Discussion of the likelihood of a larger than life statue of the so-called priest-king of Uruk in... more Discussion of the likelihood of a larger than life statue of the so-called priest-king of Uruk in the late Uruk period. Site, material, appearance, etc.
Beautiful Bodies: Gender and Corporeal Aesthetics in the Past, 2022
Using Queen Pû-abī as an example, this contribution investigates the aesthetics of leadership in ... more Using Queen Pû-abī as an example, this contribution investigates the aesthetics of leadership in ancient southern Mesopotamia (modern South Iraq) around 2500 BCE. The study is guided by a theoretical framework that conceptualises leadership as an embodied, sensory and felt experience involving the active participation of the followers. I will demonstrate how the aesthetic leadership of Sumerian queens supported the claim to power of the Sumerian royal houses. The decisive factor being the close linking of religious, cultural and social ideas, as well as values and norms in the appearance of Sumerian queens. It is argued, that the resplendent inner and outer beauty of the Sumerian queens evoked strong positive feelings – like admiration, joy, hope and security – and substantiated the idealisation and sacredness of rulership.
This article intends to provide an overview of the range of mosaics excavated in the Riemchen Bui... more This article intends to provide an overview of the range of mosaics excavated in the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka. One particular aim of the study was to reconstruct the chain opératoire of the mosaic production in the Late Uruk period in Uruk. A discussion of formal aesthetic aspects of the geometric mosaic designs and first ideas about the function of the discussed mosaics follows. Results are based both on the analysis of the original excavation documents, and on the study of the mosaics and inlays included in the Uruk-Warka Collection of the Oriental Department of the German Archaeological Institut at Heidelberg University.
RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. www.cnrs.fr www.inist.fr Bookm... more RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. www.cnrs.frwww.inist.fr Bookmark and Share. Découvrir / Discover. Refdoc. EXPORT. Mendeley to Mendeley. EndNote to EndNote. INIST Diffusion. 2, Allée du ...
Uruk. Altorientalische Metropole und Kulturzentrale, 2021
The contribution examens the iconography of the 'reed-bundle (Schilfringbündel)', one of the earl... more The contribution examens the iconography of the 'reed-bundle (Schilfringbündel)', one of the earlist religious iconographies (c. 3500 BC Mesopotamia); conventionally the 'reed-bundle' is associated with the goddess Inanna, however, there are significant differences. With catalog.
The chaîne opératoire of the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka is the basis for an organizational s... more The chaîne opératoire of the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka is the basis for an organizational scheme that describes the collaboration between a central 'building authority' and other administrative units, central depots and workshops operating in the central area of Uruk; these are departments of a palatial institution. Quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the building process will be discussed.
This article asks: What possibilities did the poor on the one hand and the rich on the other have... more This article asks: What possibilities did the poor on the one hand and the rich on the other have to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense? The following points will be discussed: (a) general remarks on Mesopotamian body and beauty concepts; (b) body hair removal, (c) body cleansing, (d) skin care, (e) hair treatment, (f) beard grooming, (g) facial treatment, (h) garments and jewellery. It is shown that the poor, because of their living conditions and lack of resources, had little opportunity to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense. Their inability to be beautiful can be interpreted as a direct consequence of the unequal distribution of power and resources in Mesopotamian societies. One can also say that the institutions for which these people worked actively marginalized them by denying them the basis for a dignified, socially respected life. In Mesopotamian thought, however, the lack of beauty of the poor morally justified their social exclusion, since the lack of beauty seemed to express a certain remoteness from God and civilization. On the other hand, the beauty of the Mesopotamian elites displayed their dignified humanity and moral integrity, but most of all their closeness to the deities who were favourably disposed towards them and protected them. Beauty as the central theme of the Mesopotamian elites' self-representation ensured them positive attention, admiration, respect, and acceptance. The crucial point is that in Mesopotamia real or attributed physical traits functioned as equivalents of divine destiny, which was tantamount to an essentialization and naturalization of social relations.
See text. Riemchen building / mosaics / chaîne opératoire / discussion of the designs / functiona... more See text. Riemchen building / mosaics / chaîne opératoire / discussion of the designs / functional aspects / organisation of the working force etc.
