120 1 01

Summary

In this lecture, the influence of climate and religion on the architecture of ancient Near East civilizations is explored. Babylonia, known for its swamps and floods, developed elevated platforms to avoid miasma and built waterways for irrigation. Assyria, with a similar climate, followed Babylonian architectural styles. In contrast, Persia's dry climate led to open-column halls for ventilation. Religious beliefs also shaped architecture; Babylonians and Assyrians built ziggurats for star-gazing and featured mythical creatures like the lamu, while Persians, with their Zoroastrian faith, had minimal religious influence on their architecture.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The ancient Near East civilizations, particularly Assyria and Babylonia, were significantly influenced by the geography of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which were crucial for their establishment and military strategies.
• 🏞️ The climate of Babylonia, characterized by swamps, floods, and unhealthy miasmic exhalations, led to the construction of elevated platforms for towns and palaces to avoid direct contact with the ground.
• 🌾 Assyria, with a similar climate to Babylonia but fewer swamps and less miasma due to its higher elevation, followed Babylonian architectural styles, including the use of waterways for irrigation and city planning.
• 🏛️ Persian architecture was distinct due to the dry, hot climate of the high tableland, which led to the innovation of open column halls with minimal walls, as seen in the palaces at Susa and Persepolis.
• 🔮 The Assyrians and Babylonians were polytheistic, with religious beliefs that included the worship of heavenly bodies, divisions of the universe, and local deities, which influenced their architectural designs, such as the ziggurats for star reading and divination.
• 👼 The Lamassu, a human-headed winged bull from Mesopotamian mythology, was a protective spirit and a common feature in their art and architecture, often placed at entrances as sentinels.
• 🏺 The Shaduf, another protective spirit, was associated with the common Babylonian people and later with royalty, symbolizing protection and often depicted as large sculptures at entrances.
• 🏰 The absence of royal tombs in Assyria and the presence of ziggurats, which were not tombs but platforms for religious and astrological purposes, reflect the cultural and religious practices of the time.
• 🌬️ The ancient religion of Persia, Zoroastrianism, which believed in a cosmic battle between good and evil, had little influence on architecture, resulting in few temple remains and a different architectural focus compared to other civilizations.
• 🏗️ The architectural styles of the ancient Near East civilizations were not only shaped by their climates but also by their religious beliefs and practices, leading to unique and varied architectural expressions.

Q & A

What were the Euphrates and Tigris rivers' significance in ancient Near East civilizations?

The Euphrates and Tigris rivers were crucial for establishing roots and relations, leading to the founding of empires and kingdoms, and forming military strategies.

Why did the Babylonians build their towns and palaces on elevated platforms?

The Babylonians built on elevated platforms to avoid the unhealthy miasma and swarms of aggressive, venomous insects that were prevalent in their swampy and flood-prone region.

What was the purpose of the waterways outside the city of Nineveh?

The waterways outside Nineveh were created by the Assyrian King to provide water for the city's extensive hinterland and to bring water from the river to his palace.

How did the climate of Assyria compare to that of Babylonia, and what was its impact on architecture?

Assyria had a similar climate to Babylonia, with rain and fewer swamps and less miasma due to its higher ground location. This similarity led the Assyrians to follow the Babylonian architectural style.

What was unique about the climate of Persia, and how did it influence their building techniques?

Persia had a dry, hot climate on high tablelands, which was in stark contrast to the damp lowlands of Mesopotamia. This led to the innovation of open column halls with many columns and minimal walls.

Why didn't the Assyrians build royal tombs, and what did they construct instead?

The Assyrians did not believe in an afterlife, so they did not build royal tombs. Instead, they constructed ziggurats for priests to read the stars and interpret the will of the gods.

What is the significance of the lamu in Mesopotamian mythology and architecture?

The lamu is a celestial being from Mesopotamian mythology, often depicted as a human-headed winged bull, and was considered a protective spirit. It frequently appears in Mesopotamian art and architecture, sometimes with wings and horns.

What were the shadu, and how were they represented in Babylonian culture?

The shadu were household protective spirits for common Babylonians and later became associated with royal protection. They were often depicted as large sculptures placed at entrances as sentinels or guards.

How did the religion of Persia differ from that of Assyria and Babylonia, and what was its effect on architecture?

Persian religion, primarily Zoroastrianism, focused on ethical forces representing the battle between good and evil. It did not emphasize temple construction, resulting in little influence of religion on architecture.

What will be discussed in the next video regarding ancient architecture?

