There are unique specimens of art and architecture from the Mesopotamian Civilisation. In this context, answer the following questions:

1. Write a note on the Standard of Ur.
2. Describe a ziggurat in detail.

1. One of the remarkable surviving pieces of Mesopotamian art is the Standard of Ur. This comprises an ornate box, the panels of which have a mosaic depicting life during the time of war and peace in Mesopotamia. This mosaic is made with pieces of shell, lapis lazuli and red limestone set into bitumen.
   The 'War Side' panel of the box shows chariots charging over fallen enemies, prisoners escorted before the leader and so on. The 'Peace Side' panel shows a banquet being celebrated and people carrying the produce of the land such as fish and bags of what is probably grain. The celebration is marked by a musician playing the lyre.
2. The ziggurats or temple towers were massive pyramid-like structures made from sunbaked bricks. They looked like human-made mountains soaring high above the Earth. Each ziggurat had several stories and apart from the temple at the top, they were used as schools, observatories, granaries and centres for trade.