Near East Architecture

• 5000 B.C. to 641 A.D.

  3 Periods: Mesopotamian (Babylonian or Chaldean) Assyrian Persian

  Near East Architecture
• Religion - Worshipped nature gods

  Near East Architecture
• CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM - Arcuated

  Near East Architecture
• Rough pyramidal structures consisting of stages, each succeeding stage stepped back from the one beneath. It supports an altar or temple. “artificial mountains” of tiered rectangular stages with temple at summit

  Ziggurats
• Ziggurat at Bulsippa

  
• Made of sun-dried , faced with baked brick laid in bitumen 15 meters high on a massive base with two successive smaller stages, upper stage serves as pedestal of the shrine Three ramp-like stairways 100 steps each

  Ziggurats
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

  Materials: some stone and timber are available

  DECORATION: Winged-bulls guarding chief portals glazed bricks in blue, white, yellow and green Low relief sculpture in stone Murals

  Assyrian Architecture
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

  MATERIALS: Due to scarcity, stone was used mostly for fire-temples and palace platforms

  COLUMNIATION, CAPITALS: Persians introduced the use of columns

  Persian and Median Architecture