In the course of his excavations of the Royal Cemetery at Ur Sir Leonhard Woolley came across a b... more In the course of his excavations of the Royal Cemetery at Ur Sir Leonhard Woolley came across a burial chamber (RT.1054) in which one had buried a person who was equipped with pieces of jewellery and artefacts otherwise found either in the graves of men or women. Despite the quite average grave equipment and the presence of items typically found with male burials Woolley assumed that this was the burial of a queen. In this contribution once more the gender and the rank of the interment will be discussed.
Published in: Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie, Band 8 (2015), 38-60.
In this paper I will discuss how seals may have been worn during the third millennium in the anci... more In this paper I will discuss how seals may have been worn during the third millennium in the ancient city of Ur. My arguments are based on a close analysis of the graves in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. On the basis of my analysis the following observations will be made: seals were fastened to a needle and could thus be worn highly visible on the upper part of the body. In some cases they were attached to a belt, while in others they were fixed to bracelets. There is no clear evidence that seals were worn in a chain around the neck. The way a seal was worn was clearly influenced by the gender of a person, with one exception: both men and women could attach their seals to bracelets. However, this particular practice of wearing seals is not attested before the Akkadian period.
This article was written for the general public. Structure: Bias that structure the research on M... more This article was written for the general public. Structure: Bias that structure the research on Mesopotamian women till today - education and training - marriage - the re-presentation of the "Stadtfürstin" - representative and diplomatic tasks - the É.MÌ (household of the wife) - chances and scope of action - personal life - death and burial - social status and importance of the office
Structure:
a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves
b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private G... more Structure: a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private Graves; a.2. in Royal Tombs c) female Musicians d) Women wearing Dog-Collars d.1.) in Private Graves; d.2. in Royal Tombs e) Current state of research; discussion; consequences of the archeological evidence for the interpretation of the 'co-interments' f) open questions English summery in preparation published in: It's a Long way to a Historiography of the Early Dynastic Peiod(s); eds. Reinhard Dittmann, Gebhard Selz in collaboration with Ellen Rehm pp.461-507.
Discussion of the likelihood of a larger than life statue of the so-called priest-king of Uruk in... more Discussion of the likelihood of a larger than life statue of the so-called priest-king of Uruk in the late Uruk period. Site, material, appearance, etc.
Beautiful Bodies: Gender and Corporeal Aesthetics in the Past, 2022
Using Queen Pû-abī as an example, this contribution investigates the aesthetics of leadership in ... more Using Queen Pû-abī as an example, this contribution investigates the aesthetics of leadership in ancient southern Mesopotamia (modern South Iraq) around 2500 BCE. The study is guided by a theoretical framework that conceptualises leadership as an embodied, sensory and felt experience involving the active participation of the followers. I will demonstrate how the aesthetic leadership of Sumerian queens supported the claim to power of the Sumerian royal houses. The decisive factor being the close linking of religious, cultural and social ideas, as well as values and norms in the appearance of Sumerian queens. It is argued, that the resplendent inner and outer beauty of the Sumerian queens evoked strong positive feelings – like admiration, joy, hope and security – and substantiated the idealisation and sacredness of rulership.
This article intends to provide an overview of the range of mosaics excavated in the Riemchen Bui... more This article intends to provide an overview of the range of mosaics excavated in the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka. One particular aim of the study was to reconstruct the chain opératoire of the mosaic production in the Late Uruk period in Uruk. A discussion of formal aesthetic aspects of the geometric mosaic designs and first ideas about the function of the discussed mosaics follows. Results are based both on the analysis of the original excavation documents, and on the study of the mosaics and inlays included in the Uruk-Warka Collection of the Oriental Department of the German Archaeological Institut at Heidelberg University.
RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. www.cnrs.fr www.inist.fr Bookm... more RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. www.cnrs.frwww.inist.fr Bookmark and Share. Découvrir / Discover. Refdoc. EXPORT. Mendeley to Mendeley. EndNote to EndNote. INIST Diffusion. 2, Allée du ...
Uruk. Altorientalische Metropole und Kulturzentrale, 2021
The contribution examens the iconography of the 'reed-bundle (Schilfringbündel)', one of the earl... more The contribution examens the iconography of the 'reed-bundle (Schilfringbündel)', one of the earlist religious iconographies (c. 3500 BC Mesopotamia); conventionally the 'reed-bundle' is associated with the goddess Inanna, however, there are significant differences. With catalog.
