Introduction
Mesopotamia was an ancient civilization located in the Fertile Crescent, an area that covers all of modern day Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Syria, Iran and Turkey. As one of the earliest known civilizations, it had a complex and varied architecture. It is generally divided into two eras: the Early Period and the Late Period. This article will explore the buildings, landscapes and cities of ancient Mesopotamia and their influence on subsequent civilizations.
Early Period
The Early Period, from 3500 to 2500 BC, was characterized by large, rectangular mudbrick buildings on raised platforms, often known as “tells”. These generally served as residences, though some cities had temples built of larger bricks. These early buildings were often surrounded by massive defensive walls, sometimes reaching up to 12 meters in height and complete with massive gateways.
The most prominent buildings were the palaces, which contained large, multi-roomed buildings. These structures were often decorated with detailed carvings and murals. The decoration and grandeur of these structures were typically intended to signify the power of the monarchs who resided in them. Another feature of the Early Period was the development of vast irrigation systems, composed of canals and man-made waterways, to support the cities and agricultural settlements.
Late Period
The Late Period, which lasted until around 700 BC, saw a move away from the large mudbrick buildings of the Early Period towards a more monumental approach. The palaces and other large structures were traditionally constructed from sun-dried bricks, reinforced with limestone and coated in gypsum. Conical-shaped ziggurats were built as temples, with each layer of brick slightly smaller in diameter than the layer below it. These structures were often crowned with a temple building.
This period also saw the construction of large cemeteries, typically surrounded by thick walls and with entrances that were decorated with stone sculptures. Finally, during this period, cities became larger, with more elaborate city walls and a greater emphasis on monumental architecture, such as the Ishtar Gate.
Influence on Subsequent Civilizations
Mesopotamian architecture had a significant influence on subsequent civilizations, most notably the Greeks, who adapted many elements of the Mesopotamian style. This is most clearly seen in the Greek temples, which were closely modeled on the ziggurat temples of Mesopotamia. Additionally, many of the Greek columns were based on stellae which had been made for the worship of gods in Mesopotamia. Finally, the Greeks adopted aspects of Mesopotamian city design, with its large central plazas and colonnaded streets.
Features
Mesopotamian architecture was characterized by its solidity, grandeur and its use of uniform brickwork. It also featured large public plazas, open courtyards and long colonnaded streets. Another characteristic was the use of a central axis, with a main threshold and a hieratic pathway, to draw attention to the structure, particularly in the case of religious and royal buildings.
Material
The buildings of Mesopotamia were typically constructed out of mudbrick, stone and timber. Plaster and limestone were also used to coat mudbrick buildings, in some cases also with added decoration, such as tiles. This gave buildings a harder, more impermeable outer layer to protect them against the weather.
Symbolism
Mesopotamian architecture was also used to communicate power and authority, as the buildings were often decorated with elaborate carvings and murals. Additionally, certain buildings, such as ziggurats, were deliberately built to be taller than the city walls in order to signify their importance.
Conclusion
While the architecture of ancient Mesopotamia was much different from what we see today, it was no less impressive. Its large, elaborate structures and intricate designs had a lasting influence on subsequent civilizations, many of which adopted aspects of the Mesopotamian style. From defensive walls to temples and palaces, the architecture of Mesopotamia was both diverse and memorable.
