Today we will examine one of the earliest works of monumental architecture that have survived anywhere in the world, the White Temple and Ziggurat at Uruk, from around 3500 BCE (so 5,500 years old!). We will also look a group of small statuettes that were found at a different temple and from a slightly later period (around 2800 BCE). Together these will help us understand some aspects of the relationship between agriculture, the emergence of the world’s first cities, and religion.
Here is some background on Ancient Mesopotamia.
Here are the images we will be looking at.
Readings:
- The White Temple & ziggurat, Uruk on Smarthistory
- Standing Male Worshipper on Smarthistory
