Mesopotamia and the Persian Empire
The architecture of Mesopotamia represents the region situated between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, encompassing several distinct cultures and spanning a period from the 10th millennium BC, when the first permanent structures were built, to the 6th century BC. Even though the architectural profession didn’t existed at that time, scribes drafted and managed construction for the government, nobility, or royalty. The Mesopotamians regarded ‘the craft of building’ as of divine origins.
The Mesopotamian settlements were build mainly of adobe and, later, of bricks adorned with sparkling glazed tiles. Among the Mesopotamian architectural accomplishments are the development of urban planning, the courtyard house, and ziggurats.
The Sumerians were the first society to create the city itself as a built form. The palaces of the early Mesopotamian elites were large-scale complexes, and were often lavishly decorated. Temples often predated the creation of the urban settlement and grew from small one room structures to elaborate multiacre complexes across the 2,500 years of Sumerian history. Sumerian temples, fortifications, and palaces made use of more advanced materials and techniques, such as buttresses, recesses, and half columns.
Ziggurats were huge pyramidal temple towers built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid. The aim of those pyramids was much different than that of the Egyptians ones. As the Mesopotamian gods were associated with the mountains, the ziggurates were meant to resemble the gods’ divine power. The temple in the top was home to the patron of the city. Functionally, it served as a storage and distribution center as well as housing the priesthood.
The Wall of Nineveh – Built by the king Sennaherib ( around 700 BC), the wall surrounded the ancient town Nineveh. It was 12 km long, with 15 gates for access, each of them being named after a local god. Nineveh was invaded and destroyed in 612 BC.
The Ziggurat from Ur – the high temple was dedicated to the god Nana, the protector of the town
The Ishtar Gate- Babylon
Persian architecture
Iran is recognized by UNESCO as being one of the cradles of civilization. Each of the periods of Elamites, Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids were creators of great architecture that, over the ages, spread far and wide far to other cultures. Although Iran has suffered its share of destruction, including Alexander The Great’s decision to burn Persepolis, there are sufficient remains to form a picture of its classical architecture.
Persepolis has one of the best-preserved and representative sample of architecture during the Persian Empire. It was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC), founded by king Darius. Ruins of a number of colossal buildings still exist on the terrace. All are constructed of dark-grey marble. The facades are richly decorated with basoreliefs.
The Palace of king Darius (518-486 BC), inspired by the Mesopotamian palaces, had thick walls and granite entrances, decorated with reliefs. Next to the palace, there was a ceremony hall called Apadana, begun by Darius and finished by Xerxes. The walls were tiled and decorated with pictures of lions, bulls, and flowers. Darius ordered his name and the details of his empire to be written in gold and silver on plates, which were placed in covered stone boxes in the foundations under the Four Corners of the palace. Two Persepolitan style symmetrical stairways were built on the northern and eastern sides of Apadana to compensate for a difference in level.
Resources:
Arhitectura, stiluri, personalitati, Editura Litera, 2010
