#5 Ancient Egypt art and Ancient Aegean art.

   I am going to compare with Karomama in ancient Egypt art that from c. 945-715 BCE and Woman or Goddess with Snakes in ancient Aegean art that from c. 1700-1550 BCE. Basically it looked similar when we just take a glance it but it is totally different when we look through from basic material to meaning of these statues.  

   The “Karomama”, which is on page 78, is based on Queen Karomama in Egyptian queen who married to Osorkon II. This statue is depicted in a walking pose, shaking sistra which were used for ritual rattle but it is missing now. Karomama is barefoot, walking forward on the base, her arms outstretched to shake the sistrums. She is clad in a close-fitting, pleated dress with wide sleeves. It reaches to mid-calf and is encircled by the feathered wings of a vulture, which wrap around her thighs.  A short wig frames her face. The coiled uraeus emerges from the modius, a small cap that originally held a crown. A lavish, jeweled collar extends from the top of her shoulders to her bust. The slender proportions of the figure embody a charming femininity. The face, however, has a severe expression, with inlaid eyes, aquiline noise, and small, delicately shaped mouth. This work represents Karomama in her role as Divine Adoratrice.  Also, the statue was created with the lost-wax bronze casting process and features complicated metal inlays. These created colorful effects, although some are now missing. Gold leaf was also used to highlight different sections of the body, such as the wig with finely incised curls. A magnificent eight-tiered collar remains; it includes alternating rows of geometric and plant designs: rosettes, lotus petals, checkerboards, and spirals. 

   The “Woman or Goddess with Snakes is intriguing both as a ritual object and as a work of art” is according to page on 87. It looks like bare-breasted, arms extended, her leopard cap has been said to be symbol of royalty; regardless, and brandishing a snake in each hand, the woman is commanding presence. Also she is wearing a fitted dress and open bodice with an apron over a typically Minoan flounced skirt.  This figurine of a woman holding a snake in each hand found during excavation of Minoan archaeological sites in Crete dating from approximately 1600 BCE. It seems that the two elegant idols found in Knossos represented goddesses and by implication, the term 'snake goddess' also describes the chthonic deity depicted. This figure was found with other ceremonial objects in a pit in one of Knossos’s storerooms. Also, this figure made of wood, ivory, precious metals, stone, and faience which is colorfully glazed fine ceramic. One of the prime pieces of evidence in support of the view that women dominated Minoan culture is this figure. Prehistoric religion centered on a dominant goddess of fertility whose young male consort's annual death and rebirth symbolized the decay and regrowth of vegetation.

   Because of difference of culture between ancient Egypt and Aegean, it should be different in art work. Even though these beautiful works are made in different period and different materials, both works are very attractive pieces. I really liked that existing women power in ancient period through statues. 

#4. Pyramid and Ziggurat

Most of great monument in ancient period is remarkable. Some works are not sure that how the ancient people made the works and what for. They always brought us curiosity. Especially, pyramids at Giza and ziggurats of the ancient near east are the most famous monuments. Even though we do not exactly know about these, some similarity and difference exist. Pyramids and ziggurats both provide archeologists with a great deal of information about the ancient cultures that constructed them. When comparing The Pyramids of Giza with The Ziggurats of the ancient near east, the differences between them are more apparent than the similarities that they share. The two structures actually only appear to be similar. Both have the general form of a pyramid. Some other similarities shared by these two types of structures can be interpreted from the context of the religions of those who had them erected and what role they served for the society. Also, for building these structures, maybe over 20,000 people had to work just like slaves. Among the differences are their intended usage, how they were decorated, their designs, and the materials used in their construction.

In order to clearly know about how different these two structures are, I am going to explain about their designs and the materials used to build them. Contrasts in the decorations of the two types of structures are then discussed.

As we know that one of the greatest and largest structures is The Pyramids of Giza. It was built with exacting precision from brick or stone. It was made about 2575-2150 B.C. The base is about over 52,600 square meters in area and it is over 2 tons. Unlike the Ziggurats that made of mud-brick, the Pyramids were made of limestone that durable and heavy thing. Also, the Pyramids were not only used for worship place but also used for funerary purpose place to king and queen buried. A lot of treasure used to bury with tomb but it had been robbed of its treasures.

