Introduction to Architecture

Mesopotamian Architecture
 Introduction to History of Architecture

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Source: History of Architecture (Sir Banister Fletcher) Figure 1: Tree of Architecture

 Pre-historic Architecture
Three generic type of buildings
identified:
i. Caves: Rock cut dwellings for
hunters
ii. Huts: For unorganized farmers
iii. Tents: Shepherds involved in pastoral
or nomadic life

Figure 2: Pre-historic built forms

Source: History of Architecture (Sir Banister Fletcher)
Mesopotamian Architecture
 Timeline of Mesopotamian Architecture

A civilization that lasted roughly 3000 years

Over the centuries, different people lived in this area creating a collection of independent
states
• Sumer- Southern part (3500-2000 BC)
• Akkad- Northern part (2340 – 2180 BC)
• Babylonia- these two regions were unified (1830-1500 BC)
• Assyria- Across Tigris extending upto Babylon (1100 -612 BC)
• Neo-Babylonia – from 650 – 500 BC
• Persian – Entire Mesopotamian plains (560 – 330 BC)
Source: Graphic History of Architecture (John Mansbridge)
A. Geographical setting and evolution of Mesopotamian Architecture

Source: Mesopotamia – Cradle of Civilization (Adrienne Chong)

B. Climate

 Little rainfall

 Hot and dry climate

 Windstorms leaving muddy river valleys in winter

 Catastrophic flooding of the rivers in spring

 Arid soil containing little minerals

 No stone or timber resources

Source: Mesopotamia – Cradle of Civilization (Adrienne Chong)
Source: Mesopotamia – Cradle of Civilization (Adrienne Chong)
 C. Comparison of different kingdoms in Mesopotamia
Sumer
 Closely tied to
environment
 Irrigation techniques for
farming
 Invention of wheel
 Trade- bartering
 Writing- cuneiform
 Religion tied to
government as priests
and kings made decision
for gods
 Ziggurats
Babylon
 Production of food
through farming
 Private ownership of
land vs. ownership by
the gods
 Developed
mathematics and
calendar system and
system of units for
currency

Hammurabi’s law code
Source: Mesopotamia – Cradle of Civilization (Adrienne Chong)
Assyria
 Kings conquered land to
create empire of Assyria
 Cooler climate could
produce crops with little
irrigation
 Deposits of ore allowed for
development and use of
iron
 Assyrian army became
most effective military
force
Sumerian Period – Architectural Features
 Building material was primarily mud. Sun dried mud blocks were extensively used
across all types of buildings

 Walls made of sun dried mud blocks being poor in compressive strength had to be
thick resulting in narrow usable spaces

 Buttresses were used as external reinforcements for the walls

 Temples were the major building type. Temples were of two types – Chief Temples
(White Temple and Ziggurat of Ur) and City Temples (Temple Oval)

Ziggurats – General features

 The ziggurat relates to a specific Mesopotamian belief that the gods and goddesses
would make their appearance to the human world at the highest point in the land.

 Mesopotamia doesn't have many mountains and is relatively flat - so in essence, the
ancient society had to create their own high spots. Therefore the ziggurat functions as
an artificial mountain.

 They have created the highest point in the land, placed a temple on top of it, and this
is where the gods will come to earth and make contact with the mortal world.
Sumerian Period – Major buildings
i. White Temple

 It was built around 3000 BC. The

temple is placed over an earth mound
measuring over 12m.

 Temple is rectangular in shape with

multiple compartments and a long
rectangular sanctuary with an offering
table and altar.

 The walls of the temple are made of

sun dried mud bricks and supported with
buttresses.

 The approach to the temple is through

impressive flight of staircases and ramps
ii. Ziggurat of Ur
The structure was built by King Ur-Nammu during
the Early Bronze Age (2113 – 2048 BC), but had
crumbled to ruins by the 6th century BC of the
Neo-Babylonian period when it was restored by
King Nabonidus.

The massive step pyramid measured 64m in

length, 46m in width and over 30m in height.
The height is speculative, as only the foundations
of the Sumerian ziggurat have survived. It was
made by stacking mud-bricks up and using mud to
seal them together.

The ziggurat was a part of 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.

