Religion as Represented in the Art of the Ancient Near East

Abstract

This essay looks at matters of religion in the art of the ancient Near East both from the point of view of religion as subject matter in the imagery of works of art, and religion in its wider sense that includes philosophical ideas of a sacral character that permeate the rationale of artistic production. In the first half of the essay, the discussion is centered on the way religion has been viewed and treated in the scholarly literature on the art of ancient Mesopotamia. Then follows a selective historical survey of questions and debates pertaining to religion and religious themes that have dominated the field of the history of ancient Near Eastern art.