The Ziggurat is also greatest and largest structure in the world. The Ziggurat’s basic structure is made of rectangle and it have different step of levels. Because of flood thing, people made different terraced levels are stacked on this structure.    And the Ziggurat was made for served as a temple for worship on the top it and maybe people thought that there was a sacred place for more reaching to worship. Temples were originally built on platforms. During the third millennium B.C., these were made higher and bigger. Eventually it was decided to build even higher temples on platforms that were stepped.

No one knows for certain why the Pyramids and the Ziggurats were built or how they were used. They are part of temple complexes, so they were probably connected with religion and tomb. Or passably it could have used something different purpose. However, these structures show us to their culture and society through them. I think that these structures are attracted and mysterious. 

#3. Art of the Ancient Near East

 

  The Funerary relief bust of Haliphat made on date her death to the year 231 C.E in Syria. This Funerary relief bust covered the openings of burial compartments in family tombs located in the desert outside Palmyra. This is about 60 centimeters tall, 55 centimeters wide, and 23 centimeters depth. It is almost square shape bust and has proper proportion. Head part with hood is break bounds and I think that it is unusual thing but also it is pretty unique. It is quite big sculpture that about less than half of human’s body. This object made by limestone. Limestone is usually used in building material, but when it used in this object, it gives warm feeling. The color is almost same with skin color, so it feels familiar and makes movement. The color faded it makes this object as gentle and warm woman.

  She places in center of this object with relief skill, so it seems to guide the viewer to on position. The viewpoint suggested by front side of her and front side have all the details. Her face is toward to front, and she is expressionless. She has long face shape, long straight eyebrows, big and bright eyes that stand at gaze, long nose that looks manly, ears that covered over the hair, and small lips that looks upright person. Also, it is not clear but she expresses something with her fingers that touch on her face with her right index finger and middle finger. She wears elaborate jewelries and dressed fashionably. She wears earring that looks dumbbell, three different necklaces, brooch, and two rings on her left hand little finger. Her cloth seems likely the Greek people used to wear it. And it is not clear to recognize it but I guess that she also put up her hood. She ties up her wavy hair and takes down few hairs. But I am not sure about upper head part; it seems like baldhead or put something on upper head. She looks really fashionable and wealthy with many jewelries and gesture.  

  In addition, there is background that attached her back; also it was broken little bit on the side of this object. Faint lines are decorated her back and it is symmetrical carving. It looks like she sits on the chair or it also looks like that her clothes extend to the background. Some feathers or leaves decorated it as well. But other decoration is not clear so background part is hard to see it. This background makes this object looks two-dimensional sculptures but since this object is used for funeral, it is not necessary to concern. Even though I can barely see the lines in the background, it makes more luxurious to her.

  This sculpture absolutely emphasizes a sense of volume and little bit of three-dimensional form with relief. As long as it was used for funerary, it just doesn’t have backside but it almost feels like three-dimensional forms. Especially her face, right hand fingers, arms with the cloth, clothes wrinkles, and hood parts are emphasized the three dimensional with light and shadows. This sculpture emphasized upper part, so we are concentrate her face a lot more than other part. Shadows make the object looks more realistic. It creates a sense of drama. It is not sure but her face and fingers are making a story. Also light and shadow makes movement as well in upper area. She grabs her cloth with her left hand. It makes some drama as well.

   Almost part of this object is composed of nice and smooth texture. I think that the color and texture are well matched. Only hands, cheeks, and nose part are smooth and other than that wrinkles are all over the object. In this sculpture, vertical and diagonal lines are used together. Vertical lines make her as upright person and seem long. Diagonal lines make a feeling of movement. Cloth have smooth wrinkle, her hair part is dense wrinkles that made beautiful curly hair, even wrinkles in her neck. It shows that it is really exquisite sculpture. Also, this sculpture has many jewelries and it show a lot of details. Even third necklace have different color and shape.