Reply To: Social stratification in the Ancient Near East

[Maggie May]

Social stratification of the Ancient Near East is exemplified through it’s art. We see divinely appointed rulers (as exemplified in the Stele of Naram-Sin) who rule over citizens whose role was to serve them and their societies (also as in the Warka Vase). In the Warka Vase, we see stratification broken into gods, rulers appointed by gods, others, and finally animals. In the Stele of Naram-Sin, it is exemplfied by the depicition of Naram-Sin as larger and more powerful than others. We also see social stratification in burial sites, where the most “signifcant” members of a society were buried with many artifacts (such as the Lyre) which signified their wealth or power within the society.