On Art in the Ancient Near East: Of the First Millennium B.C.E.

Winter (art history, Harvard University) presents fifteen essays that were published over a thirty-five year period on the art of the Assyrian empire, North Syria and the Phoenicians from the third to the first millennium B.C.E. She emphasizes the importance of seeing the artifacts as part of the whole of the culture, to be studied along with archaeological and literary information. The first group of articles focuses on Assyrian relief carvings, often on mythical or historical subjects. The second covers luxury goods of bronze and ivory, which are looked at in terms of art and trade with outside cultures. The third section, "Interactions of Time and Space" contains essays on subjects of debate within the field: the question of a local style at Hansanlu, the context of the Karatepe reliefs, cultural interaction between Assyria and North Syria, the artistic and political role of the city of Carchemish and representations of the Phoenicians in Homer and in archaeology. The depth of knowledge is impressive as is the comprehensive understanding of the culture. Several pages of photographs of the art discussed are at the end of each chapter. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)