The artwork of the Near Eastern Civilizations as well as the Egyptian kingdoms transformed art and architecture using intricate detail and eclectic style. They erected massive structures across their landscapes as well as statues of real and mythical beings. In the Near Eastern culture the artists employed hieratic scale in order to emphasize the most important figure in the group. In addition the males also had stylized beards, hair and ornate headdresses to show their power and high status in society. In the Egyptian kingdoms artists, who were creating human figures, were mandated to use a standard scale on all their works which is known as the canon of proportion. This cannon allowed for uniformity among statues and a realization of accurate human characteristics in the artworks.
The River Valley civilizations of Sumer and Babylon employed the Near Eastern Characteristics of hieratic scale and stylized beards into their art and architecture. The Statues from the Abu Temple in Iraq 2700-2500 B.C.E. show how the Sumerian artists used hieratic scale to emphasize the importance of each figure (Janson 35). These statues were found throughout the ziggurat and it is hypothesized that the largest ones were placed closet to the top to show their devotion to the gods (Janson 35). In addition, since these figures were commissioned, the size of the sculptures was closely related to the quality of the offering. The statues within the temple were also sculptured with stylized beards and hairstyles which depicted their wealth and power over the people creating them. These characteristics help to enrich the art of Sumerian culture and also show that within Sumer a man’s beard was a point of reverence or sign of power and masculinity. The Babylonian civilization employs many of the same styles and techniques which can be exemplified by the Code of Hammurabi 1760 B.C.E. which was written in cuneiform on black basalt steles (Janson 39). The black steles which stood at about seven feet tall were meant to be the center of Babylonian civilization and enforce laws throughout the land (Janson 39). Their impressive size dwarfed the citizens of Babylon and helped to establish Hammurabi as the supreme leader. Hammurabi appears before the seated god, Shamash, and both figures are show with stylized beards, which may imply that stylized beards were worn by gods because of their power and men did the same in order to garner that power and respect. In addition both figures have almond shaped eyes and are in profile which indicates no interaction with the people, two other important Near Eastern Characteristics.
The Egyptian Kingdoms valued both art and architecture and devoted large amounts of time and labor to the construction of their monumental architecture. The artists were mandated to use a scale in their art known as the canon of proportion, which shows they had a deep understanding of human ratios. The cannon of proportion was a scale used to divide the body according to a standard module and although the body part measurements could differ from person to person the relationship between the parts remained the same (Janson 54). As a result an artist using this cannon could have the measurement of only one body part and still create an accurate portrait at any scale (Janson 54). This scale was based upon the cubit, the length of the forearm, and the size of the human foot and fist. The Sculpture of Khafra which was constructed around 2500 B.C.E. shows how the Egyptian king was represented as athletic and youthful which portrayed him as a great or strong leader in the eyes of the observers (Janson 53). The stylization of the figure’s beard and head dress shows that the sculptor purposely created this work with meticulous detail to show the power of the Egyptian Kingdom. Also the sculptures frontal position gave the effect he was looking out upon his kingdom and gave a powerful presence. The Egyptians erected their sculptures in order to send signals and messages to their people and of foreign lands of their strength and power.
The Near Eastern Civilizations as well as the Egyptian Kingdoms each had art dictated by what their cultures found important. The artists used widely known characteristics and ratios in order to give the art an aspect of uniformity and alliance throughout the civilizations. These techniques allowed for the artwork to be integrated into each society as well as contain a clear meaning or effect on the people of each culture.