art history

Glass Stones and Stele

  • Types of Artwork: Stele

    • Definition: A stele is a large upright slab of stone usually inscribed with cuneiform or relief carvings.

    • Significance of the stele discussed in connection with sun gods and leadership.

Sun Gods and Leaders

  • Symbolic Representation:

    • The two suns at the top of the stele may represent sun gods rather than the sun itself.

    • Indication that the leader depicted has a divine connection, implying that they were chosen by the gods.

Significance of Art and Inscription

  • Cultural Importance:

    • Shirley mentions that the stele memorializes an event and represents one of the early forms of recorded history through art.

    • The Kenia Mormon inscription is noted as a significant contribution to understanding the stele.

    • Indicates a shift in ideas about storytelling and documentation in art.

Cuneiform and Definitions

  • Cuneiform:

    • Definition: An ancient writing system used in Mesopotamia, characterized by wedge-shaped marks.

    • Important for context when discussing significant comments about artwork.

Relief Carving

  • Concept of Relief:

    • Definition: Relief carving is when images are carved onto a flat surface and project outward, typically closer to the viewer than the background.

    • Types of Relief:

    • Low Relief: Minimal projection from the background.

    • High Relief: Greater projection, often allowing for partial viewing from multiple angles.

    • Example discussed: Lamassu as a high relief sculpture.

Lamassu

  • Description:

    • Hybrid mythical creatures in Assyrian art with the body of a lion or bull, wings of an eagle, and a human head.

    • Used as guardian figures outside throne rooms, symbolizing the power and authority of rulers.

  • Artistic Techniques:

    • Attention to texture and detail to convey the characteristics of different materials in the Lamassu.

    • Sculptural technique of using five legs to provide the correct perspective from different viewer angles.

Composite Pose

  • Definition: A style of representation where figures are depicted using multiple viewpoints to convey a more complete image.

  • Examples: The Lamassu is an example, merging frontal and profile perspectives, similar to prehistoric cave paintings demonstrating composite positioning.

Art Forms in Assyrian and Egyptian Culture

  • Cultural and Historical Context:

    • Artistic representations often serve to signify the power of rulers and the narratives surrounding leadership and divinity.

    • Transitioning discussion towards Egyptian artstyles and their societal structures, similar to those seen in Assyrian culture.

Nile River and Egyptian Civilization

  • Geographical Importance:

    • The Nile is the longest river in the world, critical to the development and agriculture of ancient Egyptian civilization.

    • Provided fertile land due to seasonal flooding that enriched the soil with nutrients.

    • Historical Context:

    • Evidence of settlement by 5,000 BCE.

    • Division of Egypt into Upper and Lower Egypt based on the flow of the Nile.

Unification of Egypt

  • Historical Event:

    • Around 3100 BCE, King Narmer unified Upper and Lower Egypt.

    • Narmer Palette commemorates this unification.

  • Narmer Palette:

    • Object used potentially for grinding eye makeup, adorned with symbolic carvings related to the king.

    • Hieroglyphic evidence of Narmer identified through carved symbols.

Hieroglyphics and Symbolism

  • Definition: The writing system of ancient Egyptians involving pictorial symbols representing sounds, words, or ideas.

  • Examples of Symbolism:

    • Hieroglyphics used to indicate power and victories, such as Narmer's triumph over enemies.

    • Relationship between kingship and divine powers illustrated through art and inscriptions.

Canon of Proportions in Egyptian Art

  • Definition: A standard formula dictating ideal body proportions in Egyptian art.

  • Visual Representation:

    • Use of a grid system to maintain consistent proportions over time, stressing the importance placed on tradition in representational art.

Funerary Architecture and Pyramids

  • Definition of Funerary Architecture: Structures related to burial practices and tombs in ancient Egypt, displaying the importance of kings posthumously.

  • Types of Funerary Structures:

    • Mastabas as early burial monuments evolving into stepped pyramids and later smooth-sided pyramids.

  • Great Pyramids of Giza:

    • Burials for Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, showcasing monumental architecture reflective of their power.

    • Khufu's pyramid, the largest, constructed from approximately 2.3 million stone blocks weighing up to 50 tons each.

Sphinx and Its Symbolism

  • Definition: A hybrid creature in Egyptian culture, typically with a lion’s body and a human face.

  • Sphinx of Khafre: Believed to represent the pharaoh, symbolizing his authority and protection over the tombs as a guardian figure.

Scribe Figures and Representations

  • Definition of a Scribe: An important official responsible for writing and maintaining records.

  • Example of Kai, the Scribe:

    • More relaxed posture than kings, reflecting his role and status.

    • Importance of artistry in depicting individuals distinctively, beyond standard kingly representations.

Artistic Techniques and Cultural Significance

  • Naturalism vs. Abstraction:

    • Egyptian art balances idealized forms with stylization, often reflecting social hierarchy and status.

  • Painted Sculpture: Importance of coloration in sculptures, with examples showing how paint enhanced the lifelike qualities of representations.