The Standard of Ur and the Warka Vase are both similar in many aspects, like the ways the stories are told. Their uses however are very different and what they depict are on different spectrums.
The Standard of Ur was found in one of the largest cemeteries in the Royal Cemetery of Ur. Looking closely at the two sides, it s easily identifiable that one side represents peace and prosperity, while the other war and defeat.
PEACE
On the peace panel, there are three registrars, or separate horizontal sections. This side of the Standard of Ur depicts animals, fish, and other goods being brought somewhere, possibly a banquet or as an offering to the king. On the bottom registrar, there is a depiction of people carrying sacks of goods and wheat along with animals that are not clearly defined. On the next registrar, there are more animals, larger than on the first, lead by people. On the top registrar, it seems to be all the people of importance. On the far right, there looks to be a singer and a person playing a harp like object. They are probably the entertainment for those of nobility who are sitting in the chairs drinking out of goblets. The third individual from the left is much larger than the rest, breaking the decorative border, symbolizing power, representing the king. The king is sitting in a different chair, three legs are more normal, and the fourth is some type of animal leg. The king is also dressed differently than the others, in more elaborate clothing, possibly representing both power and wealth.
WAR
On the war panel, there are three registrars as well. On the bottom registrar are four chariots pulled by donkeys. The chariots are seen trampling people, possibly the enemy. The next registrar shows a placement of people on the right side, in uniform like an army. In the middle it is seen that a soldier is slaying their enemy. On the left there appears to be prisoners of war followed by a soldier with a shield and sword. The top registrar shows the prisoners of war on the right, the army on the left with the king in the middle. The king, again breaks the decorative barrier and is dressed much more elaborately. The war panel is much more straight forward, there is a battle, victory and deliverance of the survivors to the king for their sentence.
The Warka Vase, also known as the Vase of Urk Vase was found in a temple dedicated to Sumarian goddess Innana in the ancient city of Urk. That vase is and early work on relief narratives.
The vase is an early work on relief narrative. A relief is a piece of art that is sculpted into a flat surface. The vase also has the registrars. On the first register there is a river flowing with some vegetation. The next registrar has animals that resemble buffalos and other large mammals. In between this registrar and the next is a plain, smooth surface. The next registrar from the bottom up includes people bringing baskets of goods, possibly as an offering to the goddess Innana. There is another break in between this register and the next. The final and top most registrar includes what seems to be the goddess Innana in the center. To the left seems to be a priest to the goddess. On the right it seems to be individuals accepting the offering that was brought.
These two pieces are similar in the way that they seem to have a hierarchy as you rise in each registrar. The bottom being people with less power, such as in the vase, the goods that would then be harvested and taken to the goddess. They both tell a story and help archeologist determine what the beliefs of these civilizations were.
More Info:
The Standard of Ur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nok4cBt0V6w
The Warka Vase: https://17green.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/warka-vase-from-uruk-iraq-3200-3000-bce/
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