It is said that art is the Universal language, clearly understood by a larger proportion of the global demographics. Art best describes the norms and cultural orientations of the people habiting a certain locality. This explains why it is simpler to explain life affairs using a simple piece of art that the use of the local languages. This piece of essay reviews three pieces of art. All the pieces revolve around the theme of the creation of a legacy, continuation of lineage as well as the sense of power and authority. They include the great pyramid of Giza, the portrait of Augustus as general and the Mosaic of Justinian and his attendants.
The great pyramids at Giza are a masterpiece of the definition of Egyptians culture. Its structure which was created with at most precision explains why it is still a wonder of the world. It is a piece of art that was built between the years 2589and 2504 BC (Arnold " Nigel, 126). It includes three humongous pyramids built by the ancient Egyptians. It is currently located, 8 miles on the south-western side of the capital city of Egypt. It is 5 miles to the west of the great River Nile. The current town is still the old town of Giza (Arnold " Nigel, 126). It is approximately four hundred to sixty feet tall. It was designed for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh (Arnold " Nigel, 126). The total construction period took to complete the whole pyramid was twenty years. Designed and built by the famous ancient architects during the reign of the Pharaoh, Khufu, the whole structure was indeed built with absolute precision to stand through the whole rough conditions (Arnold " Nigel, 126). It is a symbol of royalty, immortality, and continuation of dynasty among the Egyptians. The current setting is secured to ensure that the Egyptians’ ancient heritage is retained and celebrated from generations to generations.
Augustus of Prima Porta is a marble curve of Augustus Caesar. It is 2.04 m tall. The statue is located currently in Vatican Museums. Even though the artist is unknown, it was curved during the 1st Century A.D. by a Greek sculptor. It was discovered in the year 1863. The sculpture gives a number of messages regarding the ancient Roman society. It is a heritage of the Romans’ heritage. It clearly shows the effect of and role of authority in the ancient communities. It represents Augustus Caesar giving an oration to the subjects. The sense of power is best communicated from the sculpture.
Mosaic of Justinian and his attendants is another piece of Byzantine art which represents the sense of power and dynasty. It was created by a Byzantine Architect during the reign of Emperor Justinian. This was during the 548A.D. The art is currently in a Church in Ravenna, in Italy. It represents the sense of rule of power and the role of subjects to the ruler. All these are representations of the important aspect of the Early Italians cultural orientations.
The three illustrations are paramount when explaining the whole sense of comparative meanings of art. They share a common theme of a dynasty. It is indeed clear that dynasty and authority is an important aspect of the community. How leaders and those in power are perceived is explained by these pieces of art. Despite the differences in physical locations, their meanings from the historical period to the current context still bears great importance to the society attached to these pieces of art.
Historical Background
1. Great Pyramid at Giza
The historical background of the Egyptians is considered to be one of the most studied among the world histories. Egyptians are known by their ancient gods and leaders are commonly known as the Pharaohs (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238). These were the symbolic kings among the Egyptians. They were considered to be the royals of the community. Being the greatest of the communities, they were to be treated with utmost homage dead or alive (Arthur " Einstein, 574).
On the other hand, they would ensure immortality by being buried in the pyramids. It is believed that the Pharaohs had spirit known as Ka which represented the sense of life continuity (Arthur " Einstein, 574). Burial in Giza pyramid portrayed a belief in the afterlife. After mummification of the royals was conducted, the bodies were buried in the pyramids (Arthur " Einstein, 574). Additionally, other precious items of the dead were preserved in these places. Therefore, the pyramids were historically considered to be places where the great people in the society would be buried ad their afterlife journey adequately set in these places (Arthur " Einstein, 574). The great Giza Pyramids were the largest and most recognized since they were composed of the most royal complexes. They symbolized that power was highly praised in the society. This explains why those who were within the Pharaoh Lineages were buried in these sites (Arthur " Einstein, 574).
2. Augustus of Prima Porta
The politics of the Romans was considered an important aspect of the Greek community. This sculpture bears an important definition of the Romans history. It communicates the whole role of Augustus Cesar who the highest in rank among the Romans royals in the ancient times. It communicates the whole power of the emperor. It signifies how dynasty was an important idea in the ancient Greek society (Goldsworthy, Andriana 392). The fact that it is sculptured in a manner that portrays Augustus lifting his arm, it meant that it was a form of prediction of two centuries of peace in the history of Roman. The sculpture consists of other small sculptures on the body; both young and old. This historically meant that he had the power over all ages (Goldsworthy, Andriana 392). Consequently, all and sundry looked upon him for the outcome of his rule. The sense of dynasty a, power and symbolism is embedded as the symbolism of the sculpture (Goldsworthy, Andriana 392).
