Ancient Civilizations

Tell Asmar Activity
Paris High School humanities students as Tell Asmar figures

At Paris High School, the humanities class becomes the humanities experience. Students get a hands-on viewpoint of history, as they are actively involved in the arts of different time periods. Recently, the class studied ancient Mesopotamia and learned about the purposes of votive figures (statues) used in Mesopotamian temples. Students learned that these figures are easily recognizable by their kilts, pose, and enlarged eyes. Another concept learned, is that in ancient art many times the importance of different figures was symbolized by size. Students really got "into" the lesson as they dressed as these figures and created different "sizes" to show hierarchy of the figures.

Before starting this project remind the students of the 3 conventions of Sumerian Art:

• Repetition
• Simplification
• Abstraction

Review the concept of HIERARCHY OF SIZE and how the 3 conventions of Sumerian Art can be identified in the Tell Asmar figures:

• The tallest figure was the god of vegetation, next tallest represent a mother goddess, next largest figures are priests, and smallest figures are worshippers.
• Bodies are cylindrical and scarcely differentiated by gender, with their uplifted heads and hands clasped. This is a pose of supplication-wanting or waiting for something.
• Every element of the Tell Asmar figures, except the faces, is reduced to the simplest form possible. This stylized method reinforces the POWER of the FACES. Vast eyes dominate the figures-the eyes would have once been inlaid with colored stone or enamel.

Materials needed for this project:

• Pictures of Tell Asmar figures from the web
• large sheets of craft paper
• white and black paper for eyes
• tape
• string
• wigs/string for hair and beards
• 10 to 15 students
• imagination