ARC 110 History of Architecture I
Module 3 Architecture of the Ancient Ancient Near East
Module Outline • Lecture 6 – Historical Background • Location an and pe period • So Soci cial al cha chara ract cter eris isti tics cs and and bel belie iefs fs
– Architecture of the Civilization • Su Sume meri rian an Ar Arch chiite tec ctu turre
• Lecture 7 • Assy Assyrria ian n arc archi hite tect ctu ure • Ba Baby bylo loni nian an Ar Arch chit itec ectu ture re • Pe Perrsia ian na arc rchi hite tec ctu turre
• Lecture 8 – Architectural Characteristics • Buildi Buildings ngs and oth other er arc archit hitect ectura urall elem element ents s • Bui Buildi lding ng mater material ials, s, cons constru tructi ction on and and techn technolo ologie gies s • Ar Arch chit itec ectu tura rall Organ Organiz izin ing g princ princip iple les s
Learning Outcomes • We shou should ld expe expect ct to lea learn rn the the foll follow owin ing g abo about ut the civilization – Evolution of early human society and civilization, including kingship and empires – Architectural responses to geography and the need for religious symbols – Architecture of Power and Authority – Temple and Palace architecture – Architecture and construction in mud
Module 3 Lecture 6 Architecture of the Ancient Ancient Near East
Outline of Lecture • Lecture 6 – Historical Background • Location and period • Soc Social ial cha charac racter terist istics ics and bel belief iefs s
– Architecture of the Civilization • Su Sume meri rian an Arc Archi hite tect ctur ure e
Historical Background
Historical Background Location • Located in in an and ar around the valley of Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern Iraq • Area is also known as Mesopotamia or land between two rivers • The land had poorly defined edges • The la land st stretches fr from Mediterranean to eastern borders of present Iran
Historical Background Location • To the south and west, it fades into the Arabian desert • To th the no north an and we west, it it fa fades into the plains of Syria • The Tigris and Euphrates rivers sit in the land as dominant physical feature • The Rivers were unpredictable, being subject to alternating flood and drought
Historical Background Period • The The area area witn witnes esse sed d the the earl earlie iest st rise rise of hum human an civi civililiza zati tion on around 4500 BC • Tran Transf sfor orma mati tion on from from preh prehis isto tory ry,, to to vil villa lage ges s and and citi cities es occurred there • Civi Civililiza zati tion on ther there e last lasted ed for for 5000 5000 year years s • Cult Cultur ural al deve develo lopm pmen entt was was not not homo homoge geno nous us duri during ng the the period • Diff Differ eren entt cul cultu ture res s est estab ablilish shed ed city city stat states es and and empi empire res s at at different periods • The cultures include Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian
Historical Background Period • It has has not not been been poss possib ible le to trac trace e a neat neat orde orderr of of the history of the cultures • An acce accept pta able ble ord orde er is is pre prese sent nte ed • Sequence of Civil iviliization – 4500 to 2000 BC – – – – – –
2350 – 2200 BC 2000- 1600 BC 1600 – 1717 BC 1350 – 612 BC 612 – 539 BC 539 – 330 BC
Sumerian culture, peaking in 3300 BC Akkadian Period Babylonian Culture Kessites and Hittites Assyrian Culture Neo Babylonian culture Persian culture
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • Meso Mesopo pota tami mia a is is the the crad cradle le of civi civililiza zati tion on • Wha What do do we mea mean by civil iviliz izat atio ion? n? – Civilization is usually associated associated with the cultural practices of cities and urban living, the presence of writing and written law
• In Meso Mesopo pota tami mia, a, earl earlie iest st citie cities s wer were e est estab ablis lishe hed d and urban culture took hold • Betw Betwee een n 400 4000 0 and and 3000 3000 BC, BC, lar large ge numb number er of people began living in a small area creating first cities • Many Many peop people le bega began n to to hav have e job jobs s tha thatt is is unrelated to agriculture
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • Once Once esta establ blis ishe hed, d, citi cities es grew grew and and incr increa ease sed d pow power er and and importance • As citi cities es grew grew in powe powerr and and impo import rtan ance ce,, riv rival alri ries es developed between them for military and economic control • The The ANE ANE was was land land with withou outt nat natur ural al defe defens nses es • Warf Warfar are e was was com commo mon n thro throug ugho hout ut its its hist histor ory y • The The Tig Tigri ris s and and Euph Euphra rate tes s als also o suf suffe fere red d fro from m alt alter erna nate te drought and floods • Comb Combin inat atio ion n of of war warfa fare re and and fre frequ quen entt dro droug ught ht and and flo flood od made a continuous homogenous civilization impossible • The The res resul ultt is is tha thatt sev sever eral al cult cultur ures es flou flouri rish shed ed and and die died d out during the ANE period