The next video will cover the architectural characteristics of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian ancient architecture, exploring the different features influenced by climate and religious beliefs.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Geographical and Climatic Influences on Ancient Near East Civilizations

This paragraph discusses the impact of geography and climate on the ancient civilizations of the Near East, particularly Assyria and Babylonia. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers were crucial for the establishment of these civilizations, influencing their military strategies and the founding of empires and kingdoms. The climate, especially in Babylonia, was characterized by swamps, floods, and unhealthy miasmic exhalations, leading to the construction of elevated platforms for towns and palaces to avoid the miasma and accommodate waterways. Assyria, sharing a similar climate with Babylonia but situated on higher ground, followed a similar architectural style due to their historical connections and conquests. The paragraph also touches on the innovative water management systems, such as the extensive network of canals built by the Assyrian King to supply water to the city of Nineveh.

05:02

🏛 Architectural Techniques and Religious Beliefs in Ancient Civilizations

The second paragraph delves into the architectural techniques and religious beliefs of ancient civilizations, contrasting the damp climate of Babylonia with the dry, hot high tableland climate of Persia. In response to their climate, the Persians developed open column halls with minimal walls, which can be seen in the ruins of palaces at Susa and Persepolis. The paragraph also explores the religious influences on architecture, such as the Assyrians' lack of belief in an afterlife, which is reflected in the absence of royal tombs and the construction of ziggurats for astrological purposes. The Babylonians and Assyrians worshipped various deities, with the lamu and shadus being prominent mythological creatures depicted in their art and architecture, serving as protective spirits and symbols of power.

10:04

🕌 The Minimal Architectural Influence of Religion in Ancient Persia

The final paragraph contrasts the religious practices of ancient Persia with those of Babylonia and Assyria, highlighting the minimal influence of religion on Persian architecture. Unlike the other civilizations, ancient Persia did not build temples, and their religious beliefs were centered around ethical forces representing the eternal struggle between good and evil. This belief system was incorporated into Zoroastrianism, which dates back to around 2000 BC. The paragraph suggests that the absence of temples and the focus on ethical forces rather than deities resulted in a different architectural landscape in Persia. The lecture concludes with a预告 of the next video, which will discuss the architectural characteristics of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian ancient architecture in more detail.

Keywords

💡Euphrates and Tigris rivers

The Euphrates and Tigris rivers are two of the most significant geographical features in the ancient Near East, as they provided fertile land for agriculture and were crucial for the development of early civilizations. In the video, these rivers are highlighted for their role in establishing roots and relations, which led to the founding of empires and kingdoms. They were also central to military strategies, demonstrating their importance in shaping the region's history and culture.

💡Climate

Climate is a key factor that influenced the architectural styles and urban planning of ancient civilizations. In the context of the video, Babylonia, known as a region of swamps and floods, had to deal with unhealthy conditions such as miasma and aggressive insects. This led to the construction of elevated platforms for towns and palaces to avoid direct contact with the ground and the unpleasant smells. The climate thus played a significant role in the way each civilization built its structures.

💡Elevated platforms

Elevated platforms were architectural features used in ancient Babylonia to cope with the region's swampy and flood-prone climate. As explained in the video, these platforms were essential to elevate buildings above the ground level to avoid the miasma and to protect from the swarms of venomous insects. They also served as a foundation for waterways, which were used for irrigation and to supply water to the palaces, showcasing the ingenuity of ancient builders in adapting to their environment.

💡Assyria

Assyria was an ancient Mesopotamian kingdom that shared similarities with Babylonia due to their historic relations and similar climate. The video mentions that Assyria followed the Babylonian architectural style, which was influenced by the need to adapt to the region's climate. Assyria's architecture, like Babylonia's, was characterized by the use of elevated platforms and the construction of waterways, reflecting the shared challenges and solutions of these ancient civilizations.

💡Miasma

Miasma, as discussed in the video, refers to an unhealthy and unpleasant smell or vapor that was a significant environmental challenge in ancient Babylonia. The presence of miasma, along with aggressive and venomous insects, influenced the construction of elevated platforms for buildings. This term is crucial for understanding the health and environmental considerations that shaped the architectural decisions of the time.

💡Persia

Persia, with its distinct dry and hot climate, developed unique architectural techniques that contrasted with the damp lowlands of Mesopotamia. The video highlights the innovation of open column halls in Persian architecture, which featured many columns and minimal walls to allow for better air circulation and cooling. This architectural style was a direct response to the climatic conditions of the high tableland where Persia was located.

💡Ziggurats

Ziggurats were towering structures erected by the Babylonians and Assyrians, primarily for religious and astrological purposes. As mentioned in the video, they were not tombs but served as platforms for priests to read the stars and interpret the will of the gods. Ziggurats were a striking feature of Mesopotamian architecture and were often adorned with mythical creatures like the Lamassu, reflecting the polytheistic religious beliefs of the time.

