This illustrated work highlights one of the most important and creative periods in the history of art: a time marked by the appearance of the city states of the Sumerians, the citadel of Troy, the splendid royal tombs at Ur, and the monumental cities at Mohenjodaro and Harappa. The volume examines the cultural achievements of these first urban societies, placing them in a historical context. Topics covered include the emergence of the first city states, the birth of written language, and trade and cultural interconnections between the Ancient Near East and outlying areas. More than 500 works of art, including sculpture, jewellery, vessels, weapons, cylinder seals and tablets executed in a wide variety of materials such as stone, metal, clay, ivory and semiprecious stones, are included. The accompanying texts are written by leading scholars in the field. This is the catalogue for an exhibition to be held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from 8 May to 17 August 2003.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
A truly spectacular, groundbreaking exhibition of Near Eastern art and urbanism that is closing at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art this month, Art of the First Cities gained additional poignancy following the looting of Iraq's National Archeological Museum and countless other sites. In Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago, what were probably the first cities arose, and their arts, particularly in metal and stone, were nothing short of stunning, often arrestingly modern in a manner quite different from later Egyptian art. Unfortunately, most of the 712 illustrations here (535 in color) are straight-ahead catalogue illustrations that fail to really capture the objects' allure, despite crisp printing. Big exceptions are the seals and cuneiform tablets, which are shown in extreme close-up, revealing terrific detail. Short, dispassionate essays by 50-plus experts from the Hermitage, the Louvre and the Met, brought together by Aruz and Wallenfels, curators at the Met of ancient Near Eastern art, summarize what is know about Uruk, Ur and other early cities, along with the pieces found there, from the copper "Striding Horned Demons" from 3800 B.C.E. Iran to a "Recumbent human-headed bull or bison" from Ur of circa 2000 B.C.E. Maps, detailed chronologies and a massive bibliography round out this first book and exhibit to cover the whole region during this crucial period; it should serve as a fine summation for scholars and curious lovers of art and urbanism.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
A fine summation for scholars and curious lovers of art and urbanism. -- Publishers Weekly
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent!,
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This review is from: Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Hardcover)
A magnificent volume, for those who might be interested in the miriad small and large details pertaining to the earliest artifacts of those primordial history writing civilizations. A great many details as to the History, Physical conditions, Geography, Economics, Foreign relations, Art, Religion, Litterature, Iconography, Archaeology and so on, both textual and visual. A most interesting book for those interested in the cradle of civilisation.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
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Superb,
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This review is from: Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Hardcover)
This is a superbly illustrated and written book, with photographs of renown artifacts from museums around the world, and even more outstanding essays by relevant scholars. I suspect anyone interested in Ancient Art from the formative stages (3000-2000 BCE) of the world's first civilizations will enjoy reading this book.
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
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Enjoy the Art of the First Cities,
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This review is from: Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Hardcover)
Wonderful illustrations. Up-tu-date analyses & comments. For amateurs and specialists as well.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Having crossed the threshold of a new millennium to stand, as we do, in the midst of perhaps the most intensely urban environment in the world, one often feels disassociated from the ancient past and the great civilizations to which it gave rise. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tufted garment, compartmented seals, tufted skirt, intercultural style, compartmented stamp seal, long carnelian beads, chlorite vessels, foundation pegs, biconical beads, nude heroes, perforated plaques, cylinder seal depicting, etched carnelian beads, stone wigs, steatite beads, composite statues, queen puabi, contest scene, shell bangles, lapis lazuli beads, guilloche pattern, flat beads, gold pitcher, modern impression, horned crown Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Early Dynastic, Central Asia, Early Bronze Age, Late Uruk, Near East, British Museum, National Museum, Metropolitan Museum, Tell Brak, Royal Cemetery, Tell Abraq, Old Babylonian, Iraq Museum, Joan Aruz, University of Pennsylvania Museum, Leonard Woolley, Tepe Hissar, Government of Pakistan, Courtesy of the Department, Ministry of Minorities, North Caucasus, Tell Agrab, Tell Banat, Tell Asmar, Tepe Yahya New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Having crossed the threshold of a new millennium to stand, as we do, in the midst of perhaps the most intensely urban environment in the world, one often feels disassociated from the ancient past and the great civilizations to which it gave rise. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tufted garment, compartmented seals, tufted skirt, intercultural style, compartmented stamp seal, long carnelian beads, chlorite vessels, foundation pegs, biconical beads, nude heroes, perforated plaques, cylinder seal depicting, etched carnelian beads, stone wigs, steatite beads, composite statues, queen puabi, contest scene, shell bangles, lapis lazuli beads, guilloche pattern, flat beads, gold pitcher, modern impression, horned crown Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Early Dynastic, Central Asia, Early Bronze Age, Late Uruk, Near East, British Museum, National Museum, Metropolitan Museum, Tell Brak, Royal Cemetery, Tell Abraq, Old Babylonian, Iraq Museum, Joan Aruz, University of Pennsylvania Museum, Leonard Woolley, Tepe Hissar, Government of Pakistan, Courtesy of the Department, Ministry of Minorities, North Caucasus, Tell Agrab, Tell Banat, Tell Asmar, Tepe Yahya New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 16
books:
See all 16 books this book cites
- Sumerian King List (Assyriological Studies) by Thorkild Jacobsen on page 496, and Back Matter
- Istanbul Archaeological Museum by Alpay Pasinli in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Ancient Near East by P. R. Moorey in Front Matter
- Indian Ocean In Antiquity by Reade in Back Matter
- Art History by Marilyn Stokstad in Front Matter
See all 16 books this book cites
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