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • Citi Cities es in the the ANE ANE init initia ialllly y dev devel elop oped ed with with authority residing in an assembly of male citizens • Shor Shortt term term lead leader ers s wer were e sel selec ecte ted d dur durin ing g war wars s • When When war war lead leader ers s wer were e reta retain ined ed duri during ng peac peace e time, kingship evolved • It was was init initia ialllly y ele elect ctiv ive e and and late laterr here heredi dita tary ry • As some some citi cities es beca became me more more powe powerf rful ul,, the they y defeated weaker ones to create empires and kingdoms • This This led led to coll collec ecti tive ve rule rule of cit city y sta state tes s by by a sovereign king
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • With With kin kings gshi hip p also also cam came e monu monume ment ntal al pal palac aces es as place of residence and administration for the king • Almost all ANE culture worshiped many gods and goddesses • ANE people did not believe in immortality or eternal life • They They beli believ eved ed only only gods gods were were immo immort rtal al • Rather, th they be believed in in divine rewards for moral conduct
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • The The rew rewar ard d was was enjoy njoyed ed in this this life life • The The rewa reward rds s incl includ ude e incr increa ease sed d worl worldl dly y good goods, s, numerous offspring and long life • The The most most popu popula larr and and earli earlies estt rel relig igio ious us cults cults related to fertility • Fert Fertililit ity y godd goddes esse ses s infl influe uenc nced ed the the gro growt wth h of crops • Aspe Aspect cts s of of lif life e suc such h as as war war,, wea weath ther er,, dis disea ease se,, were explained by the actions of gods • The The Sum Sumer eria ian n had had a rel relig igio ion n bas based ed on the the elemen elementsts- sky, sky, earth, earth, wate water, r, sun, sun, moon, moon, etc etc
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • This This refl reflec ecte ted d the the agra agrari rian an natu nature re of thei theirr society • As ANE ANE peop people le cam came e toge togeth ther er to to live live in cit citie ies, s, they needed a means of communication and record keeping • Arou Around nd 3500 3500,, the the Sume Sumeria rians ns inve invent nted ed a syst system em of writing based on pictograph • This This was was late laterr dev devel elop oped ed into into a simp simple lerr writ writin ing g called the cuneiform • Deve Develo lopm pmen entt of wri writt tten en lan langu guag age e enab enable led d them them to produce historical records
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • Writ Writte ten n reco record rds s als also o led led to the the dev devel elop opme ment nt of written law as in the t he code of King Hummurabi • Citi Cities es in in anci ancien entt Meso Mesopo pota tami mia a were were enc enclo lose sed d by wall fortifications • The The fab fabri ric c of the the cit citie ies s are are a ble blend nd of residential, commercial and industrial buildings • Hous Houses es were were one one sto story ry high high and and mos mostl tly y of of mud brick • Room Rooms s wer were e arr arran ange ged d aro aroun und d cou court rtya yard rds s
Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs • Houses looked inward • Room Rooms s wer were e nar narro row w wit with h thic thick k wal walls ls and and fla flat, t, vault or dome roofs • Timb Timber er and and sto stone ne were were scar scarce ce,, cla clay y was was abundant and mud brick was most common building material • Buil Buildi ding ngs s wer were e usua usualllly y rais raised ed on pla platf tfor orms ms to protect them from the floods • Clay wa was als also o us used fo for po pottery tery • Meso Mesopo pota tami mian ans s inve invent nted ed ast astro rolo logy gy,, whee wheele led d vehicle & made advances in science & math
Architecture of the Civilization
Architecture of the Civilization Civil ization • Sequence of Treatment – Sumerian Architecture – Assyrian Architecture – Babylonian Architecture – Persian Architecture
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • The tran transi siti tion on from from preh prehis isto tory ry was made around 4500 BC with the rise of the Sumerian civilization • Sumerians es established an an irrigation system that made the capable of food production to support urban living • They we were al also sk skilled in in me metal craft • The Sumerians invented the cuneiform system of writing
