Assyrian Palace Research Paper
ANCIENT EGYPT AND ASSYRIAN PALACE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
In studying the decorative techniques used within Assyria and ancient Egypt, we see vast similarities in the use of materials and basic ornamental styles, that suggests that the two styles may have been influenced by one another at some point in time. Specifically, the Assyrian palace at Persepolis and those found at Mesopotamia, Megiddo and Sargon, are comparable to Malkata, the ancient Egyptian palace built for Amenhotep III, (Wikipedia, Ancient Egyptian Palaces) in that both employed the use of stacked, mud brick or adobe brick in the construction of the walls. The walls of the Assyrian palaces were then embellished by incorporating glazed vitreous brick; whereas, the Egyptian palaces were constructed of grey limestone or dark grey marble, often with a green colored stucco covering the mud brick walls.
Both the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian palaces relied heavily upon decorations in the form of facades constructed using bas reliefs. These reliefs were comprised of brightly painted colored stone, incorporating terracotta panels, and opulent detail such as gold and zinc plating, enameled tiles and embedded lapis lazuli. These materials were used to create richly colored facades which showed historical references to the king’s military might …show more content…
and civic accomplishments in the designs which included narrative text. 3 dimensional figurative images lined the walls on stone slabs and examples of exquisite gem cutting are represented in these ancient decorative techniques.
Brilliantly colored walls incorporated novel designs in the Assyrian palaces, such as embedded cones to hold torches.
(Wikipedia, Ancient Assyrian Palaces) While vases made of stone, clay and porcelain modeled after Egyptians examples in favored blue faience glass, enjoyed popularity, along with decorative elements created in quartz, mica and ivory as architectural inlays. Massive stone sculptures of mythological figures and representing animals such as bulls and lions were often utilized as to flank gates and major passageways throughout the palace grounds, and these symbolized narrative accounts of the king’s achievements, represented by stone slabs on the
walls.
The basic rectangular architectural plan of Assyrian buildings emanates from graceful curves and towers which flowed from the square base. While the use of big, arched gateways was a common decorative theme utilized in both palaces decorative styles.
Both cultures made extensive use of columns as decorative elements. These were created from wood, specifically Cedar from Lebanon and Teak from India as the preferred material, and this was integrated with a column base and capitals fabricated from stone. Both used references from nature in the decorative elements of the columns, with images of flowers, reeds and animals incorporated with geometric designs and rosettes.
CITATIONS
(Ancient Assyrian Palaces, Wikipedia.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/persepolis
(Ancient Egyptian Palace, Malkata, Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/malkata
In studying the decorative techniques used within Assyria and ancient Egypt, we see vast similarities in the use of materials and basic ornamental styles, that suggests that the two styles may have been influenced by one another at some point in time. Specifically, the Assyrian palace at Persepolis and those found at Mesopotamia, Megiddo and Sargon, are comparable to Malkata, the ancient Egyptian palace built for Amenhotep III, (Wikipedia, Ancient Egyptian Palaces) in that both employed the use of stacked, mud brick or adobe brick in the construction of the walls. The walls of the Assyrian palaces were then embellished by incorporating glazed vitreous brick; whereas, the Egyptian palaces were constructed of grey limestone or dark grey marble, often with a green colored stucco covering the mud brick walls.
Both the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian palaces relied heavily upon decorations in the form of facades constructed using bas reliefs. These reliefs were comprised of brightly painted colored stone, incorporating terracotta panels, and opulent detail such as gold and zinc plating, enameled tiles and embedded lapis lazuli. These materials were used to create richly colored facades which showed historical references to the king’s military might …show more content…
and civic accomplishments in the designs which included narrative text. 3 dimensional figurative images lined the walls on stone slabs and examples of exquisite gem cutting are represented in these ancient decorative techniques.
Brilliantly colored walls incorporated novel designs in the Assyrian palaces, such as embedded cones to hold torches.
(Wikipedia, Ancient Assyrian Palaces) While vases made of stone, clay and porcelain modeled after Egyptians examples in favored blue faience glass, enjoyed popularity, along with decorative elements created in quartz, mica and ivory as architectural inlays. Massive stone sculptures of mythological figures and representing animals such as bulls and lions were often utilized as to flank gates and major passageways throughout the palace grounds, and these symbolized narrative accounts of the king’s achievements, represented by stone slabs on the
walls.
The basic rectangular architectural plan of Assyrian buildings emanates from graceful curves and towers which flowed from the square base. While the use of big, arched gateways was a common decorative theme utilized in both palaces decorative styles.
Both cultures made extensive use of columns as decorative elements. These were created from wood, specifically Cedar from Lebanon and Teak from India as the preferred material, and this was integrated with a column base and capitals fabricated from stone. Both used references from nature in the decorative elements of the columns, with images of flowers, reeds and animals incorporated with geometric designs and rosettes.
CITATIONS
(Ancient Assyrian Palaces, Wikipedia.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/persepolis
(Ancient Egyptian Palace, Malkata, Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/malkata