David Kertai MSc, MPhil - Dissertation project

Kings, cultures and palaces: An exploration of the interaction of architectural space and social structure in Neo-Assyrian palatial architecture

The research project comprises multidisciplinary research into the architecture and art of Neo-Assyrian palatial buildings and their relation to the organisation of society. Using current developments from the social, architectural, and historical sciences, the project will focus on those who lived in, worked in, and visited these buildings. It will criticize the manner in which social concepts are applied for the description and interpretation of spaces within Near Eastern archaeology. Concepts such as public and private and the harem are routinely used without clear definitions. In order to understand the interaction between architecture and society the current discourse needs to be deconstructed and redefined. In monarchical societies, such as the Neo-Assyrian empire, all that is conceived to be “public” is in fact personal possession of the king, while the “private” residence of the king is the most important governmental building. This requires a new way of conceptualising society. The project investigates the ways in which palatial space has shaped and has been shaped by Assyrian society and the role of the wall reliefs. It will incorporate a wide array of architectural research and redefine the relation between architecture and society.