Royal ideology in Mesopotamian iconography of the third and second millennia BCE with special reference to gestures

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis aims to examine to what extent the visual representations of ancient Mesopotamiaportrayed the royal ideology that was present during the time of their intended display. Theiconographic method is used in this study and this allows for a better understanding of themeaning behind the work of art. This method allows the study to better attempt tocomprehend the underlying ideology of the work of art. The eight images studied datebetween three thousand BCE and one thousand BCE and this provides a broad base for thestudy. By having such a broad base it enables the study to provide a brief understanding ofhow the ideology adapted over two thousand years. The broad base also enables the study toexamine a variety of different gestures that are portrayed on the representations. This therebyprovides the reader with a better understanding of why certain gestures were used and howthe underlying ideology was communicated through these movements. The study concludesthat while the gestures lend a life-like appearance to the representation they do not solelyportray an underlying ideological message. Rather, they enhance the already inherentideological message.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University