Ancient Art - Mesopotamia
(9000 - 500 B.C)
   This is the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which roughly comprises modern Iraq and part of Syria. The most ancient civilizations known to man first developed there writing, schools, libraries, written law codes, agriculture, irrigation, farming and moved us from prehistory to history. It's giving Mesopotamia the reputation of being the cradle of civilization. The name does not refer to any particular civilization using that name. It includs non-Semitic Sumerians, followed by the Semitic Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Over the course of 4000 years, the art of Mesopotamia reveals a tradition that appears, homogeneous in style and iconography.
   Art became decorative, stylized and conventionalized at different times and places. Gods took on human forms and humans were combined with animals to make fantastic creatures. Large temples and imposing palaces dotted the landscape. History and poetry for the first time was recorded and set down to music. Lyres, pipes, harps and drums accompanied their songs and dances.
   The soil of Mesopotamia yielded the civilization's major building material - mud brick. Stone was rare, and certain types had to be imported for sculpture. Variety of metals, as well as shells and precious stones, were used for the finest sculpture and inlays.

Prehistoric Period
   Mesopotamian art of the period, from 7000 to 3500 B.C., before writing, was fully developed. Archaeological sites are Hassuna, Samarra and Tell Halaf.
- HMCO Mosaic: The Mesopotamians - The First Civilization

Early Dynastic Period - Old Sumerian (From 3000 to 2340 B.C.)
   The Sumerians developed pottery and jewellery. A new type of building was introduced - city-states centers of this epoch are Ur, Umma, Lagash, Kish, and Eshnunna. One of the most remarkable artifacts remaining from this period is known as The Standard of Ur.
- www.hp.uab.edu: Early Dynastic Sumer(2900-2370 B.C.)
- Figures from Tell Asmar - Sumerian Art and Architecture

Akkadian Period
   In the late 24th century B.C. under Sargon I, Akkadians united the whole of Mesopotamia. Little Akkadian art remains.Significant Akkadian innovations were those of the seal cutters. The Akkadian cities are Sippar, Assur, Eshnuna, Tell Brak, and Akkad.
- AncientNearEast.tripod.com: Ancient Akkad (Agade)

Neo-Sumerian Period (From 2112 to 2004 B.C.)
   The Akkadian Empire fell to the nomadic Guti, who did not centralize their power. This enabled the Sumerian cities of Uruk, Ur, and Lagash to reestablish their power.
- DIA Galleries: Gudea, a ruler of Lagash (2141-2122 B.C.)

Old Babylonian Period
   The land was once more united by Semitic rulers (about 2000-1600 B.C.). The most important ruler was Hammurabi of Babylon. The most original art of the Babylonian period came from Mari.
- CCC Alan Petersen: The Stele of Hammurabi

Kassite and Elamite Dynasties
   The Kassites, a people of non-Mesopotamian origin, were present in Babylon shortly after Hammurabi's death. They adapted themselves to their environment and its art.

Assyrian Empire (From 1700 B.C. to 100 B.C.)
   It shows different from established Babylonian stylistic traditions both in religious subjects and secular themes. They built ziggurats for temples. The technique of polychromed glazing of bricks was used. The Neo-Assyrian period, 1000-612 B.C. is a time of great builders. Kings adorned palaces with magnificent reliefs. Gypsum alabaster, was more easily carved than the hard stones used by the Sumerians and Akkadians. Royal chronicles in battle and in the hunt were recounted in horizontal bands with cuneiform texts. At times mythological figures are portrayed. Sculptors were at their best in depicting hunting scenes. The art of the late Assyrian seal cutter is a combination of realism and mythology.
- Yahoo!GeoCities: Old Assyrian Period
- Yahoo!GeoCities: Neo-Assyrian Empire (1180-609)
- The British Museum - The Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II of    Assyria Nimrud
- DIA Galleries: Tiglath-Pileser III Receiving Homage 745-27    B.C.

Neo-Babylonian Period (626-539 B.C.)
   The Babylonians defeated the Assyrians in 612 B.C. and sacked Nimrud and Nineveh. They did not establish a new style or iconography. Neo-Babylonian creativity manifested itself architecturally at Babylon, the capital.
- Yahoo!GeoCities: Neo-Babylonian Empire (625-539)
- USF: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- DIA Galleries: Dragon of Marduk