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Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia:
Mesopotamia (c. 3100 BC -539 BC.) is a toponym for the area of the
Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to Iraq, Syria,
Turkey and Iran. Mesopotamia included Sumerians ,Akkadians ,
Babylonian and Assyrian empires.
Mud Brick , Red brick , glazed vitreous brick.,sun baked, crude brick,
etc.The walls were brilliantly coloured, and sometimes plated with zinc
or gold, as well as with tiles. Painted terracotta cones for torches were
also embedded in the plaster.
MESOPOTAMIAN ARCHITECTURE
Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah, Iraq; the
Ziggurat of Aqar Quf near Baghdad, Iraq; Chogha Zanbil in Khūzestān, Iran; and
Sialk near Kashan, Iran.It means holy mountain.
• A pyramidal staged tower , of which the angles were oriented to the cardinal
points.
Each tier was sharper and taller because in this stage they knew stabilized
method.
A. Ziggurat @
Ur. With the
courtyard of
moon god
(Nanna).
E. Sanctuary of
Ningal.
F. Palace
I. Mausoleum
F. Palace
I. mausoleum of the kings of the 3 rd
dynasty
The ziggurat at Ur
65m X 100m X 21m.
3 terraces with sacred shrine on top.
Strong axis created by the centrally run staircase of the 3.But the axis was not
carried throughout the temple complex.
The lowest terrace was painted white, the next Black and the top Red ; all
representing god.
Made of Square flat brick mortared with bitumin.
The Sumerian ziggurat was a piece in a temple complex that served as an
administrative center for the city, and which was a shrine of the moon god
Nanna, the patron deity of Ur. It was reconstructed during neo babylon.
ASSYRIAN CIVILIZATION
• A ziggurat was placed about 295’ side in plan with seven stages.
• Central site of the river front were occupied by the chief temple of the God
of the city.
MAIN STRUCTERS:
• Southern palace
• Ishtar Gate
• The Esagila temple
• Ziggurat
• Pylon was made with mud bricks, used on the surface of the gate.
• Façade was decorated with colored glazed tiles.
• On gate there were yellow and blue bulls and dragons on a green
background.
The bulls were natural
Dragons were abstract.
• Stone base was used to support the structure under the pylon.
• LOCATION:
• Present Iran towards Tigris and Euphrates.
• FEATURES:
• People of this civilization used to believe in their two chief Gods.
• God of light – Ahura Mazda
• God of darkness – Ahriman
• Was columnar.
PLAN:
• Structures were mostly squarish.
• Used columns intensively.
COLUMN:
STAIRWAY:
• Width : 22’
• Shallow enough
GATE HOUSE:
• Built By Xerxes.
• Measurement:
• Area: 250’ x 250’.
• 36 columns.
• Wall thickness:20’
• Sub structure:
• 3 porticoes with double
colonnades.
• Stairway on the north east.
PALACE OF DARIUS:
• Small
• Lay immediately south of the
Apadana.
• Near the west terrace wall.
PALACE OF XERXES:
TRIPYLON:
• Terraced, centrally placed.
• Acted as reception chamber &
guard room.
HAREM:
• Woman’s L-shaped quarter.
TREASURY
• Built by Darius.
• It is at the south east angle of the
site.
• Had only a single doorway.
HALL OF HUNDRED COLUMNS:
WALLS:
• Thickness:11’