It would be bold to say that at a passing glance anyone without proper knowledge of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian art would identity works like the Code of Hammurabi and the Palette of Narmer as coming from the same source. It would be an even bolder claim that the previous statement hides some truth to it. While the source of each piece are from different locations, the contexts and ideals depicted in the imagery are shared. As both artwork shows a powerful leader of their time announcing their powers to the people they rule, the similarities of these societies behind them can be easily decrypted to where the cultural background could be compared to one another.
Before comparing the shared ideals of the Code of Hammurabi and the Palette …show more content…
For the Code of Hammurabi, Babylonian ruler Hammurabi is receiving laws from the sun god Shamash. With these laws from the gods, Hammurabi was able to unite the disjointed government in Mesopotamia. In the Palette of Narmer, King Namer of Egypt is shown to wear the white crown of Upper Egypt while attacking a figure and the red crown of Lower Egypt when leading his people. This is a showing of power of the man who repaired the union of the previously splintered kingdom. As one man is conversing with a god while the other one is taking control of the land, these two art pieces show that power that these kings held. One interesting note about both pieces is the depictions of their gods and symbol of power. In the Code of Hammurabi, Shamash, who is also known as the god of justice, is holding an extension of this power: a measuring rode and a rope circle. Depicted in the front of the Palette of Narmer is the god of the sky Horus, holding a rope above the figure’s neck. It strange to see that these gods known for protecting their worshipers would carry a rope as a symbol of their strength. It is likely that the rope represents the gods’ or the rulers strong hold on civilization. This is shown as Shamash, who is holding the rope, is giving Hammurabi his law and giving the Babylonian ruler the power to control Mesopotamia. In Horus case, it is a representation of Narmer having a
Before comparing the shared ideals of the Code of Hammurabi and the Palette …show more content…
For the Code of Hammurabi, Babylonian ruler Hammurabi is receiving laws from the sun god Shamash. With these laws from the gods, Hammurabi was able to unite the disjointed government in Mesopotamia. In the Palette of Narmer, King Namer of Egypt is shown to wear the white crown of Upper Egypt while attacking a figure and the red crown of Lower Egypt when leading his people. This is a showing of power of the man who repaired the union of the previously splintered kingdom. As one man is conversing with a god while the other one is taking control of the land, these two art pieces show that power that these kings held. One interesting note about both pieces is the depictions of their gods and symbol of power. In the Code of Hammurabi, Shamash, who is also known as the god of justice, is holding an extension of this power: a measuring rode and a rope circle. Depicted in the front of the Palette of Narmer is the god of the sky Horus, holding a rope above the figure’s neck. It strange to see that these gods known for protecting their worshipers would carry a rope as a symbol of their strength. It is likely that the rope represents the gods’ or the rulers strong hold on civilization. This is shown as Shamash, who is holding the rope, is giving Hammurabi his law and giving the Babylonian ruler the power to control Mesopotamia. In Horus case, it is a representation of Narmer having a