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • The Sumeria rians invented the cuneiform system of writing • The ma major ci cities of of th the Sumerian civilization were Kish Ki sh,, Uru Uruk k and and Ur Ur • The Sumerian were the first civilization to make a conscious attempt of designing public buildings • Mud wa was th their bu building material • Mud wa was fo formed in into br brick, sun dried and built into massive walls
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • Mud Mud was was thei theirr main main buil buildi ding ng mate materi rial al • Mud Mud was was form formed ed into into bri brick ck,, sun sun dri dried ed and and bui built lt into massive walls • Wall Walls s wer were e thi thick ck to comp compen ensa sate te the the wea weakn knes ess s of of mud • They They were were rein reinfo forc rce e with with butt buttre ress sses es • Spac Spaces es were were narr narrow ow beca becaus use e of of the the wall wallin ing g material
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • Spac Spaces es were were narr narrow ow beca becaus use e of of the the wall wallin ing g material • Faça Façade de of buil buildi ding ngs s wer were e whi white tewa wash shed ed and and painted to disguise the lack of attraction of the material • Butt Buttre ress sses es and and rec reces esse ses s als also o rel relie ieve ve the the monotony of the plastered wall surfaces • Temp Temple les s was was thei theirr majo majorr buil buildi ding ng type type • We wil willl exam examin ine e Sume Sumeri rian an hou house se orga organi niza zati tion on and their temple forms
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • The clearest example of the cities of the ancient Near East is found in the Sumerian city of Ur • Cities were enclosed in walls with Ziggurat temples and palace as centers of the city • Fabric of the city is made up of residences mixed with commercial and industrial buildings
Sumerian Architecture Introduction • The ho houses ar are de densely packed with narrow streets between them. • Streets were fronted by courtyard houses of one story high • The houses streets were usually punctuated by narrow openings that serve as entrance to houses
Sumerian Architecture Architectural MonumentMonument- Temples • Temp Temple les s wer were e the the prin princi cipa pall arch archit itec ectu tura rall monuments of Sumerian cities • Temp Temple les s con consi sist st of chie chieff and and cit city y tem templ ples es • We will will exam examin ine e two two exam exampl ples es of chie chieff temples- th the e whit white e temp temple le at at Uruk Uruk an and d the the Great Ziggurat at Ur • And And we we wil willl exa exami mine ne on city city temp temple le,, the the Oval temple at Khafaje
Sumerian Architecture White Temple Uruk • Uruk was a major Sumerian city by 3300 BC • Uruk is also known as warka in arabic • The name Iraq is derived from Uruk • The city covered an area of 2 square kilometer • Had a population of of 40 40,000 people • White temple was located at Uruk
Sumerian Architecture White Temple Uruk • The wh white te temple wa was bu built around 3000 BC • The white temple is an example of earliest development of Sumerian temples and Ziggurat
Sumerian Architecture White Temple Uruk • The temple is place on a great mound of earth called Ziggurat,, rising more than Ziggurat 12 meters above ground • The ziggurat and temple are built with mud bricks • The temple is rectangular in shape • Temple walls were thick and supported by buttresses • In the inner part of the temple was a long sanctuary, that contains an alter and offering table
Sumerian Architecture White Temple Uruk • Rooms oblong and in shape and vaulted surrounded the long side of the sanctuary • The temple had imposing doorways located at its either end • Worshippers to to th the te temple however enter through a side room
Sumerian Architecture White Temple Uruk • Series of st staircases and stepped levels lead worships to the entrance of the temple • The temple was plastered white externally, making it visible for miles in the landscape
Sumerian Architecture Great Ziggurat Ur • Ur was a Sumerian city located near the mouth of the Euphrates river • The ci city wa was a th thriving place by 2600 BC • It was considered sacred to Nnanna, the moon god • The wh white te temple wa was bu built around 2113 to 2048 BC by the ruler Urnammu • It wa was built on on the ru ruins of of previous temples and incorporated their remains
Sumerian Architecture Great Ziggurat Ur • It wa was constructed of of mu mud bricks reinforced with thin layers of matting and cables of twisted reeds • The Gr Great Zi Ziggurat wa was located as part of a temple complex • The complex comprised of the ziggurat and its court and a secondary court attached to it called the court of Nannar • The king was the chief priest of the temple and lived close to it