💡Lamassu

The Lamassu is a mythical creature from Mesopotamian mythology, often depicted as a human-headed winged bull or lion. In the video, it is described as a celestial being that appears frequently in Mesopotamian art and architecture, particularly as guardian figures at the entrances of palaces and temples. The Lamassu symbolizes protection and power, and its presence in architectural design underscores the importance of religious and mythological beliefs in the cultural identity of ancient civilizations.

💡Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that predates the common era, as mentioned in the video. It is characterized by a belief system that represents the eternal struggle between good and evil. Unlike other ancient religions, Zoroastrianism did not build temples, and its influence on architecture was minimal. This is an important distinction that highlights the diversity of religious practices and their impact on the built environment in the ancient world.

💡Architectural character

Architectural character refers to the distinctive features and styles that define a civilization's buildings and structures. In the video, the discussion of architectural character is used to compare and contrast the influences of climate, geography, and religious beliefs on the architecture of ancient civilizations like Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia. Understanding architectural character helps to appreciate the cultural and environmental factors that have shaped the built environment throughout history.

Highlights

The importance of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in establishing roots and relations, leading to the founding of empires and kingdoms.

Babylonia, also known as Chaldea, was a region of swamps and floods, with unhealthy miasma and aggressive insects.

Babylonians built towns and palaces on elevated platforms to avoid miasma and utilized waterways for canals and irrigation.

Assyria, located near the mountains, had a similar climate to Babylonia, leading to similar architectural styles.

Persia had a dry, hot climate, which led to the innovation of open column halls with minimal walls.

The palaces at Susa and Persepolis are examples of Persian architecture, featuring many columns and minimal walls.

Assyrians did not believe in an afterlife, unlike Egyptians, and thus did not construct royal tombs.

Ziggurats were built by the Babylonians and Assyrians for priests to read the stars and interpret the will of the gods.

The Lamassu, a human-headed winged bull, is a celestial being from Mesopotamian mythology, often depicted in their art and architecture.

Shadu, protective spirits in Babylonian culture, were later associated with royal protectors and placed at entrances.

Modern theories suggest connections between the Assyrians' study of stars and alien theories.

Ancient Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, focused on ethical forces representing the battle between good and evil.

Persian architecture was less influenced by religious beliefs, resulting in fewer temple remains.

Upcoming lectures will discuss architectural characteristics and features of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian ancient architecture.

Transcripts

[Musika]

