[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.22,0:00:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(piano music)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.30,0:00:09.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Ancient Mesopotamia is\Noften credited as the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.04,0:00:11.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cradle of civilization,\Nthat is, the place where
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.11,0:00:12.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,farming and cities began.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.64,0:00:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It makes it seem so peaceful, but this was
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.68,0:00:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,anything but the case.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.17,0:00:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it was really a\Nseries of civilizations
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.70,0:00:20.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that conquered each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.16,0:00:22.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-We're in a room in the Louvre filled with
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.36,0:00:26.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sculpture from the\NAssyrians, who controlled
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.11,0:00:29.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the ancient Near East from about 1000 BCE
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.09,0:00:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to around 500 BCE.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.14,0:00:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And these sculptures\Nin particular come from
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.50,0:00:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the palace of Sargon the\N2nd, and we're carved
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.63,0:00:39.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the height of Assyrian civilization in
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.25,0:00:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the 8th century BCE.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.08,0:00:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-So this is modern day Khorsabad.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.22,0:00:44.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-In Iraq.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.07,0:00:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And various Assyrian\Nkings established palaces
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.07,0:00:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at different cities.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.92,0:00:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there were palaces at Nimrid and Assur
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.57,0:00:54.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before this, and after there'll be
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.65,0:00:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a palace at Nineveh, but\Nthese sculptures come
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.98,0:01:00.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from an excavation from\Nmodern day Khorsabad.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.39,0:01:02.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-The most impressive\Nsculptures that survive
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.68,0:01:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are the guardian figures\Nthat protected the city's
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.78,0:01:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gates, and protected the\Ngates of the citadel itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.20,0:01:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is, the area within\Nwhich were both the temple
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.44,0:01:13.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the royal palace.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.95,0:01:16.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-So at each of these\Nvarious gates, there were
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.61,0:01:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,guardian figures that\Nwere winged bulls with
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.50,0:01:20.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the heads of men.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.69,0:01:22.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-We think they were called Lamassu.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.66,0:01:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-As figures that stood at\Ngateways, they make sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.38,0:01:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're fearsome, they look powerful.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.30,0:01:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They could also be an\Nexpression of the power
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.76,0:01:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Assyrian king.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.10,0:01:35.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-They are enormous, but\Neven they would have
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.51,0:01:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,been dwarfed by the architecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.41,0:01:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They would have stood between huge arches.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.30,0:01:42.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, they had some structural purpose.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.10,0:01:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's interesting to\Nnote that each of these
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.94,0:01:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lamassu are actually\Ncarved out of a monolithic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.75,0:01:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stone, that is, there are no cuts here.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.12,0:01:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are single pieces\Nof stone, and in the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.59,0:01:54.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ancient world, it was no\Nsmall task to get these
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.81,0:01:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stones in place.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.10,0:01:58.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Well, and apparently,\Nthere were relief carvings
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.34,0:02:01.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the palace that depicted\Nmoving these massive
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.86,0:02:03.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lamassu into place.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.86,0:02:05.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's important to\Nremember that the Lamassu
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.95,0:02:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were the gateway figures,\Nbut the walls of the
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.79,0:02:12.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,palace were decorated\Nwith relief sculpture
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.15,0:02:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showing hunting scenes and other scenes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.98,0:02:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,indicating royal power.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.72,0:02:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-This is a Lamassu that\Nwas actually a guardian
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.67,0:02:19.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the exterior gate of the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.71,0:02:21.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's in awfully good condition.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.42,0:02:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Well my favorite part is the crown.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.28,0:02:26.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's decorated with\Nrosettes, and then double
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.99,0:02:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,horns that come around\Ntoward the top center,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.82,0:02:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then on top of that,\Na ring of feathers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.05,0:02:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-It's really delicate for such a massive
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.83,0:02:36.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and powerful creature.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.02,0:02:37.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The faces are extraordinary.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.01,0:02:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all, just at\Nthe top of the forehead,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.03,0:02:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see kind of incised\Nwavy hair that comes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.24,0:02:45.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just below the crown, and then you have
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.22,0:02:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a connected eyebrow.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.88,0:02:49.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And then the ears are the ears of a bull
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.75,0:02:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that wear earrings.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.99,0:02:52.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Actually quite elaborate earrings.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.61,0:02:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Well the whole form is so decorative.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.27,0:02:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And then there's that marvelous, complex
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.56,0:02:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,representation of the beard.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.37,0:03:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see little ringlets\Non the cheeks of the face,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.10,0:03:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then as the beard comes down, you see
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.50,0:03:07.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these spirals that turn downward, and then
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.44,0:03:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are interrupted by a\Nseries of horizontal bands.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.26,0:03:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And then the wings too\Nform this lovely decorative
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.34,0:03:16.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pattern up the side of\Nthe animal, and then
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.42,0:03:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,across it's back.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.83,0:03:20.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-In fact across the body\Nitself there are ringlets
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.46,0:03:23.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well, so we get a sense\Nof the fur of the beast.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.37,0:03:26.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then under the creature,\Nand around the legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.27,0:03:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see inscriptions in cuneiform.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.29,0:03:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Some of which declare\Nthe power of the king.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.59,0:03:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And damnation for those\Nthat would threaten
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.50,0:03:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the king's work, that is, the citadel.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.40,0:03:37.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-What's interesting too\Nis that these were meant
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.30,0:03:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be seen both from a frontal view and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.74,0:03:41.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a profile view.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.84,0:03:43.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Well if you count up the number of legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.41,0:03:44.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's one too many.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.47,0:03:45.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are five.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.30,0:03:48.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-Right, two from the front,\Nand four from the side,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.24,0:03:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but of course, one of\Nthe front legs overlaps,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.62,0:03:52.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so there are five legs.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.19,0:03:54.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-What's interesting is\Nthat when you look at the
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.46,0:03:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creature from the side,\Nyou actually see that
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.74,0:03:58.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's moving forward,\Nbut when you look at it
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.68,0:04:01.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the front, those two legs are static
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.12,0:04:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the beast is stationary.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.98,0:04:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And think about what\Nthis means for a guardian
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.94,0:04:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,figure at a gate.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.10,0:04:09.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As we approach, we see\Nit still, watching us
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.35,0:04:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we move, but if we\Nbelong, if we're friendly,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.34,0:04:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're allowed to pass\Nthis gate, as we move
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.74,0:04:17.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through it, we see the animal itself move.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.54,0:04:19.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And then we have this\Ncombination of these
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.38,0:04:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,decorative forms that\Nwe've been talking about
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.68,0:04:24.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a sensitivity to the anatomy of this
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.70,0:04:26.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,composite animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.02,0:04:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His abdomen swells, and\Nhis hindquarters move
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.10,0:04:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,back, and then we can see\Nthe veins, and muscles,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.10,0:04:34.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bones in his leg.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.51,0:04:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-So there really is\Nthis funny relationship
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.32,0:04:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the naturalistic\Nand the imagination
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.85,0:04:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the sculpture.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.86,0:04:42.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-And the decorative,\Nbut all speaking to the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.93,0:04:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,power, the authority of the\Nking and the fortifications
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.58,0:04:50.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this palace, and this city.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.61,0:04:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-They are incredibly impressive.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.16,0:04:54.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would be impossible\Nto broach the citadel
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.07,0:04:56.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without being awestruck by the power
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.23,0:04:57.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this civilization.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.92,0:05:02.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(piano music)