Standard of Ur from the royal tombs
Summerian. c. 26000-24000 B.C.E. Wood inlaid with shell, lapis, lazuli, and red limestone.
21.59 x 49.5 x 12 cm (British Museum)
FORM:
Colorful mosaic tiles made from shell (from Persian gulf), red limestone (from India), blue lapis lazuli (from Afghanistan) , set in bitumen
Very small- can be carried
FUNCTION:
Largely unknown
“Standard” was usually a flag brought into battle in war- art historians hypothesize that this standard was once on a pole and brought into battle
Also intentionally buried- very valuable object at the time
May be a holder of currency used to pay for the war
May be a music box
A lot of speculation, little to no clear record on its use!
CONTENT:
The other side shows men who are bringing fish and crops to the Sumerians- suspected to be tribute paid to the Sumerians or loot the Sumerians brought back in war - known as the “War” side
Very festive- end of war type scene- a large banquet occurs and people are watching one man sing and play the lyre- known as the “Peace” side
Talons are holding an arrow- symbol of war
Olive branch- symbol of peace
Divided into three registers
Bottom register- people holding bags and carrying things on their shoulders and on their bags
Second register- people bringing animals to sacrifice or for tax collection to the king
King (disproportionately large) sitting on a chair (legs are from animals)
Celebratory mood and scene with a lot of cups- beverages
Other side is divided into three registers as well
Naturalistic battle scene taking place- chariots and horses running at full speed and
Enemies of war (naked and bleeding) brought into the scene and given to the king
A lot of detail present in the scene
the registers at the bottom are less detailed and more uniform (and as you move up everything gets more detailed and singular)
everyone is in profile perspective
shows hierarchical scale
king = bigger than everyone else + different clothes
CONTEXT:
Found just south of modern day Iraq
Prosperous and fertile area for agriculture- profit and surplus of food built in more time for art
More levels of wealth and different roles in society (wealth led to more priests and organized religion)
Different classes of people reflected on the standard- poor on the bottom and rich on the top.
found in the Graves of Ur- used from 2600-2000 BCE
one grave could hold as many as 74 sacrificial victims
very rich resources/minerals found here
standard of Ur found in one of these graves
THEMES:
sacrifice
warfare
masculinity
community
power and authority
class divide
wealth and status
CULTURAL COMPARISONS:
Column of Trajan
Bayeux Tapestry
Last Judgement of Hu-Nefer (Book of the Dead)
Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace
SOURCES;
British Museum
Khan Academy