Hi class in my previous lecture I

explained the Geographic location and

history of ancient near East

civilizations especially the importance

of the two rivers euphrates and tigres

you remember the map right the the

rivers run through the same course and

um This was They were important the

rivers were important in establishing

roots and relations Uh which also led to

founding of Empires and kingdoms and

they formed military

strategies so in this video I'd like to

discuss the other factors that influence

the way each civilization built their

structure Beginning with the climate and

religion assyria and babylonia happens

to share similarities

because of their historic relations

while we shall see that Persia had a

distinct building technique so let's

look into the influences for such

contrast first

Climate now babylonia is also known as

chia in old books No they are called

chia It was a region of swamps and

floods besides which Torrents of rain

fell for weeks at a time This was

aggravated during the long Summer by

unhealthy mias mic

exhalation and by swarms of aggressive

and venomous insects By the way miasma

myas mic exhalation means may singaw

miasma is a highly unpleasant or

unhealthy smell or vapor so mabaho na

unhealthy pa and it's making people sick

plus the fact that there were insects

there were venomous insects around So

what they did was they built Uh they

built their Towns and palaces on

elevated platforms What were these

platforms for now Uh the platforms of

course were essential so that they'll be

They won't be right you know direct on

the ground and They won't smell the

miasma um aside from that according to

scholars dito sa ilalim ng pl form there

were already waterways and you know

outside the city waterways can be found

at nineve which is said to be built

between

703 and 688 bc it was when the Assyrian

King created a network of canals to

water ninive extensive hinterland and

bring and bring some water also from the

river to his Palace without rival

ayan kasi parang wala akong kaal i am

the This is the most beautiful and

Magnificent Palace so meron pa akong

sarili kong water Resource Parang ganon

so he built those waterways for Uh for

water source and also for the people Uh

in the hinterland now true enough

according to another study no yung

tungkol sa palace without Rivals It's

true because another study that I read

Assyrian water management outside the

core region of Uh Mesopotamia or this

part of nineve was unknown so wala

walang mga waterways masyado the

waterways was also used as irrigation

for

agriculture So um you remember ninive is

on the side of tigris river ' ba So I

hope you remember the map I hope you

have your maps with you too Anyway

um located nearer the mountains naman on

the other hand was assyria No it's

farther from the river mouth than

Babylon assyria um It's near the

mountains and had a similar Climate So

it had a similar Climate Yeah okay

there's summer there's also rain

Although fewer swamps and less miasma

kasi nasa higher ground na sila eh so ah

um Uh Uh Parang ganoon They're on the

higher ground any climatic difference

had little effect on architecture so we

shall see that the assyrians Follow the

babylonian style so in my lectures you

Might Be wondering Bakit wala Iyung

babylonia so it's also div you know the

history na There was a time when the

assyrians conquered Babylon and then for

a certain period also Babylon conquered

assyria hanggang yon um ' ba si si King

nebu cadar and all that Anyway um so yon

ah they had little Uh they had very

similar architecture because of the

climate now Persia Persia had a dry hot

Climate of the high table land ah in

their in their you know High table land

no um dry hot Climate It's so much in

striking contrast to the damp of Uh the

low lying Uh uh what babylonia or the

low lying Plains of Mesopotamia and it

accounts for the innovation of open h

open colum Halls open colum Halls ibig

sabihin mga they had so many columns and

you can imagine that you know there had

they had no walls at least for a big

part of it They did not use colu they

had all columns but almost no walls para

presko no especially this can be

specially seen at the palaces in the

palaces at susa and persepolis yun

ngayon Iyung susa and persepolis are ah

unfortunately parang medyo victims of

War sila so Ah medyo ano they are in

ruins but you can still see the the you

know Uh the evidences of these

cols Okay so pag-uusapan natin ulit yang

mga columns na yan sa architectural um

architectural character

influence but this time we're only

talking about climate so They were colum

the Halls were colum therefore mahangin

yan now influences of beliefs or

religious

influences First of all the assyrians um

had not Uh you know they did not have Uh

belief in a future life or future after

life just like the un you know unlike

The Egyptians for example wala silang

mga tombs mga Royal tombs No they did

not have that so that's one thing and um

Uh also we have already learned about

this They did not have Royal tombs but

but they had Zig rats so the Zig rats

are not tombs rather you already know

this um you know They were erected for

prest to read the stars and They were

polytheistic they the polytheism of

babylonian assyria was various to

express um the Worship of heavenly

bodies Divisions of the universe and

local deities the priest as a as

depositories of child and Wisdom arog

themselves to the power of reading the

stars of divination and interpreting the

Will Of The Gods ah nabasa ko na pala to

and for these astrologer priest the

towering ziggurats were

erected

um a very striking feature of the you

know a part of their belief is the

speical Beast ah maraming iba-iba pero

the lamu is

um is a celestial being from their

mythology mesopotamian mythology So this

is called the lamu it's an Assyrian

human headed Wing bull So it has a human

head and the body of a bull so human

above the waist or you know maybe the

head and The Bull below the waist ah

well this picture shows us differently

just the head no and it's all It also

has wings no and sometimes the lamas who

has horns and the ears of a bull In

other words h ba It's a Creature that

well we cannot understand it appears

frequently in mesopotamian Art and

Architecture sometimes it has wings

sometimes There's no wings the lamu And

shadu there's another one I said no

shadu were household protective Spirits

of the common babylonian people becoming

associated later as royal protectors or

protectors ng mga king and They were

placed as um like sentinels at the

entrances parang mga guard sila doon mga

malalaki yan no I'll show you how big

they are here you can see on the right

side is a man standing Okay can you see

ito Uh and that's how huge those um

those lamu sculptures are no and They

were built like that and then imagine

This is the entrance and you see wow How

big and it makes you feel small talaga

anyway this is part of their mythology

and of course some some

modern theories would say ah baka yung

mga Alien mga Alien theories pero we

hear those things and you know people

keep Uh um researching about this and

ano yung mga connections niya to science

ganon kaya naman nila nasabi yon at kaya

rin nila sabi yyun kasi you know the the

assyrians study the stars so sabi nung

mga Alien ano Uh theories parang baka

related ito doon or something Anyway

let's look at ancient religion of Persia

wala masyado eh They don't have temples

so sabi dito the primitive region of

Persia was a system of ethical

forces that represented good and Evil at

war From the beginning of time it became

incorporated in the religion of

zoroaster as far back as bc 2000 so para

If you remember your high school or

maybe elementary Zoroastrianism is what

they call it um So that's why in Persia

There are no Temple remains and religion

had little influence on

architecture So

um So that's it Uh We will the next

video We will talk about architectural

character and under architectural

character We will see the different

features of Assyrian babylonian and

Persian ancient

architecture Okay bye thank

you ah

[Musika]

[Musika]