Art in the Stone Age Ancient Mesopotamia Art Art of the Near East Ancient Egyptian Art

Reminder First Exam day is February 20th Review day will be February 18th Exam topics include: Art in the stone age Ancient Mesopotamia art Art of the Near East Ancient Egyptian art.

>>> new video https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=6tekBQxmOrU The Persian Empire Cyrus of Persia (559-529 BCE) Captured the great Mesopotamian city of Babylon That was brought to its height by Nebuchadnezzar the second.

This would bring the Achaemenid Empire into power. ( Persian Empire) Egypt would then fall to them in 525 BCE, and in 480 BCE they would boast the largest empire the world had yet known.

They would rule for about 250 years The Persian Empire at it Height of power. Cyrus of Persia Persians where a Nomadic peoples.

Even after they established an empire they remained mostly nomadic.

Cyrus of persia was a tribal leader, who in 30 years laid down the foundations for the Persian empire. View of the palace, and three columns of the apadana with Animal protomes, Persepolis, Iran, 521-465 BCE

So what are the ruins of Persepolis? First of all the english word for Persepolis is derived from the Ancient Greek word meaning “the Persian city”

This large structure was built under Darius a Persian ruler and continued to be built under his son. The buildings at Persepolis include three general groupings: military quarters, the treasury, and the reception halls and occasional houses for the King. What was the function?

The function of Persepolis remains quite unclear. It was not one of the largest cities in Persia, let alone the rest of the empire, but appears to have been a grand ceremonial complex, that was only occupied seasonally; it is still not entirely clear where the king's private quarters actually were The hall of Darius or Apadana, where people would give their gifts to the king

Entrance for the procession of Goods/ gifts to the king

We see Assyrian- inspired colossal man headed winged bulls that guarded the entrance into the city---leading to the palace, Bas-relief on the staircase of the palace. This motif appears on several stairways. (perhaps once painted brightly) The lion of the new year killing the bull of the old year. 23 nations included in the stairway

Ethiopian man carrying a tusk India- spices

Camel for Arabia

Everyone is bringing gifts to the king!

The Persians and the Medes, Detail of the processional frieze on the east side of the terrace of apadana of the palace of Persepolis, Iran, 521-465 BCE limestone, 8 feet 4 inches.

The Reliefs decorating the walls of the terrace and staircase leading to the Persepolis apadana (reception hall) represent a procession of royal Guards, Persians nobles and dignitaries, and representatives from 23 nations, including Elamites, Babylonians, Egyptians, Nubians, Ethiopians, and they are all bringing gifts to the king.

They are shown wearing costumes native of their lands. Bringing animals and gifts and tributes to the king.

Soldiers

Spears/ bows and arrows

Column capital with bull protomes, from the apadana of the palace of Darius, Iran 510 BCE, Limestone 7’ high.

These capitals can also be found in Susa, Iran where there is another Persian palace. What was it made of?

Mud brick, wood, stone, limestone, rock from the mountain. This capital is one of 36 that would top the audience hall called the Apadana This is where the king would receive visitors to his palace. In this case Daurius

Glazed brick work

Metal oxides in the paste color the glaze. Two common colorants are copper (turquoise) and cobalt (blue).

Compare Rhyton winged lion, from Hamadan, Iran

When the Achaemenid kings entertained guests, they served them food and drink in tableware of costly materials.

They were famous for their luxurious cups and plates made of gold and silver.

After the Greeks defeated the Persians. They found camps full of gold bowls and goblets and weapons overflowing with gold and silver basians. Early Greek, Egyptians and Persian Artworks <

Kouros, 600 BCE>