MESOPOTAMIA reimagines how art collections and archives can be experienced online, taking users on a journey that presents objects in lifelike detail. Visitors can simply scroll to tour the online experience at their own pace, accompanied by a narrative that details the symbolic, religious, and sometimes practical meanings and purposes of these ancient works of art.
Featured objects in MESOPOTAMIA were captured using photogrammetry and in some cases, additional LIDAR and structured light scanning to replicate every detail. This allows users to see nearly every wedge-shaped impression on a 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet, or the hairline cracks on other ancient tablets. In one instance, users can see the bubbles in the glaze of a lion relief that once lined Babylon’s Ishtar Gate.
To give objects a sense of size, scale, and context, the feature situates the objects within their gallery setting, and strings the experience together using a Steadicam video capture. This creates the sense of floating through the space, from one highlight to another.
“As technology continues to advance and audiences anticipate more dynamic visual experiences, Getty is committed to experimenting with innovative ways of visual storytelling,” says Serena Parr, immersive lead at Getty. “MESOPOTAMIA is an example of Getty’s goal to bridge the gap between ancient art history and online learning, and we hope global audiences will enjoy diving into this fascinating time period.”
Other recent Getty digital experiences include Return to Palmyra, 12 Sunsets, and Bauhaus: Building the New Artist.