Analysis Of The Victory Stele Of Naram-Sin

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Stele Adumbration of Evolving Ideologies The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin is a vertical stone marker, referred to as a stele, that depicts the military triumph of Naram-Sin and his army over the Lullubi people from the city-state of Sumer in eastern Mesopotamia. This stele, an artifact I find most intriguing due to its dynamic symbolism and compelling story-telling, elaborately details not only one of Naram-Sin 's greatest military victories but displays, what I believe to be, Naram-Sin as a divine-like being, suggesting a change in the religious ideas of the Ancient Near East era. As the text in Art and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities explains, rulers of this time period we not viewed as gods, but as an “intermediary between the god and the people,” yet this artifact gives the impression of quite the opposite. The symbolism suggesting the alteration in religious ideas is profoundly depicted throughout every detail of this artifact, not only through its focal point, Naram-Sin, but among the minute details of the accompanying figures and the overall composition of this artwork. The most distinguishable element of this artifact that displays the …show more content…

It seems probable that the stone slab was actively given its triangular, tapering shape, seemingly providing it with a frame. This subtle bordering affect impeccably accommodates its magnificent features while simultaneously forcing a spectators eyes up towards the most imperative elements. Conjointly, the lateral positioning of the multiple attending figures leads the viewers eyes straight up towards Naram-Sin, illuminating his grand divine-like prominence. It is indisputable that one could conceptualize this arrangement of compositional elements to be expressing that Naram-Sin is identifying himself as a god, something uncommon for this interval in

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