Art, architecture, and traditions are among the oldest in the history of mankind.
It is also in these lands of Tigris and Euphrates that the earliest civilization in the world emerged.
Art and architecture formed a very significant component of the culture of the people in Mesopotamia in terms of their religious beliefs. Mesopotamia was characterized by the existence of the Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonians all of whom contributed a lot to cultural aspects of the region.
Arts and architecture in the civilization of Mesopotamia played a vital role as far as uniting the people towards a more stable state.
Arts and architecture were influenced by both political and religious factors.
Therefore, it is obvious that the end product of this influence depicted both the state and the religious believes.
The arts were symbolic of both political and religious leaders in the region. The arts and architecture were therefore very important aspects that provided unity between the state and the religion.
In the earlier years art in Mesopotamia incorporated small engraved stones which served the purpose of personal identification. The clay tablets were used almost the same time as clay tablets.
Babylonians under their king Nebuchadnezzar II constructed using their arts the hanging gardens of Babylon which were used by both the state and the religious groups.
The oval temple which was a new building was introduced in Sumeria during the first epoch.
This building consisted of an enclosure that had a central platform sustaining a shrine.
They were centered in cities that were headed by non-divine kings.
The Sumerians constructed vast palaces for their kings as part of their architecture.
The same artists involved in designing and constructing the palaces also built the temples.
Therefore, the styles of painting and construction were the same in both religious and political institutions.
They were very important to the state because they also acted as boundaries just like the limestone still of the king. These arts symbolize the relationship which existed between the state and the Gods that were worshipped in those cities. The Sumerians constructed temples on top of large areas of ziggurats. These were places for the worship of the gods.
The architecture in Mesopotamia was meant to unite the people for the purpose of good governance by the government of that time and at the same time, they were places for seeking a relationship with the gods. Features of architecture such as temples that were constructed in Mesopotamia were used by the people for social meetings.
Therefore, the state and the religious institution co-existed together in the ancient civilization in Mesopotamia. This kind of relationship was made possible by the culture of the people in which arts, architecture, and the gods influenced the life of the people.