Ancient Civilizations

 Mesopotamia is considered to be one of the most advanced ancient civilizations. Their way of life and knowledge of complex information such as mathematics, astrology, and architecture led to significant inventions. The cities created in this area were ahead of their time and had a strong sense of flow and organization within them. This area had traditionally had homes built with mud brick ,timber, and reeds. When these new cities were being constructed, glazed blue bricks were used on the exteriors of the homes. Bridges, tunnels moats, and walled cities began to take shape showcasing this prominent bricks. 

During this time period known as the Neo-Assyrian Empire, many sculptural reliefs were showcased. This displayed just how advanced the architecture was during this time period. The gateway entrances, while used for controlling access, were also a way to display their sculptural skills. This extravagance trailed into their throne rooms as well, as a sign of power and importance. 

Sculptures of human heads were often placed on bodies of winged lions or bulls. In addition to the impressive design, these sculptures stood at 15 feet tall. However, these sculptures were not just for décor, they served as wayfinding within the space. The sculptures would face the entrance, as to guard the throne room, and would encourage visitors to round the corner. As seen below, the sculptures were placed on adjacent walls and continued down the length of the hallway. As visitors were taking in the beauty of work, it was also guiding them to their destination. 

The Assyrians had created beautiful furniture pieces, that unfortunately did not survive very long. However, Egyptian furniture stood the test of time better and has left us some treasures to this day. One of the more interesting pieces found was a wooden folding bed. The piece was created to be easy to transport, as furniture during this period was scarce. These pieces folded to create something easier to travel with. While the frame was wooden, the seat material was made from rush matting, which allowed both support and comfort. 


Egyptian furniture had some ornate details contained within the design, such as the use of gold leaf as well as sculptural elements within a chair back. Another feature seen, was that of animal feet being represented as the legs of the chairs. The chairs overall took the shape of a box but, the seat and arms often had curves to offset the box shape. These curves however, were apparently quite complicated in terms of their geometry, showing just how advanced this society truly was. 


Modern Applications

As seen in Egyptian furniture, folding beds were common as it served well for travelers. These pieces were basic in construction and were meant to offer durability as well as comfort. A modern spin on this piece would be a Murphy bed. While these beds are not used for travelling, they are used for a different practical need, space. In small apartments or dual purpose rooms, space is of the essence. However, fitting everything into the space does not always work, Murphy beds are used as a practical solution to allow a bed and sofa or bed and desk combination to exist within the same space without sacrificing square footage. 


The throne rooms of the ancient times had a well thought out design intent to display power and assertiveness. An example of something similar we can see in our lifetime, is the Lincoln Memorial. This building displays the same design intent, to draw visitors to the entrance as well as to showcase the power Abraham Lincoln still holds in our nation today. Many government building features sculptural elements such as this to lure visitors and to show the power and strength that resides within our nation. 
When looking at the immense detail and organization put into Mesopotamian city layouts, one can see how this set the precedent for modern cities. While not every city utilizes an organized layout, some cities knock it out of the park. The grid layout is one that has been seen in many major cities , such as Chicago. These layouts based upon pattern and repetition help to make navigation of the city easy and simple, even for visitors. The example seen to the left is not a linear grid, it utilizes a concentric layout to create a pattern among the streets and homes. This helps to create an easy neighborhood to navigate, and displays the thought given to the function of the city prior to construction. 


Comments

  1. Eva SerratoSeptember 1, 2023 at 3:48 PM

    Meagan,
    I enjoyed how you not only focused on the Ancient architecture of Egypt but you also went into great depth of Mesopotamia and the Neo-Assyrian Empire as well. By doing this you were able to show me how different civilizations were unique and how they had their own way of designing. I liked how your modern applications focused on how our furniture today was impacted and how they way we organize our cities was impacted. By doing this you showed me that ancient civilizations have a great impact on our society today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaSeptember 4, 2023 at 9:01 AM

    Meaghan,
    I really enjoyed your Blog Entry this week which focused on the Ancient Civilizations of Mesopotamia, Neo- Assyrian and Egypt. The glazed blue bricks of Mesopotamia were stunning.
    The modern applications that you shared were fantastic. The Murphy bed, Lincoln Monument and city layout were perfect. Wonderful and educational read. 50/50 total points

    ReplyDelete

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