Mesopotamia

• 1. Mesopotamia:Writing, Literature, Art and Sculpture
  By: Justine Colford, Jewelya Taylor & Christopher Connick
  

2. Mesopotamia:Writing, Literature, Art and Sculpture
Title
Contents
Writing
4. How They Wrote
5.Gaining Knowledge
6. Cuneiform Examples
7. Video
8. Art
9. Worship
10. Examples
11. Literature
12. The Epic of Gilgamesh (Video)
13. Gilgamesh Vs. Noah
14. Sources
15. The End
Contents:
3. Writing
Sumerians created one of the earliest forms of writing: Cuneiform.
Basically pictograms of what they were trying to say.
Used by scribes to record information.
Evolved over many years.
4. How They Wrote
As cuneiform was not a language it was based upon pictures.
Used a reed stylus to draw upon clay tablets.
Clay was packed into a tablet and then baked.
Because they preserved their writing, we can learn more about them.
5. Gaining Knowledge
Henry Rawlinson discovers ancient carvings in modern day Iran- 1835.
The carvings contained 2 languages. He spoke only one.
Using his knowledge of Old Persian he spent 12 years deciphering the text.
These discoveries lead us to discover Sumer, which was unknown until then.
6. Cuneiform
Examples
7. Video
Now for a short video summary on what youve learned so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCjtPRHRZs8
8. Art
They did not impact art as much as other civilizations as they were constantly involved in wars.
Their topics wereinfluenced by heavy conflict and thirst for power.
Sculptures and other pieces often used beards as a symbol for power.
9. Worship
Almost everyone had a small statue in their home representing a God for daily worship.
10. Examples
11. Literature
The most common form of literature in Mesopotamia was an Epic.
An Epic is a very long poem that tells a story.
One example of an Epic is The Epic of Gilgamesh.
12. The Epic of Gilgamesh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEeW1tx5QrQ
13. Gilgamesh Vs. Noah
The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Flood is sent by assembly of Gods.
Ordered to build a ship.
Must gather 2 of each animal.
Lasts 6 days, all wicked is wiped out.
3 different birds are sent out.
Ship rests on mountain.
The Bible
Flood is sent by God.
Ordered to build an Ark.
Must gather a male and female of each animal.
Lasts 40 days, all sinners die.
3 Birds are sent out later.
They stop on a mountain.
14. Sources
http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/mesopotamian_art_lesson.htm
http://www.crystalinks.com/sumerwriting.html
http://www.calligraphylearn.com/cuneiform-alphabet.html
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html
http://www.icr.org/article/noah-flood-gilgamesh/
15. The End
Thank You