A new look at analyzing hunting scenes in the arts of Mesopotamia during the third and second millennium BC

Abstract

The history of the hunting profession dates back to the early ages of the Mesopotamian civilization, as it preceded man’s knowledge of agriculture and the domestication of animals. At that time, man relied on securing his strength on hunting, collecting wild plants and picking fruits, and since writing was not yet invented, archaeologists rely on some physical evidence. Represented by the hunting tools and machines used at that time, most of which were stone tools, and the beginning of historical eras revealed to us the texts written in the cuneiform script about the extent of the interest of the inhabitants of Mesopotamia in this profession, which has become an important economic source in the life of the population, and because of its economic importance, it was mentioned in the Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform texts and became one of the pillars The basics on which the economy of cities depends, and the fishermen represented an important category of society, as some of them worked for a personal benefit that was not affiliated with the state, and some worked for the benefit of the palace and others for the temple. The enormous artistic achievements that the ancient Mesopotamian artist excelled in forming the great civilized role of the Mesopotamian sculptor in his interaction with the community to convey a clear picture of the life and daily practices of the community, and the artistic significance of the subject of hunting in particular confirms in one way or another the ideology of that era, the ideas expressed by the general framework of the scene Art is nothing but a reflection of the combination of the society in which he lives, and therefore art in all its elements is under the influence of society.