THEIR IMPORTANCE DURING ASSYRIAN PERIOD. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE Assyrian buildings- Vaulted & flat strips, buttered wall with glazed adornment. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE Palaces were raised on brick platforms, and their principal entrance ways were flanked by guardian figures of human headed bulls or lions of stone. Human Stone headed Lion winged bull Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  City of Khorsabad plan ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE The walls of cities were usually strengthened by many towers serving as defensive positions. The interiors were richly decorated and luxurious. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  City of Khorsabad plan ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE CITY OF KHORSABAD Khorsabad was designed as the royal capital of Assyria. Enclosed by a double wall with seven gates. Only palaces, temples, and administrative headquarters was built. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE Palace of Sargon II The palace was decorated with relief sculptures and glazed brick The palace was arranged around two major courtyards. (All buildings within the citadel were arranged around courtyards) Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE PALACE OF SARGON II, KORSABAD (720BC) Entrance portals flanked with statues of Lamassu Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE PALACE OF SARGON II, KHORSABAD (720BC) Entrance portals flanked with statues of Lamassu. Royal guard colossal beast symbolizes: intrusion of evil, with fierce of a lion, sight of an eagle, strength of a bull and wisdom & intelligence of a human being. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN G. ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS & EXAMPLES PALACE OF SARGON II, KHORSABAD (720BC) IMPORTANT PARTS A. SERAGLO – PALACE PROPERLY WICH INCLUDES THE KINGS RESIDENCE, MEN’S APARTMENT & RECEPTION COURT B. HAREM- PRIVATE FAMILY APARTMENT AND WOMENS QUARTER C. KHAN- SERVICE CHAMBER Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  625 BC ASSYRIANS WERE DEFEATED BY NABOPOLASSAR START OF BABYLONIAN EMPIRE REVIVAL Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  NEO-BABYLONIA Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE 625 BC Period where Babylon reached its highest form of civilization. Old Sumer cities were rebuilt during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The capital old Babylon was enlarged and heavily fortified. Adorned with magnificent new buildings. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN OLD BABYLONIAN EMPIRE NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE 625 BC Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN ARCHITECTURE ISHTAR GATE Built across the double walls of the city fortification The wall had a pair of projecting towers on each wall. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN ARCHITECTURE ISHTAR GATE All the facades of gates were faced with blue glazed bricks and ornamented with figures of heraldic animals- lions, bulls, and dragons Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN ARCHITECTURE NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S PALACE Nebuchadnezzar’s palace covered a land area of 900 feet by 600 feet. The palace is praised for its legendary hanging garden. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN ARCH. HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON Recorded as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, but exact knowledge of the nature of this garden is not known. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN NEO-BABYLONIAN ARCH. Temples and Towers were also prominent Architectural elements of Babylon The legendary tower of Babel located at the end of procession street is mentioned in the Christian bible. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  560 BC CYRUS THE GREAT TAKES OVER BABYLON START OF PERSIAN EMPIRE Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  PERSIA Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN EMPIRE Also known as The Achaemenid Empire Became an example for other empires Ruled by Cyrus the Great and later on by Darius the Great. From the 2006 movie ‘300’ Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN CYRUS THE GREAT He freed the jews that were exiled in Babylon. Well recognized for his achievements in human rights, politics, and military strategy. Conquered Babylon using propaganda. He turned the Babylonian people against their king instead of using warfare. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN DARIUS THE GREAT He ruled the Persian Empire after Cyrus the Great. He made Aramaic the official language in his empire. He organized a new uniform monetary system. The empire was centralized and unified during his reign. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN XERXES THE GREAT Predecessor of Darius the Great. Failed to invade Greece. