Blog Post #2 - Ancient Civilizations

 

            The Ancient Civilizations period stretches from 5000 BCE to 612 BCE and includes the activities of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Nubia. To begin with, Mesopotamia was a very advanced society and one of the world’s first urban centers. One of several cultures in Mesopotamia, the Assyrians, are particularly famous for their mud brick structures including Ziggurats (stepped pyramid temples) and palaces, such as the Palace of Nimrud. The Assyrian people were very strong and successful in war, so they created large statues and reliefs to intimidate visitors and remind locals of the benefit of safety that they gain from their strong king, even though his lavish lifestyle may have angered them. These reliefs showed pictures of battle, horses, fallen men, and chariots as well as everyday concepts such as worship, foreign dignitaries, and landscapes.

               The history of ancient Egypt can be divided into three kingdoms. The Old Kingdom is referred to as “The Age of the Pyramids,” as this is when the Pyramids of Giza were built, as well as mastabas. One notable example of the latter is the mastaba of Queen Hetepheres, the wife of the Pharaoh Snefru. In this tomb, many pieces of furniture were preserved and can now be studied. During the Middle Kingdom, pharaohs turned their attention to pylon temples, which were truncated pyramidal towers that were at the entrance to a temple. The Tomb of Tutankhamen is one of the defining pieces of architecture from the New Kingdom, even though Tutankhamen himself was only a minor sovereign, because it is the only royal tomb to be discovered intact. The art on the walls of the tomb was believed to remind a spirit of their life on Earth and direct them to the afterlife. There were also many pieces of furniture in the tomb, such as cubelike chairs, stools with animal feet, and a wooden bed with a metal headrest.

               Nubia was located south of Egypt and was a melting pot of various cultures that shared art, religion, customs, and architecture with one another. This artwork included low relief (shallow) carvings and statues with robust physiques, in contrast with the slim way Egyptians portrayed themselves. Tradeable materials from this area include African clay, gold, and other metals. These people also created woven baskets and ceramics with geometric and natural shapes.

Mesopotamia -- The palace of Nimrud throne room features images of chariots and horses in battle.

 

Mesopotamia – A bull with a human’s head defined and guarded the entrances of important rooms.

 

Egypt: Middle Kingdom – A pylon temple

 

Nubia -- This woven basket contains geometric arrows.

 

Current Applications:

Hugh Ferriss’ sketch for The Metropolis of Tomorrow. He envisioned using Mesopotamian ziggurat styles to create stepped skyscrapers.

 

The shape of the Chrysler building’s setbacks was inspired by ziggurat architecture.

 

The elevator door in the Chrysler Building, inspired by papyrus flowers from King Tut’s tomb.

 

Modern fashion has been influenced by the colors, patterns, and figures common in Egyptian art.

 

One Step Further

Imhotep, whose name means “He who comes in peace,” was an Egyptian architect in the 27^th century BC. After his death, Imhotep was considered a demigod and revered by the Egyptian people. He is famous for designing the Pyramid of Djoser, which was built in Saqqara during the 3^rd Dynasty.  This was the first Egyptian pyramid to be built and is six tiers tall. Imhotep used limestone to build the walls of the pyramid, which is much harder and denser than the previously used mudbrick. There is a maze of tunnels and rooms underneath the step pyramid that were used for the burial of the king, his family, and his personal items.

The Pyramid of Djoser

 

The substructure featured blue faience inlays.

 

Modern diagram of the Pyramid Complex, which includes many other buildings and courtyards.

 

Here, one can clearly see the surrounding buildings in the Pyramid Complex.

 

Closing Reflection

I appreciate that each piece of art or architecture from this design period had a purpose. For the Assyrians, the reliefs and statues served as a means of intimidation – to warn foreigners against attacking. Much of Egyptian art and architecture was centered around the burial and afterlife of the pharaoh and his family. Consequently, we can learn about daily life and home furnishings in ancient Egypt during the time. Nubians used many unique materials in their art because they were a melting pot of various cultures, each with different ideas and natural resources. Overall, the ancient civilizations created beautiful art and architecture that demonstrates humanity’s God-given desire to be imaginative and detail oriented.