3. Justinian and the Attendants
The historical bearing of this art piece is to show the essential aspects of being a leader. Justinian is frontally at them idle of six soldiers on the right and six administrators on the left (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238). All of them are below his rule. It has a close bearing on Christ and his twelve disciples. Justinian was equal to an emperor. He had the same powers and authority over his subjects. Military authority and how it was respected among the ancient Roman is elaborated in this art (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238). Power was highly applauded in the ancient Roman. The cultural aspect of this art piece is that it signifies and explains why the clergy of the Romans begun the practice of Eucharist which is e celebrated to date (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238).
Similarities
All the pieces of art signify the importance of power among the ancient communities. For example, the pyramids signify the extent of being the ruler. This is evident from the fact that they believed their kings, Pharaohs were immortal. To the same extent, the sculpture of Augustus Cesar shows that the royals like Augustus had the whole power over the rest of the members of the society.
Secondly, they all show that spirits of the leaders attached to these pieces of art will continue to be felt over generations. For example, the Justinian and attendants Mosaic has been preserved in the Basilica church in Italy to remind the Christians of the essence of Eucharist. Additionally, the pyramids were respected to date, meaning that the spirits of the Pharaohs are still respected. In a nutshell, these pieces of art are symbols of culture and heritage of the concerned respective communities.
Difference
The most outstanding differences are that all the pieces of art were designed by different artists and authors (Rivoira, Giovanni 112). Despite the uniformity in some aspects of cultural heritage, both were made due to different reasons. For example, the Pyramids were entirely created for death rituals while the Justinian Mosaic was created for religious reasons (Rivoira, Giovanni 112). More so, Augustus Cesar Portrait was made to communicate a political mindset (Arthur " Einstein, 574).
Modern Influence
Despite being the oldest structures in history, the great pyramids of Giza have affected the modern culture. The sense and the mentality of the power of Pharaoh have been passed from one generation to the other. Additionally, some modern communities have borrowed the aspects of mummification of the dead (a practice that was conducted before preserving the dead in the pyramids (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238). The Egyptians still respect the sites of the pyramids as important tellers of their respective heritages.
Secondly, being works of art, the Mosaic of Justinian and his attendants, San Vitale, Ravenna is important among modern-day Christians. The portrait being in some Catholic churches represent the sense of the Eucharist celebrations (Goldsworthy, Andriana 392). It also serves as a reminder of the whole authority of Christ which is shown by Justinian and his twelve juniors (Kryautheirmer " Richard 238). This helps in explaining to the modern generations the whole reasons why certain practices exist in the Religious context (Rivoira, Giovanni 112). Additionally, the sculpture of Augustus Cesar which is still placed in Vatican Museum is a symbol that reminds the modern Romans that he is the founder of the Roman Principate. It also forms a prediction of the many centuries of forthcoming peace, known as Pax Romana; that has been experienced to date(Goldsworthy, Andriana 392). Indeed, these pieces of ancient art are paramount when teaching the source of certain modern-day cultural practices. They explain why culture preservation is essential.
Conclusion
Conclusively, it is clear that power, authority, and dynasty were, and still are important pieces of what makes up a society. All the three-piece of art have clearly shown that power could be shown by the use of societal works of art. The great pyramids of Giza, Augustus of Prima Porta and Mosaic of Justinian and his attendants, San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 547 are symbols of authority in society.
Works Cited
Arnold, D., Nigel, S., The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt Architecture. Taurus (2013) p. 126.
Arthur, M., Einstein, “ Conceptualizing Roman Imperial Expansion under the Republic.” A companion to the Roman Republic. John Wiley " Sons 2011. P. 574.
Goldsworthy, Andriana. Pax Romana, War, Peace and conquest in the Roman World. New Haven, 2016. Yale University Press. P392.
Kryautheirmer, Richard. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture. New Haven, 2014. Yale University Press. p238.
Rivoira, Giovanni. Lombardic Architecture: Its Origin, Development and Derivatives. London 2010. William Heinemann p.112.
