|
The Old Babylonian period describes south
Mesopotamia in the period about 2000-1600
BC.
The early years saw a number of important
states
dominating the region: Isin, Larsa, Eshnunna
and, from 1894 BC, Babylon. Babylon was
ruled
by a dynasty of Amorite kings. The sixth ruler
was Hammurapi, who defeated the other
southern states and expanded his control
into
north Mesopotamia. On the death of
Hammurapi
the empire gradually shrank over about 150
years. Nonetheless, Babylon remained an
important power until it was sacked by the
Hittite
king, Mursili I, in about 1595 BC. During the
Old
Babylonian period literary activity flourished
with
scribes composing and recording religious,
poetic and 'scientific' works in Sumerian and
Akkadian cuneiform. Perhaps the most
famous
monument is the stele of Hammurapi, now in
the
Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Ceramic plaques of this sort were mass-
produced from moulds and represent a form
of
art available to a wide audience. The casting
of
plaques was a simple and inexpensive way
to
produce relief images, since numerous
plaques
could be made from a single mold. They
have
been excavated in temples as well as
household
shrines in private homes. Their subject
matter
varies widely, including religious images,
mythological and erotic scenes, and
representations of rulers and gods.
- (RP.023)
|
