|
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.
- (LO.1222)
|