Sumerian Architecture Great Ziggurat Ur • The temple sits on a three multi-tiered Ziggurat mountain • Access to th the temple is through triple stairways that converge at the summit of the first platform • From this stage, one passed through a portal with dome roof to fourth staircase
Sumerian Architecture Great Ziggurat Ur • The fo fourth st staircase ga gave access to the second and third stages of the ziggurat and to the temple • The temple is usually access only by the priest, where gods are believed to come down and give instructions
Sumerian Architecture Great Ziggurat Ur • The ziggurat is believed by the Sumerians to unit the heavens and the earth • The people believed that climbing the staircase of the ziggurat gives a holy experience • The chief temple was also used as a last line of defense during times of war • Most of what is known about what exist on top of the ziggurat is projection
Sumerian Architecture Ova Ov al Temp Temple le-- Kh Khaf afaj aje e • Oval temple is an example of second type of Sumerian temples • It wa was co constructed ar around 2600 BC • The temple is named oval because of its massive oval walls surrounding the temple • Located in the city, emphasis in its organization is on enclosing space within courtyards
Sumerian Architecture Oval Temple Khafaje • Space is enclosed to create island of peace from a busy city • The temple is raised on a simple platform enclosed within the oval walls • It had subsidiary chambers at the ground level • The outer wall was extended to protect a priestly residence with its own chapel
Sumerian Architecture Oval Temple Khafaje • The inner court had an offering table and showed evidence of animal sacrifices • The inner court also had basins for ablution as well as workshops and storage rooms
End of Module 3 Lecture 6
Module 3 Lecture 6 Architecture of the Ancient Ancient Near East
Outline of Lecture 7 • Assyrian architecture – Introduction – City of Khorsabad – Palace of Sargon at Khorsabad
• Babylon lonian Architec tecture – Introduction – City of Babylon – Architecture in the city of Babylon Babylon
• Persian ar architecture – Introduction – Palace at Parsepolis
Assyrian Architecture
Assyrian Architecture Introduction • Assyria is is th the na name fo for a part of ancient Mesopotamia located on the upper Tigris • The The pri princip ncipal al citi cities es of Assyri syria a were Nineveh, Dun, Khorsa Khorsabad bad,, Nimr Nimrud ud and Assur Assur • The Assyrians were great warriors and hunters, and this was reflected in their art • They pr produced vi violent sculptures and relief carving in stone that was used to ornament their houses
Assyrian Architecture Introduction • During th the As Assyrian pe periods, temples lost their importance to palaces • As Assy syri rian an kin kings bui built walle alled d cit citie ies, s, in which palaces took precedent over religious buildings • Palaces were raised on brick platforms, and their principal entrance ways were flanked by guardian figures of human headed bulls or lions of stone • Their ha halls an and co corridors we were lined with pictures and inscriptions carved in relief on stone slabs up to 9 feet high
Assyrian Architecture Introduction • The in interiors we were ri richly decorated and luxurious. • The walls of cities were usually strengthened by many towers serving as defensive positions • The city of Khorsabad demonstrate the might and authority of the Assyrian kings • It is is al also at at th this pl place th that th the remains of Assyrian architecture can be found
Assyrian Architecture City of Khorsabad • Khorsabad was designed as the royal capital of Assyria • The ci city wa was bu built on on a flat la land with an area of about a square mile and was enclosed by a double wall with seven city gates • Only nly a part part of the the city city inclu ncludi ding ng palaces, temples and administrative headquarters was built • The palace was located on the north west side of the city
Assyrian Architecture Palace of Sargon • The palace is approached at ground level through a walled citadel • Within the citadel is found the main palace, two minor palaces and a temple dedicated to Nabu • The main palace was set on a platform located on the northern side of the citadel • All the buildings within the citadel were arranged around courtyards
Assyrian Architecture Palace of Sargon • The palace was arranged around two major courtyards about which were grouped smaller courtyards • The palace consisted of large and smaller rooms with the throne room being the largest • The building was decorated with relief sculpture and glazed brick
Babylonian Architecture
Babylonian Architecture Introduction • After the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC and the end of the Assyrian civilization, focus focus of Mesopotamian civilization shifted to old Babylon • A new dynasty of ki kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, revived old Babylonian culture to create a NeoBabylonian civilization • Old Su Sumerian cities were rebuilt
