Monarchs, Gods and Demons: The Art of the Ancient Near East

This seminar explores the art and architecture of the ancient Near East, focusing on the interconnected cultures of ancient Iraq, often referred to as Mesopotamia or the “Land Between the Rivers,” and Iran from ca. 4000 to 300 BCE. We will trace the development of visual and material culture over the course of arguably the world’s oldest civilization. The class will draw on methods and topics from the fields of archaeology, Assyriology, and religious studies. In exploring the “deep time” of the ancient Near East, we will ask fundamental questions about the role of the visual in human society. What is an image? What powers does it have over our lived reality? What makes an image divine? What is a monument? How do art and architecture participate in defining institutions such as the city, religion, or the state?