Mesopotamian Art and Material Culture

2023/2024

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

6

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

5 year, 1-3 module

Instructor

Markina, Ekaterina

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The Ancient Near East saw many developments in artistic and architectural styles that are deeply rooted in the everyday practices of the time of their emergence. This course offers an introduction to the material and visual cultures of the ancient Near East. It covers several millennia of the history of the region from the Chalcolitic to the end of the Iron Age, its primary focus being Mesopotamia and the Iranian and Syro-Anatolian highlands. The corpus of works under study includes examples of monumental architecture (royal palaces and temples), rock reliefs, steles and statues, cylinder seals, carved ivories, terracottas and ceramics. The assortment of raw materials that was used to create these artifacts and monuments, as well as the production technologies involved, will be sudied as well. Upon completion of the course the student is expected to be able to - Detail major periods in art history of the ancient Near East; - Discuss materials and forms associated with ancient Near Eastern artwork; - Understand how naturalism and stylization were combined in Mesopotamian art; - Describe how animal and human forms were depicted in ancient Near Eastern art; - Talk about Sumerian and Assyrian art and architecture; - Relate how art of the ancient Near East reflected the political and cultural atmosphere of the time.

Learning Objectives

• The Ancient Near East saw many developments in artistic and architectural styles that are deeply rooted in the everyday practices of the time of their emergence. This course offers an introduction to the material and visual cultures of the ancient Near East. It covers several millennia of the history of the region from the Chalcolitic to the end of the Iron Age, its primary focus being Mesopotamia and the Iranian and Syro-Anatolian highlands. The corpus of works under study includes examples of monumental architecture (royal palaces and temples), rock reliefs, steles and statues, cylinder seals, carved ivories, terracottas and ceramics. The assortment of raw materials that was used to create these artifacts and monuments, as well as the production technologies involved, will be sudied as well.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students are able to navigate themselves within the studied topic and have the knowledge of the key problems pertaining to it.
• Students know the artifacts under study and are able to discuss them in detail.
• A student recognizes and correctly uses the terminology associated with the subject, assesses the current state of research, names the key publications on the subject.
• A student recognizes artifacts under study, describes their key features, explains their distinctive features, places them into historical context.
• A student names and interprets key facts and theories pertaining to the theme under study.

Course Contents

• Material culture as the subject of study
• Mesopotamian materials and technology
• Daily life in ancient Mesopotamia
• Material aspects of religion and cult in ancient Mesopotamia
• War and combat
• Luxury objects as the items of prestige
• Magic and medicine in the daily life of ancient Mesopotamians
• Ancient art as the subject of study
• Mesopotamian monumental architecture
• Paints and pigments in ancient Mesopotamia
• The use of stone in Mesopotamian art
• The use of metal in Mesopotamian art
• Functional art in ancient Mesopotamia

Assessment Elements

• Доклад
• Контрольные работы
• устный ответ на экзамене

Interim Assessment

• 2023/2024 2nd module
  0.4 * Доклад + 0.3 * Контрольные работы + 0.3 * Контрольные работы
• 2023/2024 3rd module
  0.3 * Контрольные работы + 0.7 * устный ответ на экзамене

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Laura M. Zucconi. (2019). Ancient Medicine : From Mesopotamia to Rome. Eerdmans.
• Leick, G. (1988). A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Architecture. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=76667
• Leick, G. (1991). A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=77015
• Mesopotamia : ancient art and architecture, Bahrani, Z., 2017
• Rituals of war : the body and violence in Mesopotamia, Bahrani, Z., 2008
• Winter, I. (2010). On Art in the Ancient Near East. Brill.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Leick, G. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia (Vol. 2nd ed). Lanham: Scarecrow Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=332853

Authors

• MARKINA EKATERINA VLADIMIROVNA
• KHOMCHENKOVA VARVARA VALENTINOVNA