Babylonian Architecture Introduction • The capital old Babylon was enlarged and heavily fortified • It was also adorned with magnificent new buildings • The traditional style of Mesopotamian building reached its peak during the period • Traditional bu building wa was enhanced by a new form of façade ornament consisting of figures designed in colored glazed brick work
Babylonian Architecture City of Babylon • The city of Babylon is shaped in the form of a quadrangle sitting across and pierced by the Euphrates[64] • The city was surrounded by a fortification of double walls • These ha had defensive towers that project well above the walls
Babylonian Architecture City of Babylon • The walls also had a large moat in front, which was also used for navigation • The length of the wall and moat is about five and a quarter miles • The city had a palace, Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, located on its northern side on the outer wall
Babylonian Architecture Ishtar Gate • From the palace originated a procession street that cuts through the city raised above the ground to the tower of Babel • The pr procession st street en enters the city through the famous Ishtar gate • The Is Ishtar gate is is built ac across the double walls of the city fortification • The gate had a pair of projecting towers on each wall
Babylonian Architecture Ishtar Gate • All the facades of gates and adjoining streets were faced with blue glazed bricks and ornamented with figures of herald heraldic ic animal animalss- lions, lions, bulls, and dragons • These were modeled in relief and glazed in other colors • None of the buildings of old Babylon has survived to the present age
Babylonian Architecture Architecture in the city of Babylon Babylon • Nebuchadnezzar’s pa palace covered a land area of 900 feet by 600 feet • It had had admi admini nist stra rati tive ve offi offic ces, es, barracks, the king’s harem, private apartment all arranged around five courtyards • The The pal palac ace e is is al also prai praise sed d for for its its legendary hanging garden • This is recorded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but exact knowledge of the nature of this garden is not known
Babylonian Architecture Architecture in the city of Babylon Babylon • Temples and towers were also prominent architectural elements of Babylon • The le legendary to tower of of Babel located at the end of procession street is mentioned in the Christian bible • There is also no information about the design and construction of the tower • Most of what is available on the tower is hypothetical
Persian Architecture
Persian Architecture Introduction • The The Per Persi sian an empi empire re star starte ted d in in abo about ut 560 560 BC BC whe when n Cyrus Cyrus the great great from from the province province of Fars swept over the region with his powerful cavalry • By the the end end of the the cen centu tury ry,, Cyr Cyrus us and and his his succ succes esso sors rs,, Darius 1 and Xerxes had conquered the entire civilized world from Indus to Danube River with the exception of Greece • It was was the the wish wish of the the Pers Persia ians ns to cons constr truc uctt gre great at buildings • They They were were to achi achiev eve e gre great atne ness ss with with thei theirr arc archi hite tect ctur ural al solutions • The The arc archi hite tect ctur ural al solu soluti tion ons s wer were e a synt synthe hesi sis s of of ide ideas as gathered from almost all parts of their empire and from the Greeks an Egyptians
Persian Architecture Introduction • Thei Theirr mate materi rial als s of cons constr truc ucti tion on was was also also fro from m different locations • Mate Materi rial al inc inclu lude ded d mud mud-b -bri rick ck from from Baby Babylo lon, n, wooden roof beams from Lebanon, precious material from India and Egypt, Stone columns quarried and carved by Ionic Greeks • Desp Despit ite e sou sourc rcin ing g mat mater eria ials ls and and idea ideas s fro from m different areas, their architecture was original and distinctive in style
Persian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • Pers Persia ian n arch archiitect tectur ure e achi achiev eved ed its greatest monumentality at Parsepolis • It wa was co constructed as as a new capital for the Persian Empire • The city was started 510 BC and finished in 460 BC • It is is set al along th the fa face of of a mountain leveled to create a large platform 1800 feet by 900 feet • It was surrounded by a fortification wall • The si site wa was mo more th than half covered by buildings
Persian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • The palace consisted of three parts: • An approach of monumental staircases, gate ways and avenues • Two great state halls towards the center of the platform • The palace of Xerxes, the harem, and other living quarters at the south end of the site
