Second Session

Mesopotamian Art is considered the art that emerged around the Tigris and Euophrates rivers. The first Mesopotamian civilization were the Sumerians. They were known for building elaborate temples, and used marble, shell, and sandstone. They were also known for creating fancily decorated tombstones filled with furniture and art, due to their belief in the afterlife.

The Akkadian civilization emerged shortly after and easily adapted the Sumerians' style. They were known for their warlike way of living, and so they reflected this in their art.

The Assyrians had a different way of expressing themselves through art. They had large quantities f stone, and made good use of it by creating narrative art and carving into the stone to decorate places. Narrative art means their art told a story.

The Babylonians, the last of the Mesopotamian civilizations, adapted all of the previously mentioned methods of art, but they excelled in brightly colored glazed tiles. They used these tiles to create sculptures. One of their sculptures now resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.