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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.