Persian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • Structurally, th the bu buildings relied on a hypostyle scheme throughout • They used it it to to ac achieve spaces of varying scale • Some of of th the sp spaces we were very big and generally square in plan • The spaces were enclosed by mud brick walls • The most impressive aspect of the palace was the royal audience hall
Persian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • • • • • • •
The Royal audience hall was a square 250 feet in length It containe ined 36 sl slender co colum lumns widely space & 67 feet high The The co columns had a lower di diameter of only 5 feet The The centers of the columns were ere spaced 20 feet or 4 diameters apart The column was the greatest invention of the Persians The The co colum lumns we were fl fluted an and st stand on inverted bell shaped bases Thei Theirr capi capita tall combi ombine ne Gree Greek k moti motiffs with Egyptian palm leaf topped by an impost of paired beast
Persian Architecture Palace at Perspolis
• Another famous as aspect of of the palace palace at pars parsepo epolis lis was the throne room • This was also known as hall of a 100 columns • The co columns in in th the ro room were 37 feet high, with a diameter of only 3 feet • They were spaced 20 feet apart or seven diameters from axis to axis • The slim nature of the column created room and spacious feeling in the room when compared to the audience hall
Assyrian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • The monumental entran entrance ce to Parsep Parsepoli olis s is also one of the unique aspects of the Palace • The monumental gateway ensure a dramatic entry to the Palace • It wa was he heavily adorned with relief sculpture ornamenting its stairway
Assyrian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • The re relief st structure addresses different themes relating to the role role of of Pars Parsep epol olis is as the capital of the Persian Empire
Assyrian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • In some places, the sculpture shows delegates from the different parts of the Persian bringing gifts and rare animals to the king during celebrations • In some places, royal guards and nobles of the imperial court are shown • Elsewhere, the king is seen in conflict with animals or seated beneath a ceremonial umbrella
Assyrian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • The ru ruins of of Pa Parsepolis have survived to the present day • Existing ruins however give a faulty expression of the city’s original appearance • Some columns supporting the halls of the great halls have survived • The mu mud br brick fa fabric of of the palace and its enclosing walls have perished completely
Assyrian Architecture Palace at Perspolis • Only the sculptures which adorn doorways or windows and openings and the relief ornamenting its entrance way remain
End of Module 3 Lecture 7
Module 3 Lecture 8 Architecture of the Ancient Ancient Near East
Outline of Lecture • Lecture 8 – Architectural Characteristics • Bui Buildi ldings ngs and oth other er arch archite itectu ctural ral ele elemen ments ts • Buildi Building ng mat materi erials als,, cons constru tructi ction on and technologies • Arc Archit hitect ectura urall Org Organi anizin zing g pri princi nciple ples s
Architectural Characteristics
Buildings & Other Arch Elements
Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Building Types • 3 bu buildi ilding ng type types s exa exam mined ined in ANE; NE; Cities and houses, temples and palaces • Temples and palaces were the most outstanding buildings types in ANE • Sign Signifi ifica cant nt deve develo lopm pmen entt in hous house e orga organi niza zati tion on and city fortification was also witnessed • In Sume Sumeria rian n civi civiliz lizat atio ion, n, deve develo lopm pmen entt in in hous house e organization led to the evolution of the t he inward looking courtyard house • Hous Houses es form formed ed the the dom domin inan antt bui build ldin ings gs of the the city with narrow passages to distribute people
Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Building Types • Acro Across ss all all the the civi civililiza zati tion ons, s, citie cities s wer were e usu usual ally ly walled • The The wall walls s were were of of mass massiv ive e bric brick k mate materi rial al,, with with evenly distributed towers serving as buttresses. • Exam Exampl ples es of city city wall wall or fort fortifi ifica cati tion on exam examin ined ed include City of Kh Khor orsa saba bad d an and d Ba Baby bylo lon n • The The chi chief ef’s ’s hous house e at at pre preci cinc nctt of of the the Grea Greatt Ziggur Ziggurat at and the the Palac Palace e at Parsep Parsepoli olis s were were also fortified with brick walls.
Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Temples and Palaces • Impo Import rtan ance ce of temp temple les s and and pala palace ces s var varie ied d during the different periods of the ANE • Temp Temple les s sta start rted ed duri during ng the the Sum Sumer eria ian n per perio iod d and were also common during the Babylonian period. • The Sume Sumeri rian an temp temple les s we were rais raised ed on Ziggurats, while the character of the Babylonian temples is not certain because there is no trace of them • The Sumeria rian temples les had chief temples located outside the city and the city temple located within the fabric of the city
Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Temples and Palaces • NeoNeo-Ba Baby bylo loni nian ans s also also buil builtt gre great at pala palace ces. s. The The legendary palace of Nebuchadnezzar with its hanging garden is widely reported in history • Temp Temple le bui build ldin ing g decl declin ined ed dur durin ing g the the Assy Assyri rian an period, when palaces took over as the prominent building type • The Pa Palac laces at Kh Khorsabad and Pa Parsepolis shows the rise of the palace as the focus of architectural development over the temple
Materials, Const. & Tech.
Materials, Construction & Tech. Materials • Ston Stone e and and timbe timberr sui suitab table le for for bui build ldin ing g was was rare rare in the plains of the Tigris and Euphrates. • Clay lay was was howe howev ver in abun abunda dan nce • This This was was com compr pres esse sed d in in mou mould lds s and and drie dried d in in the sun to provide bricks for all buildings • Sun Sun drie dried d bric brick k beca became me the the sta stand ndar ard d buil buildi ding ng material • It was was use used d acr acros oss s all all the the cul cultu ture res s of of the the ancient Near East
Materials, Construction & Tech. Materials • Wood Wood was was scar scarce ce but but was was impo import rted ed from from Lebanon • Wood Wood was was pro proba babl bly y appl applie ied d main mainly ly for for roo roofi fing ng or for producing tools and ornaments • Ston Stone e was was used used by the the Ass Assyr yria ians ns but but only only for for relieve carving and for columnar support • It was was in anci ancien entt Per Persi sia a tha thatt ext exten ensi sive ve use use of of stone witnessed • The The Baby Babylo loni nian ans s intro introdu duce ce glaz glazed ed bric brick, k, whic which h was used in the façade of their gates and prominent buildings
Materials, Construction & Tech. Construction • The The abun abunda danc nce e of mud mud bric brick k led led to the the development of construction methods appropriate to its physical properties. • Stru Struct ctur ural ally ly Mud Mud bri brick ck is wea weak k when when comp compar ared ed to stone • To comp compen ensa sate te,, wal walls ls were were very very thic thick k and and reinforced with buttresses. • This This cons constr truc ucti tion on syst system em is evid eviden entt in the the Sumerian temples. • Vaul Vaulti ting ng was was kno known wn and and used used duri during ng the the Mesopotamian period
Materials, Construction & Tech. Construction • Room Rooms s wer were e usu usual ally ly roof roofed ed with with dome domes s or or vaults. • Tunn Tunnel el vaul vaults ts were were used used to cov cover er long long narr narrow ow oblong spaces. • Colu Column mnar ar con const stru ruct ctio ion n was was not not very very pop popul ular ar in in the ANE • It was was use used d in in few few inst instan ance ces s in in the the late late As Assy syri rian an and and NeoNeo-ba baby bylo loni nian an perio periods ds.. • It was was howe howeve verr ext exten ensi sive vely ly used used by the the Per Persi sian ans s • Pers Persia ian n arch archit itec ectu ture re,, was was an arch archite itect ctur ure e that that borrowed from other cultures in the region, including Egypt and Greek sources
Materials, Construction & Tech. Technology • Two Two tech techno nolo logi gies es appe appear ar to have have been been commonly used in the Ancient Near East; passive cooling and water supply. • The The evol evolut utio ion n of cou court rtya yard rd in in Meso Mesopo pota tami mia a was was probably a product of its desert environment and the need for climate modification. • Cour Courty tyar ards ds were were used used for for coo cooliling ng to crea create te livable environments in houses • The The thi thick ck walls walls of hous houses es may may als also o hav have e ser serve ved d as a thermal storage • They They help help to miti mitiga gate te agai agains nstt the the wide wide fluctuations of temperature