The chaîne opératoire of the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka is the basis for an organizational s... more The chaîne opératoire of the Riemchen Building in Uruk-Warka is the basis for an organizational scheme that describes the collaboration between a central 'building authority' and other administrative units, central depots and workshops operating in the central area of Uruk; these are departments of a palatial institution. Quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the building process will be discussed.
This article asks: What possibilities did the poor on the one hand and the rich on the other have... more This article asks: What possibilities did the poor on the one hand and the rich on the other have to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense? The following points will be discussed: (a) general remarks on Mesopotamian body and beauty concepts; (b) body hair removal, (c) body cleansing, (d) skin care, (e) hair treatment, (f) beard grooming, (g) facial treatment, (h) garments and jewellery. It is shown that the poor, because of their living conditions and lack of resources, had little opportunity to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense. Their inability to be beautiful can be interpreted as a direct consequence of the unequal distribution of power and resources in Mesopotamian societies. One can also say that the institutions for which these people worked actively marginalized them by denying them the basis for a dignified, socially respected life. In Mesopotamian thought, however, the lack of beauty of the poor morally justified their social exclusion, since the lack of beauty seemed to express a certain remoteness from God and civilization. On the other hand, the beauty of the Mesopotamian elites displayed their dignified humanity and moral integrity, but most of all their closeness to the deities who were favourably disposed towards them and protected them. Beauty as the central theme of the Mesopotamian elites' self-representation ensured them positive attention, admiration, respect, and acceptance. The crucial point is that in Mesopotamia real or attributed physical traits functioned as equivalents of divine destiny, which was tantamount to an essentialization and naturalization of social relations.
See text. Riemchen building / mosaics / chaîne opératoire / discussion of the designs / functiona... more See text. Riemchen building / mosaics / chaîne opératoire / discussion of the designs / functional aspects / organisation of the working force etc.
In the course of his excavations of the Royal Cemetery at Ur Sir Leonhard Woolley came across a b... more In the course of his excavations of the Royal Cemetery at Ur Sir Leonhard Woolley came across a burial chamber (RT.1054) in which one had buried a person who was equipped with pieces of jewellery and artefacts otherwise found either in the graves of men or women. Despite the quite average grave equipment and the presence of items typically found with male burials Woolley assumed that this was the burial of a queen. In this contribution once more the gender and the rank of the interment will be discussed.
Published in: Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie, Band 8 (2015), 38-60.
In this paper I will discuss how seals may have been worn during the third millennium in the anci... more In this paper I will discuss how seals may have been worn during the third millennium in the ancient city of Ur. My arguments are based on a close analysis of the graves in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. On the basis of my analysis the following observations will be made: seals were fastened to a needle and could thus be worn highly visible on the upper part of the body. In some cases they were attached to a belt, while in others they were fixed to bracelets. There is no clear evidence that seals were worn in a chain around the neck. The way a seal was worn was clearly influenced by the gender of a person, with one exception: both men and women could attach their seals to bracelets. However, this particular practice of wearing seals is not attested before the Akkadian period.
This article was written for the general public. Structure: Bias that structure the research on M... more This article was written for the general public. Structure: Bias that structure the research on Mesopotamian women till today - education and training - marriage - the re-presentation of the "Stadtfürstin" - representative and diplomatic tasks - the É.MÌ (household of the wife) - chances and scope of action - personal life - death and burial - social status and importance of the office
Structure:
a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves
b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private G... more Structure: a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private Graves; a.2. in Royal Tombs c) female Musicians d) Women wearing Dog-Collars d.1.) in Private Graves; d.2. in Royal Tombs e) Current state of research; discussion; consequences of the archeological evidence for the interpretation of the 'co-interments' f) open questions English summery in preparation published in: It's a Long way to a Historiography of the Early Dynastic Peiod(s); eds. Reinhard Dittmann, Gebhard Selz in collaboration with Ellen Rehm pp.461-507.
