Мesopotamian architecture.

Four major culture groups dominated Mesopotamian history. They were the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. The history of the region was marked by numerous wars and invasions. Thus, the various cultures constructed many fortified buildings.

Most Mesopotamian buildings were made of brick and clay, which are not highly durable materials. As a result no complete example of Mesopotamian architecture has survived. However, archaeologists have beenable reconstruct the plans of some buildings.

A Sumerian civilization developed in Mesopotamia sometime during the 3000’s B.C. The first important Sumerian structures were temples. An early example was the White Temple (late 3000’s B.C.) in the city of Uruk.

The temple was made of whitewashed brick. Architects built the temple on a platform at the top of a pyramidlike lower. Such towers are called ziggurats.

During the mid-700’s B.C., the Assyrians conquered the region. They built palaces and temples influenced by Sumerian architecture but on a larger and more magnificent scale. The citadel of King Sargon II, which was built in the city of Khorsabad during the late 700’s B.C., was one of the greatest achievements of Assyrian architecture. The citadel stood in the northwest corner of the city and included palaces, temples, public buildings, and a ziggurat. A fortified wall enclosed the city.

After the Assyrians fell in the 600’s B.C., the Babylonians rose to power. They built a famous ziggurat referred to in the Bible as the Tower of Babel (early 500’s B.C.). Their capital city of Babylon also included the famous Hanging Gardens and the Ishtar Gate, which was decorated with colored glazed brick.

In 539 B.C., the Persians conquered Mesopotamia. The Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, did not require temples. But the Persians built many palaces, most notably a palace complex in the religious capital of Persepolis. This group of adjoining buildings, which was completed in the mid-400’s B.S., consisted of several palaces, halls, chambers, and courtyards. The Persian king received visitors in a huge room known as the Hall of One Hundred Columns. This room was 250 feet (76 meters0 square with a vast beamed ceiling supported by columns perhaps 60 feet (18 meters) high.

№ 3. Answer the following questions:

1) What culture groups dominated Mesopotamian history?

2) What kinds of buildings were constructed?

3) What materials were the most Mesopotamian buildings made of?

4) What were the first important Sumerian structures?

5) What was a ziggurat?

6) Who built palaces and temples influenced by Sumerian architecture?

7) What example of Assyrian architecture could you give?

8) What were the sights of the capital city of Bavilon?

9) What did the Persian palace complex consist of?

10) Where did the Persian king receive visitors?

№ 4. Match the phrases given below with their Ukrainian eguivalents:

1) a religious capital a) у великому

масштабi

2) ancient civilizations b) велетенська кімната

3) in a large scale c) укріплена стіна

4) numerous invasions d) релігійна столиця

5) a huge room e) найбільше

досягнення

6) a fortified wall f) древні цивілізації

7) the greatest achievement g) численні

вторгнення.