Stele Of Naram Sin Analysis

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The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin In the Akkadian culture, they held art in high regard, particularly imperial art depicting the Akkadian Dynasty. During the reign of Naram-Sin art and power reached its apogee in the Akkadian culture and many artistic structures such as steles were created. A stele is a vertical stone monument or marker often inscribed with text or relief carving. Steles help to understand better the values, attitudes, and beliefs of the people living during the time of its creation. The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin, constructed between 2254-2218 B.C.E is a six-foot, seven-inch-tall slab of rose limestone. The stele was used to publically commemorate Naram-Sin and his military’s victorious defeat of the Lullubi mountain people …show more content…

The soldiers appear to be very disciplined, organized, upright, and proud, they never break their ranks and are marching in a continuous straight line. The soldiers are meant to symbolize behaviour and attitudes of the Akkadian people. To the right of and beneath Naram-Sin are the Lullubi people who give the impression of being trampled on by Naram-Sin, fallen and wounded. They represent people that are in a state of chaos, the Akkadians are under Naram-Sin’s feet, begging as they flee and being thrown off the mountain headlong. The relief carving is dominated by Naram-Sin who is the sole figure carved in the top of the stele. In the carving, Naram-Sin portrays godlike divinity and this is understood through many accoutrements of the carving, one of which being his size. Naram-Sin is the largest figure on the stele, towering over the others; this denotes his dominance as a deific ruler. He wears a horned helmet signifying divinity--- the first time a king appears as a god in Mesopotamian art. He ascends towards the heavens above him which are represented by what are understood to be three stars (which are partly damaged) these symbolize the gods shining down on him. The inclusion of these deities suggests that the gods have sanctioned Naram-Sin’s military triumph,

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