FemArc -Netzwerk archäologisch arbeitender Frauen e.V. 6 Enheduanna -erster homme des lettres der... more FemArc -Netzwerk archäologisch arbeitender Frauen e.V. 6 Enheduanna -erster homme des lettres der ‚Weltliteratur' von Helga Vogel (Mit Anmerkungen und Literaturhinweisen versehene Fassung des am 10. Mai 2014 im Rahmen der Langen Nacht der Wissenschaften am Exzellenzcluster TOPOI gehaltenen Vortrages. Studierende gestalteten anschließend eine szenische Lesung des Hymnus NIN ME ŠARA, die großen Anklang fand.)
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Papers by Helga Vogel
The following points will be discussed: (a) general remarks on Mesopotamian body and beauty concepts; (b) body hair removal, (c) body cleansing, (d) skin care, (e) hair treatment, (f) beard grooming, (g) facial treatment, (h) garments and jewellery.
It is shown that the poor, because of their living conditions and lack of resources, had little opportunity to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense. Their inability to be beautiful can be interpreted as a direct consequence of the unequal distribution of power and resources in Mesopotamian societies. One can also say that the institutions for which these people worked actively marginalized them by denying them the basis for a dignified, socially respected life. In Mesopotamian thought, however, the lack of beauty of the poor morally justified their social exclusion, since the lack of beauty seemed to express a certain remoteness from God and civilization. On the other hand, the beauty of the Mesopotamian elites displayed their dignified humanity and moral integrity, but most of all their closeness to the deities who were favourably disposed towards them and protected them. Beauty as the central theme of the Mesopotamian elites' self-representation ensured them positive attention, admiration, respect, and acceptance. The crucial point is that in Mesopotamia real or attributed physical traits functioned as equivalents of divine destiny, which was tantamount to an essentialization and naturalization of social relations.
Published in: Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie, Band 8 (2015), 38-60.
Mein eigener Artikel kann von der website des Verlages heruntergeladen werden: https://www.zabern.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=zeitschrift_detail_neu&id=24743
a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves
b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private Graves; a.2. in Royal Tombs
c) female Musicians
d) Women wearing Dog-Collars d.1.) in Private Graves; d.2. in Royal Tombs
e) Current state of research; discussion; consequences of the archeological evidence for the interpretation of the 'co-interments'
f) open questions
English summery in preparation
published in: It's a Long way to a Historiography of the Early Dynastic Peiod(s); eds. Reinhard Dittmann, Gebhard Selz in collaboration with Ellen Rehm pp.461-507.
The following points will be discussed: (a) general remarks on Mesopotamian body and beauty concepts; (b) body hair removal, (c) body cleansing, (d) skin care, (e) hair treatment, (f) beard grooming, (g) facial treatment, (h) garments and jewellery.
It is shown that the poor, because of their living conditions and lack of resources, had little opportunity to be beautiful in the Mesopotamian sense. Their inability to be beautiful can be interpreted as a direct consequence of the unequal distribution of power and resources in Mesopotamian societies. One can also say that the institutions for which these people worked actively marginalized them by denying them the basis for a dignified, socially respected life. In Mesopotamian thought, however, the lack of beauty of the poor morally justified their social exclusion, since the lack of beauty seemed to express a certain remoteness from God and civilization. On the other hand, the beauty of the Mesopotamian elites displayed their dignified humanity and moral integrity, but most of all their closeness to the deities who were favourably disposed towards them and protected them. Beauty as the central theme of the Mesopotamian elites' self-representation ensured them positive attention, admiration, respect, and acceptance. The crucial point is that in Mesopotamia real or attributed physical traits functioned as equivalents of divine destiny, which was tantamount to an essentialization and naturalization of social relations.
Published in: Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie, Band 8 (2015), 38-60.
Mein eigener Artikel kann von der website des Verlages heruntergeladen werden: https://www.zabern.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=zeitschrift_detail_neu&id=24743
a) The Royal Cemetery: Royal Tombs/ Private Graves
b) Men with Brims a.1) in Private Graves; a.2. in Royal Tombs
c) female Musicians
d) Women wearing Dog-Collars d.1.) in Private Graves; d.2. in Royal Tombs
e) Current state of research; discussion; consequences of the archeological evidence for the interpretation of the 'co-interments'
f) open questions
English summery in preparation
published in: It's a Long way to a Historiography of the Early Dynastic Peiod(s); eds. Reinhard Dittmann, Gebhard Selz in collaboration with Ellen Rehm pp.461-507.