following observations will concentrate on the larger one of the two areas, the Eanna
precinct, located right in the center of Uruk (Boehmer 1987 ).
Uruk – level VI to level IV: a monumental precinct is being producedThree construction stages, Uruk levels VI, V and IV(c, b and a), show the development
of public buildings from the mid-fourth to early third millennium (Figure 9. 1 ).With
the architectural development of Uruk layer VI to layer IV those responsible for the
layout constructed the monumental buildings that characterised Eannaat this time
and created a centre of previously unknown monumentality (Amiet 1977 ). Layer VI
was characterised by the so-called ‘Stone Cone temple’. In layer V the ‘Limestone
temple’ was added. Its floor plan, the tripartite building plan, became the characteristic
form of the monumental architecture of Uruk at the time, characterised inter alia by
the remarkably numerous entries into the buildings of this type. The building complex
was extended in layers IVc and b when the monumental buildings A, B, F, G, H were
enclosed, all corresponding in style to the ‘Limestone temple’. All structures were
rectangular, open, conforming to the tripartite floor plan, two parallel rows of rooms
with an open hall in between. Variations occurred, some buildings had a T-shaped floor
plan. However, a local standardisation of ground plans in this type of public building
can be seen. Several courtyards and halls completed the picture. The development of
the Eannaprecinct from layers VI to layer IVb followed a scheme that step by step
added more standardised building forms to the overall ensemble. This homogeneity
underwent a break when the last building of layer IVb came into being, the so-called
‘Square building’. It differed in its form from all other buildings of the Eanna: a square
basic form, built of four wings that enclosed a huge courtyard and thus it did not
belong to the tripartite building type. It remained unique as a building type in the
history of Uruk. After a certain length of time whose absolute duration is not yet
known, the monumental buildings of EannaIVb were torn down, with one exception:
the Square building. A new plan was instituted and with layer IVa the area reached a
size and monumentality without parallel and which was never again achieved. Halls,
pillar buildings and the creation of a large courtyard gradually emerged as elements of
the new overall design. However, the main building, known as building C, followed
the traditional tripartite building form of layer IVb. The Square building first formed
a part of the new ensemble, but had then to make way for another new building, house
D, likewise constructed according to the traditional tripartite floor plan of layer IVb,
but unique in size and dimension and larger than all the buildings so far known in
Eanna.The tradition of the ‘classic’ design had thus prevailed and the dimensions of
house D left no doubt what those responsible for the design of Eannaconsidered the
‘right’ tradition. The oversized house D and the complete obliteration of memories of
the Square building had been the means to ensure that the ancient traditions survived.
It is striking that it was during this phase that for the first time Eannawas visibly walled
off from its neighbourhood – was this because the tradition was in danger or was
protection needed? Layer IVa ended with the demolition of the entire system and the
subsequent spatial design of Uruk III followed a totally different concept.
–– Public buildings, palaces and temples ––