Editing Architecture of Mesopotamia (section)

== Palaces ==
[[File:Artist’s_impression_of_a_hall_in_an_Assyrian_palace_from_The_Monuments_of_Nineveh_by_Sir_Austen_Henry_Layard,_1853.jpg|thumb|Artist's impression of a hall in an Assyrian palace from ''The Monuments of Nineveh'' by [[Austen Henry Layard]], 1853]]
The [[palace]] came into existence during the Early Dynastic I period. From a rather modest beginning the palace grows in size and complexity as power is increasingly centralized. The palace is called a 'Big House' (Cuneiform: <sup>E₂</sup>.GAL Sumerian e₂-gal Akkdian: ''ekallu'') where the [[lugal]] or [[Ensí|ensi]] lived and worked.

The palaces of the early Mesopotamian elites were large-scale complexes, and were often lavishly decorated. Earliest known examples are from the [[Diyala River]] valley sites such as Khafajah and Tell Asmar. These third millennium BC palaces functioned as large-scale socio-economic institutions, and therefore, along with residential and private functions, they housed craftsmen workshops, food storehouses, ceremonial courtyards, and are often associated with shrines. For instance, the so-called "[[giparu]]" (Sumerian: <sup>e₂</sup>gi₆-par₄-ku₃) at Ur where the Moon god [[Sin (mythology)|Nanna]]'s priestesses resided was a major complex with multiple courtyards, a number of sanctuaries, burial chambers for dead priestesses, and a ceremonial banquet hall. A similarly complex example of a Mesopotamian palace was excavated at [[Mari, Syria|Mari]] in [[Syria]], dating from the [[First Babylonian dynasty|Old Babylonian]] period.

Assyrian palaces of the Iron Age, especially at Kalhu/[[Nimrud]], Dur Sharrukin/[[Khorsabad]] and Ninuwa/[[Nineveh]], have become famous due to the [[Assyrian palace reliefs]], extensive pictorial and textual narrative programs on their walls, all carved on stone slabs known as [[orthostat]]s. These pictorial programs incorporated either cultic scenes or the narrative accounts of the kings' military and civic accomplishments. Gates and important passageways were flanked with massive stone sculptures of apotropaic mythological figures, ''[[lamassu]]'' and [[winged genie]]s. The architectural arrangement of these Iron Age palaces were also organized around large and small courtyards. Usually the king's throne room opened to a massive ceremonial courtyard where important state councils met and state ceremonies were performed.

Massive amounts of [[Nimrud Ivories|ivory furniture pieces]] were found in some Assyrian palaces pointing to an intense trade relationship with North Syrian [[Neo-Hittite]] states at the time. Bronze repousse bands decorated the wooden gates of major buildings, but were mostly looted at the fall of the empire; the [[Balawat Gates]] are the principal survivors.