Examine a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Art of the First Cities," examining the devlopment of civilizations around the third millenium bce.  Take a look at the chronology -- and the related art objects -- of the land of Israel, from the Hecht Museum in Haifa.  Then view the extraordinary Assyrian reliefs from the Palace at Nimrod.

Visit the Baghdad Museum!!

View a fascinating article on the history of ceramics, tracing design and material development from the ancient Near East to the ceramic tiles of Mexico!

Write your name in ancient cuneiform, just like the Sumerians and Babylonians:  click here!
And remember these words:  MESOPOTAMIA, VOTIVE, CUNEIFORM, ZIGGURAT, STELE, GLAZED BRICK, OPTICAL, CONCEPTUAL
Do you know these materials:  lapis lazuli and  diorite?

a. Explore the rise of the Sumerian culture and why the term "civilization" can be used in describing the Sumerians (see pages 32-35).
b. Notice the differences between the art of the Assyrians and the later Persian art (see the textbook on pages 45-49).
c. Examine the materials used in the Neo-Babylonian "Gate of Ishtar"  (see page 47 and the inset on the same page).

a.  Statuettes of worshippers from the Square Temple  at Eshnunna (see page 35).
b. Victory Stele of Naram-sin, (see page 40).
c. Lamassu (see page 45 in the text book;  the image shown in the link is from a different angle).
d. Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions (view a similar image and the one in the textbook on page 46).
e. Ishtar Gate (restored), Babylonian, (see page 47).
f.  Persepolis, location of the palace of Darius at Persepolis (see page 49.)

a. Visit the "Bible Lands Museum at Jerusalem" for a look at Biblical history through Near Eastern art from the dawn of civilization. 

b. "The Epic of Gilgamesh," from "Exploring Ancient World Cultures"

c. View the fabled "Tower of Babel"

d. Tour the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

e.  Explore "Persian Art Through the Centuries" from Iransaga.

f. Examine the role of women and their contribution to art in the time of Hammurabi.

g. Learn about UNESCO's "World Heritage List," and especially about sites in danger of destruction.

Your chapter report responds to a 'key item' from #3 above, or analyzes a work of art selected from #4 above.  Include comment/comparison from one of the web sites in #5 above or from another you have located.  See instructions on how to write the chapter reports.   DON'T FORGET:  ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS: your report is due as noted on your schedule.  INTERNET STUDENTS: submit the chapter report through the LISTSERV -- ARTS1303@ACCD.EDU -- by Wednesday.  You will receive a grade  back from your instructor within 24 hours;  if you do not, please call or email her, since that means she did not receive your report.  It is your responsibility to make sure your report is received.  (Please note Summer Session chapter summaries due as noted on the summer schedule).

Post to the LISTSERV at this address -- ARTS1303@ACCD.EDU --  by Friday.  (Please note:  comments for Summer Session due as noted on the schedule).