Materials, Construction & Tech. Technology • Peop People le of of the the anci ancien entt Near Near Eas Eastt also also mast master ered ed the earth of water supply • Chan Channe nels ls wer were e use used d to move move wate waterr and and supp supply ly it to agricultural fields and houses. • Anci Ancien entt Bab Babyl ylon on was was sai said d to to hav have e an an aqu aqued educ uctt that supplied water to the city. • The The han hangi ging ng gard garden en in Nebu Nebuch chad adne nezz zzar ar’s ’s palace would also be impossible without a means of transporting water from the ground to the garden
Principles of Arch. Organization
Principles of Arch. Organization Principles • Thre Three e prin princi cipl ples es appe appear ar to pred predom omin inan antt in the organization of architectural form and space – Courtyard organization – Lifting of buildings on artificial mountains – Organic organization of city fabric
Forces Shaping Arch. Organ. Forces • Thre Three e forc forces es acc accou ount nt for for the the pre preva vaililin ing g architectural organizing principles observed • Geography, • Sy Symb mbol olis ism m and and mean meanin ing g to the the peo peopl ple e • Social factors
• Comb Combin inat atio ion n of of the the fact factor ors s acc accou ount nt for for the the architectural forms that are witnessed in all the cultures of the ANE
Forces Shaping Arch. Organ. Geography • A stro strong ng fact factor or in shap shapin ing g spa spati tial al orga organi niza zati tion on and built form • Limi Limite ted d the the avai availa labi bilit lity y of of con const stru ruct ctio ion n mat mater eria iall and constrained the development of construction technology • Dese Desert rt envi enviro ronm nmen entt als also o mean meantt t hash hash clim climat atic ic conditions which lead to the evolution of the courtyard form of building • Prev Preval alen ence ce of mud mud bri brick cks s coup couple led d wit with h the the use use of courtyard fixed the form of buildings as a regional solution. • Mos Most bui build ldin ings gs-- wheth hether er hous ouse or or pal palac ace, e, were were of one story multi-courtyard form
Forces Shaping Arch. Organ. Symbolism and Meaning • Orga Organi nizi zing ng prin princi cipl ples es may may als also o be be a fac facto torr of symbolisms and meaning • The The rol role e of of sym symbo bolis lism m is is evi evide dent nt in the the Zig Ziggu gura ratt • Sume Sumeri rian ans s thi think nk of zigg ziggur urat at as a lad ladde derr to the the sky and to god • They They beli believ eved ed that that God God came came down down to the the Ziggurat to communicating with the chief priest • Clim Climbi bing ng the the zig ziggu gura ratt is is als also o ass assoc ocia iate ted d wit with ha holy experience. • Symb Symbol olic ic mean meanin ing g of of zig ziggu gura ratt pro provi vide des s motivation for the construction of larger and more impressive mountains
Forces Shaping Arch. Organ. Symbolism and Meaning • Palaces al also sy symbolize power and authority • In As Assy syri ria, a, arch archite itect ctur ure e exp expre ress ssed ed the the aut autho hori rity ty and power of the king • The The pal palac ace e at at Kh Khors orsaba abad also also show shows s the the decl declin ine e in the symbolic importance of the temple t emple compared to the palace of the king, which is the t he center of authority. • At Pars Parsep epol olis is,, the the pala palace ce also also expr expres esse ses s the the authority and power of the emperor of the Persian empire • This This powe powerr is is evi evide dent nt in the the abi abilility ty to commandeer resources from as far as Egypt and Lebanon to create a unique palace
Forces Shaping Arch. Organ. Social Concerns • Soci Social al conc concer erns ns cont contri ribu bute ted d to to the the evol evoluti ution on of design principles • Ther There e was was need need for for def defen ense se due due to to war warfa fare re • Led Led to cons constru truct ctio ion n of of wal walll forti fortific ficat atio ions ns for for cit citie ies s • Al Also so to zig ziggu gura ratt as a plac place e of refu refuge ge fro from m atta attack ck • Concerns for privacy • Cour Courty tyar ard d hou house se may may hav have e evo evolv lved ed beca becaus use e of of privacy needs
End of Module 3
