Color and Meaning in Ancient Mesopotamia

The Case of Egyptian Blue

Bibliographic Data

ID20325403
AuthorsShiyanthi Thavapalan (0009-0001-1530-0079, Yale University, corresponding author), Jens Stenger (Swiss Institute for Art Research, corresponding author), Carol Snow (Yale University Art Gallery, United States of America, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume106
Issue2
Pages198-214
Publication date2016-12-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueZeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0084-5299 • E-ISSN: 1613-1150
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/za-2016-0014
OpenAlexW2560278496
LanguageEN
Citations received8

Despite its ubiquitous presence and obvious cultural significance in Mesopotamian art and architecture, the Akkadian language never developed a specific term for the color ‘blue.’ This article seeks to explain this omission and the Akkadian color system in light of ethno-linguistic data collected in the University of California-based World Color Survey project and the physical evidence for blue pigments and colorants. Special attention is paid to the results of multispectral-imaging analysis conducted on Yale University’s Assyrian relief sculpture from Nimrud. This investigation has revealed the use of Egyptian blue pigment in unexpected and hitherto unknown contexts in Assyrian architectural design

Akkadian · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Epistemology · Literature · Meaning (existential) · Mesopotamia · Sculpture · Visual arts · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Ancient Near East History · Architecture · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · History · Philosophy

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