The Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia [Hardcover]

Giovanni Curatola (Author), Jean-Daniel Forest (Author), Nathalie Gallois (Author), Carlo Lippolis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789209217 | ISBN-13: 978-0789209214 | Publication Date: April 1, 2007

The artistic traditions of ancient Iraq, or Mesopotamia, are among the oldest in the world, for it was in this flat, fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that the world's first advanced civilization, that of the Sumerians, arose around 3000 BC. But the long history of Mesopotamian art was marked by change as much as continuity: the region was then as now a center of political conflict, and the Sumerians gave way to a succession of powers both foreign and indigenous, each of which left a cultural imprint. This volume's contributing authors, all art historians and archaeologists, provide accessible and lively overviews of the successive phases of this eventful artistic saga. The first two chapters cover the "classic" age of the great Mesopotamian city-states, from the pre-Sumerian Ubaid culture to Alexander's conquest of Babylon; the remains of this era range from the fabulous treasures of the royal cemeteries at Ur to the mighty ziggurats of Uruk and Babylon. The third chapter concerns the Greco-Mesopotamian art of the Hellenistic dynasty founded by Alexander's general Seleucus; the ruins of Seleucia, his capital on the Tigris, cover some 1,500 acres. The fourth chapter investigates the artistic contributions of the two Persian dynasties, the Parthian and the Sassanid, that dominated Mesopotamia from the first century BC to the seventh century AD and established the soaring iwan, or vaulted portico, as one of its typical architectural forms. The final chapter is devoted to the area's early Islamic period, during which the Abbasid caliphs (eighth to thirteenth century AD) brought architecture and the decorative arts to new heights at their capitals of Baghdad and Samarra.With these authoritative, up-to-date texts and no fewer than 464 fascinating illustrations, including a unique visual guide to Iraq's principal archaeological sites, The Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia is an essential publication for anyone with an interest in the cultural heritage of the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Giovanni Curatola, a professor of archaeology and the history of Muslim art at the University of Udine, has curated such exhibitions as Islamic Art in Italy and Shamans and Dervishes of the Steppes. He is presently involved in the effort to preserve Iraq's archaeological heritage. Donny George is the former Director General of Antiquities of Iraq.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789209217
• ISBN-13: 978-0789209214
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 9.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,176,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, August 28, 2009

By 

Barnaby Thieme (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia (Hardcover)

It would be hard to overstate my enthusiasm for this marvelous book, which brings the long-vanished cultures of Mesopotamia to life with an assortment of gorgeous, vivid photographs and engaging text. Clearly presented and organized, this book superbly documents sculpture, tablet literature, seals and impressions, architecture, landscape, and archaeological ruins of modern Iraq. It's a work of breathtaking scope that imbues life into what could be a dry subject with its abundance of captivating images. It makes a delightful supplement to a study of the history and culture of the region, and it's a book I highly prize.

4 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Illustrated, October 29, 2007

By 

BookManBookWoman TV REVIEWS "Saralee Terry Woods" (Nashville, Tn United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art and Architecture of Mesopotamia (Hardcover)

"These beautifully made books illustrate the richness of ancient civilizations and their culture in ways that illuminate and educate."