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE Persargardae (pa-sar-gard), Paradaisia (greek) the first world’s majestic garden “Creating gardens was Held in such esteem that the Persian Kings wished to be remembered as gardeners.” Earliest invention of water cistern Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS Constructed as a new capital for the Persian Empire Surrounded by a fortification wall which encloses three terraces, remains of the great palaces of Darius and Xerxes. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS PROPYLEA (Gateway of Xerxes) Entrance hall designed by xerxes Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS PALACE OF DARIUS THE GREAT (521BC) Darius Hall, APADANA, Pillars adorned with Gold, Silver and Tapastry. With water and Drainage System Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS ENTABLATURE PALACE OF DARIUS THE GREAT (521BC) COLONADE (COLUMN) DEPICTING DARIUS’ ARMY Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS PALACE OF DARIUS THE GREAT (521BC) DEPICTING DARIUS’ ARMY Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  TIMBER FRAMED PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE PERSEPOLIS PALACE OF XERXES AND APARTMENTS MAIN FEATURE: APADANA (ROYAL CENTRAL HALL) Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE ANATOMY CAPITAL PERSEPOLIS Palace of Xerxes, Artexerxes and Apartments Main feature: APADANA (ROYAL CENTRAL HALL/ HALL OF HUNDRED SHAFT COLUMNS 200ftx200ft, 100ft shaft, 8 drums ) ` BASE Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE TOMB OF DARIUS, NAKSH- I-RUSTAM(485 BC) Example of rock cut tomb, free standing tomb, cut into the cliffs and featuring carvings of architectural façade. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  CONCLUSION Temples and Palaces were the most prominent building types in the Ancient Near East. Across all the Civilizations, cities were usually walled. The walls were of massive brick material, with evenly distributed towers serving as buttresses. Importance of temples and palaces varied during the different periods of the ancient near east. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  CONCLUSION Temple building declined during the Assyrian period. Stone and timber suitable for building was rare in the plains of the Tigris and Euphrates. Sun dried brick became the standard building material. The Babylonians introduce glazed brick. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PLANS: BABYLONIAN PALACES AND TEMPLES WERE BUILT ON ARTIFICIAL PLATFORMS 30DEG. ABOVE THE PLAIN. ZIGGURAT WHICH GROWS SEVERAL TIERS HAD THEIR ANGLES TO THE CARDINAL POINTS, SAME WITH ASSYRIANS PERSIANS HAS LOWER LEVEL AND IN TERRACES Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WALLS BABYLONIAN WALLS ARE NORMALLY MADE UP OF SUN DRIED BRICKS FACED WITH KILN BURNT ASSYRIAN WALLS ARE ALSO MADE OF SUNDRIED BRICKS WITH POLYCHROME PERSIAN FOLLOWED THE ASSYRIAN STYLE Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OPENINGS BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DOORS ARE USUALLY SPANNED BY SEMI CIRCULAR PERSIAN SPANNED BY LINTELS AND MONSTERS PRIOR TO DOORWAYS Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WINDOWS BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN WINDOWS ARE NOT IN USE PERSIAN ARE ALSO SPANDED WITH LINTELS ROOF GENERALLY FLAT Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS COLUMNS Babylonian & assyrians have no columns Persians with high moulded base, fluted shafts, bracketing system and with capitals MOULDINGS Babylonian & assyrian were of little use Persians adopted from egyptians ORNAMENTS Babylonian mostly flora fauna elements Assyrian & persian they have monster flanking elements in bricks with colour Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  REFERENCES 1. Cruickshank(1996) Sir Fletcher Banister’s A History of Architecture 20th Edition, Architectural Press, Oxford 2. Ching (1995) A visual Dictionary of Architecture, John Wiley & Sons, Canada 3. Fazio,Moffett,Wodehouse(2013) A world History of Architecture 3rd Edition, LaurenceKing Publishing, London 4. Cole(2002) Architectural details: A visual guide to 5000 years of building styles 5. History Chanel(2012) Engineering An Empire: Persia Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  REFERENCES 6. Jones, Denna (2014). ARCHITECTURE: The Whole Story. Thames & Hudson Ltd, High Holborn, London. 7. Reader’s Digest. Knowledge Quest: The Ancient World. The Reader’s Digest Association Limited, London. 8. S. Lloyd, H.W. Muller (2014). History of World Architecture: Ancient Architecture. Electa Architecture Mondadori, Milano. 9. Ching, Jarzombek, Prakash (2011). A Global History of Architecture, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN  REFERENCES 10.J.Pile, J. Gurra (2013). A History of Interior Design Fourth Edition. Laurence King Publishing, Ltd., London. 11.Irving, Mark (2007). 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die. Octopus Publishing Group Limited, Carmelite House, London. Ancient Near East: PREPARED BY AR. ROY DE GUZMAN