#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.