Art

Art is a broad field that encompasses many aspects of life. Various aspects of art are used to symbolize and depict various aspects of life. Shapes, designs, and colours, for example, were used to represent the traditions and beliefs of various ancient communities. The numerous arts that were used in certain ancient civilizations and their significance in the culture are discussed below. Stele of Naramsin, c. 2254-2218 BCE, Limestone, height 6'6", Akkadian Stele of Naramsin, and the Augustus Primaporta are works of art that depict civilizations practiced in various ancient empires. They instilled specific principles in the cultures. Further, they both have some similar features and differences as discussed below. It is usually used in remembrance of a victorious event that had happened in the past in the kingdom of Babylonia. This stele of Naramsin is used as a symbol of unity in the kingdom. It is therefore meant to ensure that everyone in the kingdom is entitled to equal treatment. Augustus Primaporta, 1 st century CE, Roman This is an object made of a white marble sculpture of a very young energetic man in his armor named Augustus Primaporta. Augustus Primaporta was the founder of Roman Empire thus a leader of Roman Empire. The sculpture was constructed in a bid to celebrate the victory of Augustus over Parthian. Augustus of Primaporta sculpture helps in promotion of what various leaders stand for and their agendas. The two sculptures were built to celebrate victory over the enemies of the empires. They are both used in remembrance of some mighty leaders who led their people in wars that marked with a victory over their enemies. Further, they are used as symbols of unity to bring together the people living in the various kingdoms. Teotihuacan, 1st century CE, Aztec (?) Olmec (?) Teotihuacan and Pantheon building were built in shapes that depicted heaven and earth. They have also been used to elevate certain values in the ancient empires. How the two sites function as an axis of mundi and the values they impart has been elaborated as below. In Teotihuacan site is a Spider Goddess who is believed to be the creator. Other gods represented in the art is the feathered serpent god representing agricultural renewal. Further, the site is occupied by the pyramid of the moon which faces the sacred mountain Cerro Gordo and the pyramid of the sun (Arnold, and Caroline, 56). Teotihuacan art, therefore, functions as an axis of Mundi since it has both the pyramid of sun and that moon. Besides, it has several gods with varied functions to undertake by each. The art of Teotihuacan promotes certain values among the people. Such values are faith that is bestowed upon the people. The people had believed in the existence of Water goddess who provided water during the dry periods (Arnold, and Caroline, 56). They also had the goddess of war whom they sought out help from during wars. This goddess of war planted the spirit of courage and bravery in the people hence they vehemently and with a lot of determination against their enemies. Pantheon, Rome, 118-28 CE, Emperor Hadrian, Roman Pantheon was built as a temple by the Roman Empire. It was a temple of all the gods in the empire. It, therefore, acted as the residing place of the gods in the ancient empire. The Pantheon has a vaulted roof which typically looks like heaven where the gods lived (Osada and Toshihiro, 79). Inside the building is an open window called the Oculus which acted as a source of direct light. The light produced a sunbeam which served as the lunar and solar. Further, the Pantheon building is dome-shaped resembling heavens and to a more considerable extent the rotunda which represents the Roman world beneath heaven. Pantheon building instilled certain values among the people who lived in the ancient empire. For instance, it promoted unity (Osada and Toshihiro, 79).People would usually gather in the building to worship their gods. Additionally, the Pantheon building instilled courage and bravery among the soldiers during wars. Every time there was a war, the soldiers would go there to worship asking for victory over their enemies. It also promoted a sense of humility since the Pantheon building to some extent was built in honor of the preceding ruler. Pyramids at Giza (for Pharaohs Khufu (Cheops) Khafre (Chrefren), and Menkure (Mycerinus)) c.2680-2565 BCE, Egyptian, Old Kingdom Both the pyramids at Gaza and Husband and Wife Sarcophagus have been used to illustrate the belief of the people in the ancient days in life after death. They give a clear view of the life and beliefs of the people of Egypt and Etruscans. All of these have been illustrated as discussed below. The Egyptian pharaohs were buried in the pyramids together with the queens since they believed that they both needed each other in the next life after death. Further, the pyramids are well decorated with every household item as if there are people living inside the monuments. The pharaohs were buried with numerous treasures since it was believed that they would be of use in the life after death. The pyramids depicted that the Egyptians believed in the life after death. With burying of the kings, queens and the hidden treasures, a clear picture is formed of the Egyptians belief in life after death. Husband and Wife Sarcophagus (Archaic period), Cerveteri, c. 520 BCE, Etruscan Husband and Wife Sarcophagus art is a statute of a man and woman inclined in a dining couch feasting together. Such a big feasting in the Etruscan culture was associated with death and funerals. It is, therefore, a funerary art which was used in remembrance of a funeral feast to send off the dead in the next life after death (Newby and Zahra, 301). The feasts were done when burying the kings and queens since they both would need one another in the next life. The women were accorded a lot of dignity on such occasions of feasting hence they dined together with the men. Newby and Zahra, (301), argues that from the statute of Husband and Wife Sarcophagus, it was concluded that the Etruscans gave women a lot of respect on occasions of the performance of funerary customs as they dined together with the men. Moreover, they believed in the life after death as they celebrated the deaths of their leaders through feasting in a bid to send them off to the next life after death. Palace at Knossos (Minos), Crete, 1600-1400 BCE, Minoan The Palace at Knossos was basically built for administration purpose. The Parthenon building on the other hand was constructed to store the statue of goddess. The functions of the two sites have been further highlighted as discussed below. According to Sintubin, Manuel, Simon, and Jan, (470), the Palace of Knossos was first built was an administrative center. It was a residential place for the kings who ruled back in ancient days. Further, it acted as a trading center where trading activities were undertaken. The Minoans specialized in pottery made out of bronze which they traded with the Egyptians. Later fire destroyed the whole reducing it just a mere town. The remains of the art are used as an attraction facility for the foreigners who come to see the remains of the palace. Parthenon, Periclean Building Program, 447-432 BCE, Classical Greek It was built to keep the new cult statue of the goddess by Pheidias proclaiming the victory of Athens as the leader of Greek forces (Osada and Toshihiro, 30). The Parthenon building was razed down by a fire. The building is nowadays used as a tourist attraction site which earns foreign income. Inside the building stands a statute of the Athens by Pheidias mad of gold and ivory. The precious statute is a clear indication of how powerful and super wealthy the Athens was. It therefore definitely gives an imaginative picture of the wealth that found in Athens. Conclusion In summary, the various arts mentioned are significant in the history of the various places where they were built. They represent the diverse cultures that existed in the ancient empires. Further, they act as symbols of unity in the olden days. For instance, the Husband and Wife Sarcophagus brought both the men and women together to celebrate and feast together during the funerals of the great leaders in the community. The arts also depicts the values that were instilled in the various people by their leaders. Works Cited Arnold, Caroline. City of the Gods: Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacán. Star Walk Kids Media, 2014. Kirchhoff, Mary Catherine Lee Wood. Benjamin West's Nelson memorial: neoclassical sculpture and the Atlantic World circa 1812. University of Delaware, 2015. Newby, Zahra. "Myth and death: Roman mythological sarcophagi." A Companion to Greek Mythology (2011): 301. Osada, Toshihiro. "The Parthenon Frieze." The Ritual Communication between the Goddess and the Polis. Parthenon Project Japan 2014 (2011): 11-30. Sintubin, Manuel, Simon Jusseret, and Jan Driessen. "REASSESSING ANCIENT EARTHQUAKES ON MINOAN CRETE GETTING RID OF CATASTROPHISM." Academia. ed. Accessed October 1 (2014). 447-432Cc,Classical WorkswGreek