ANCIENT ART (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400) – ArtPinStar
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ANCIENT ART (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400)


Unknown, Code of Hammurabi, circa 1792 and circa 1750 B.C. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Ancient Art (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400)

Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to those with an established written language. These civilizations included Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and those of the Americas.

The medium of a work of art from this period varies depending on the civilization that produced it, but most art served similar purposes: to tell stories, decorate utilitarian objects like bowls and weapons, display religious and symbolic imagery, and demonstrate social status. Many works depict stories of rulers, gods, and goddesses.

One of the most famous works from ancient Mesopotamia is the Code of Hammurabi. Created around 1792 B.C., the piece bears a Babylonian set of laws carved in stone, adorned by an image of King Hammurabi—the sixth King of Babylonia—and the Mesopotamian god, Shabash.