The Royal Tombs of Ur

7/23/2019 The Royal Tombs of Ur

1/16

1/25/2012 CE

The Origins and Character of Kingship in the first

civilization of S!er


2/16

I. Quick summary of William Hallo and WilliamSimpson: The Ancient Near East: a History,Chapter II pp. 25-.

- !ey pointsWritin" - opens the historical era

#ut also important are accumulation of capital$and people%

and monumental architecture $temples and&alls% '' cities

In(ention of #ron)e $copper &ith tin or arsenic% *&hat could you do &ith it+ nd &here did the

materials come from+Sumer * a tou"h en(ironment &ithout a lot ofnatural resouces:

&hy does ci(ili)ation arise here+


3/16

4he r#an 6e(olution: term coined #y 7ordan Childe $0892-095%

Childes 01 traits of the oldest cities;

0. more densely populated

2. di% to "od or kin"

. monumental #uildin"

5. rulin" class?non producti(e class supported #y a"ricultural surplus

@. need for systems of recordin"

. in(ention of &ritin"8. ne& forms of artistic e=pression

9. re"ular trade

01. specialist craftsmen?artists supplied &ith ra& materials

; A4he r#an 6e(olution,B The Town Planning Review 20 $0951% /-0.


4/16

Q: re What are the in"redients ofci(ili)ation+

ron)e?metalur"y capital and population concentration onumental #uildin"s and

fortiDcations Writin">

dependence on a military machine


5/16

The Three periods of the earl" #ronze $ge in S!er %histor" is a&ot !a'ing

divisions ( often in three parts)

1* The +roto,historic or -e!det .asr Era c* 100,200 &roght to an end

traditionall" &" the flood*

2* The olden $ge Earl" 3"nastic 4 c* 200,200

,,the stor" of the flood %perhaps reflects so!e actal event 6hich a re!ant of

h!anit" srvived7 6ith the leadership of 8ta,napishti!9 or .oah)*

,, after the flood :'ingship 6as lo6ered fro! heaven;

,, era of nit" and har!on"< .ote S!erian 'ing list is not =st a list &t a

also vie6 of S!erian political societ" throgh the relations of its 'ing*

,, i!portance of Kish %and title :King of Kish;)

,, i!portance of .ippr and religios traditions

* The >eroic $ge Earl" 3"nastic 44 c* 200,2500

,, :the tastes of an heroic age contests &et6een ani!als7 6arriors7 or &oth characterize the seal

c"linders %note these are i!portant artifacts)

,, Earl" epic ( E!!er'ar of 8r' vs* $ratta

$nd then co!es ilga!esh %ne?t 6ee')

See s!!ar" paragraph , p* @@


6/16


7/16

44* On to the ro"al to!&s of 8r

Sir Eeonard Woolley and thedisco(ery of rFi"ure of some literary si"niDcance and literary drama $"atha Christie married his assistant%

ack"round: First &esterner to (isit the ruins in mid-0thcentury, Gietro della alle noted A(ery "ood ricks, most of

&hich &ere stamped in the midst &ith certain unkno&nletters.British e=plorer Fraser passed #y in 08/..

K.3 .4ayler, ritish (ice-consul at asra in 085/-5,undertook Drst e=ca(ations. Dnds included Inscri#ed clay cylinders * 4!3 LM43

Fast for&ard to end of WWI $dismem#erment of Mttomanempire% andritish?merican e=ca(ations N&ho &ould split any Dnds

51-51>Oni(ersity of G *

p.02 *story of the political $and personal% #ack"round of thee=ca(ations


8/16


9/16


10/16

Art of the 6oyal 4om#sB$AStandardB of r: shell, lapis la)uli, and red limestone. cm #y 21 cm%


11/16

p. A4he dual sides of the Standard of r are #est seen as the (isual e=pression of theduality of kin"ship as it e=isted in the time of the 6oyal Cemetery. $Eu"al and 3n%


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15/16

7reat EyreHansen: Arepresents mastery of the lo&erphysical self and is thus synonymous &itha ideal of kin"shipB $p. 51% -- "ree+


16/16

Friday: on to the Carlos>

eet in front of useum $Quad side%

t 9:/5 SH6G>

Grepare #y readin" selections from useumhand#ook $on % or #uy one for yourself

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The Royal Tombs of Ur