The remains of the ziggurat consist of a three-

layered solid mass of mud brick faced with burnt
bricks set in bitumen.
iii. Temple Oval, Khafejah
Khafejah is an ancient city in Iraq. The
Oval Temple (2600 BC) shows a new style
in architecture

The open courtyards accessed through

impressive gateways and guarded by
towers and walls suggest the rising of
priesthood and increase in its power.
 Assyrian Period – Major buildings
The major building type during Assyrian i. Palace Complex, Khorsabad
rule was fortified palaces

Palaces were raised on brick platforms

and their entrances were flanked by
sculptures of human headed lions/bulls

Palace had three major parts:

1. Seraglio (palace, men’s apartments,
and reception room)
2. Harem with private apartments of
prince and his family
3. Khan or service chambers
 Angle of Ziggurat
Sun

Moon
Jupiter
Mercury

Mars

Venus
Saturn

Main Gateway

Wall Cresting
Assyrian Ornamentation
Babylonian Period – Architectural features
 After the end of the Assyrian period in 612 BC, a new dynasty of kings including
Nebuchadnezzar revived old-Babylonian culture to form Neo-Babylonian civilization

 Old Sumerian cities were rebuilt during this period. The capital Babylon was
adorned and fortified and numerous new buildings came up.

 The new buildings, be it temples, palaces or public congregation spaces were highly
decorated and these massive structures were built of crude brick, supported
by buttresses.

 The use of brick led to the early development of the pilaster and column, and
of frescoes and enameled tiles.

 The walls were brilliantly colored, and sometimes plated with zinc  or gold, as well
as with tiles. Painted terra-cotta cones for torches were also embedded in the plaster.
Babylonian Period – Major buildings
i. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon
Schematic aerial view of Babylon
 The city of Babylon is shaped in the form of a
quadrangle sitting across and pierced by the Euphrates
 The city was surrounded by a fortification of double
walls. These had defensive towers that project well
above the walls.

 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. From the palace originates
the procession street, which enter the city through the Ishtar
Gate
Nebuchadnezzar's Palace

Tower of Babel

Hanging Garden of Babylon

 Nebuchadnezzar’s palace covered a land area of 900’× 600’

 It had administrative offices, barracks, the king’s harem, private apartment all
arranged around five courtyards.
 The palace is also praised for 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.
Persian Period –
 The Persian empire started in about 560 BC when Cyrus the great from the
province of Fars swept over the region with his powerful cavalry. By the end of
the century, Cyrus and his successors, Darius 1 and Xerxes had conquered the
entire civilized world from Indus to Danube River with the exception of Greece.

 Their architectural solutions were a synthesis of ideas gathered from almost all
parts of their empire and from the Greeks and Egyptians.

 Their materials of construction were collected from different locations. Material

included mud-brick from Babylon, wooden roof beams from Lebanon, precious
material from India and Egypt, stone columns quarried and carved by Ionic
Greeks.
Persian Period – Major buildings
Palace at Persepolis
• It was constructed as a new capital for
the Persian Empire. The city was started
510 BC and finished in 460 BC.

• It is set along the face of a mountain

leveled to create a large platform 1800
feet by 900 feet, which was surrounded
by a fortification wall.

• The palace consisted of three parts:

 An approach of monumental staircases, gateways 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
 Structurally, the buildings relied on a
hypostyle scheme throughout. Some of the
spaces 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.

 The Royal audience hall was a square 250 feet

in length. It contained 36 slender columns widely
spaced & 67 feet high. The columns had a lower
diameter of only 5 feet. The centers of the
columns were spaced 20 feet or 4 diameters
apart.

 The column was the greatest invention of the

Persians. The columns were fluted and stood on
inverted bell shaped bases. Their capital combine
Greek motifs with Egyptian palm leaf topped by
an impost of paired beast.
 Another famous aspect of the palace at
Persepolis was the throne room, it was also
known as hall of a 100 columns.

 The columns in the room were 37 feet high,

with a diameter of only 3 feet. They were
spaced 20 feet apart.

 The slim nature of the column created room

and spacious feeling in the room when
compared to the audience hall

 The monumental entrance to Persepolis is

also one of the unique aspects of the Palace.
The monumental gateway ensure a dramatic
entry to the Palace. It was heavily adorned with
relief sculpture ornamenting its stairway

 Some columns supporting the halls of the

great halls have survived. The mud brick fabric
of the palace and its enclosing walls have
perished completely
Persian Ornamentation
 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

 Only the sculptures which adorn doorways or

windows and openings and the relief
ornamenting its entrance way remain
Thank You!!!