Architectural Styles

    Sumerian

    Alt names / subperiods 

    Timeline

    Distinguishing Features

    Geographic Presence

    Wikipedia

    4500-1800 BCE

    • Mud brick construction
    • planned cities
    • walls
    • fortifications
    • carvings
    • reliefs
    • painted motifs
    • multi-room structures
    • columned halls
    • flat roofs
    • corbel arches
    • vaults
    • irrigation systems
    • sculptural elements
    • water management
    • Mesopotamia

    Common Building Types

    Landmark buildings

    Historic Accommodation Types

    Traveller accommodation example

    • Ziggurats
    • Temples
    • Palaces
    • houses
    • administrative centers
    • granaries
    • citites (Ur, Uruk, and Lagash)
    • Ziggurat of Ur
    • Ziggurat of Nippur (Ekur)
    • Temple of Inanna at Uruk
    • White Temple of Uruk
    • City of Eridu
    • Great Ziggurat of Babylon
    • Palace of Gudea at Lagash,
    • Cities (Ur, Uruk, Lagash) had resting places at markets and city gates
    • Taverns
    • admin & travel records of accommodation for caravans
    • guest rooms in residences
    • early caravanserais along trade routes
    • merchant halls
    • cultural hospitality practices
    • Tavern at Lagash (archaeological site)

    Gallery