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- Lion-Human
- Paleolithic Europe
- Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany
- c. 30000 - 26000 BCE
- Carved from woolly mammoth ivory
- Human figure w/ lion head - hybrid
- Complex design, size & materials compared to most early figurines
- Represents male power & dominance
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- Hall of Bulls
- Paleolithic Europe
- Lascaux Caves, France
- c. 15000 BCE
- Painted on Limestone w/ charcoal & earth pigment
- Horns, eyes & hooves are seen from the front, while body is in profile
- Images are painted over one another, thought to have been added to over thousands of years - communication
- Images where perhaps drawn to improve hunting success - ritualistic
- Careful observaton of nature
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- Bird Headed Man w/ Bison
- Paleolithic Europe
- Lascaux Caves, France
- c. 15000 BCE
- Painted on Limestone w/ charcoal & earth pigment
- Man - possibly hunter, wearing bird-head mask
- Large Bison above him w/ spear laying across body - disemboweled
- Staff with carved bird next to him
- Possibly story telling - rare
- Possibly a vision of a Shaman
- Possibly historical - actual event
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- Stonehenge
- Neolithic Europe
- Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England
- c. 3000-1500 BCE
- Built w/ 2-3 ton Megalith (sandstone) on the outside ring
- Built w/ Bluestone (associated w/ healing)
- in the center ring - transported from Welsh Quary, 250 miles away
- 3 Trilithons in the middle - post/lintel design
- "Alter Stone" is in the very center
- Heal Stone stands outside the main structure - sun rises directly over this stone during the Summer Solstice
- Possibly an observatory for cosmic events
- Possibly associated w/ healing - bluestone
- Possibly linked to Woodhenge, Stonehenge = death, Woodhenge = life
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- Stele of Naram-Sin
- Akkad, Ancient Mesopotamia
- c. 2254-2218 BCE
- Found at Susa
- Made of Limestone, large
- Stele tells the story of important military victories
- Represents the Akkadian victory over the Lullubi Mountain people
- Naram Sin - hierarchy of scale, top of stele, perfect male body - associated with gods, not wearing protective armor, killing people, wearing bull horns on helmet - bull horns are restricted to gods - claims to be god (divinity) - perhaps the 1st?
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- Stele of Hammurabi
- Babylon
- Found in Susa
- c. 1792-1750
- Made of Diorite
- Prologue & Epilogue on front and back glorifies Hammurabi's successes and accomplishments
- Most of the cuneiform words outlines laws guaranteeing uniform treatment of people- punishments based on individual crimes, death penelty
- Carving at top represents god, Shamash, handing Hammurabi rod & rope (building materials - symbolic representation of power)
- Shamash (patron of law & justice) is larger, more elaborately dressed, enthroned, head piece
- Hammuarbi is standing, dressed, head piece, respectful hand gesture
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- Lamassu
- Assyria
- c. 883-859 BCE
- Found in palace of Assurnasirpal II
- Made of Alabaster
- Enormous, hybrid creature - bull/eagle/human w/ bull horns on headdress and beard
- Flanked major portals within the palace - protective gatekeepers
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- Palette of Narmer
- Early Dynastic Egypt
- From Temple of Horus in Hierakonpolis - sacred precinct
- c. 2950 BCE
- Made of Green Schist
- Represents unification of upper & lower Egypt
- One of the earliest pieces of Egyptian art
- Front of palette: Enormous Narmer is beating a man to death w/ a mace, wearing bulbed White Crown (Upper Egypt), man behind him is holding his sandals, Horus (god of civilization and order) is also there - holding a piece of rope through a man's nose, flowering papyrus (Lower Egypt), 2 bulls, heiroglyph for Narmer (fish & chisel)
- Back of palette: Procession with Narmer in the middle wearing Red Crown (Lower Egypt) & holding mace & flail (indicating kingship), 10 decapitated bodies w/ heads at their feet, two serpent headed beasts wind their necks together to create depression for eye makeup - unification, bull breaking into a city.
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- Portrait of Khafre
- Old Kingdom Egypt
- From Giza
- c. 2520-2494 BCE
- Made of unusual material imported from Nubia - glows deep blue in the sunlight, the celestial color of Horus
- Statue is extremely large, Khafre is enthroned, wearing short kilt, false beard & nemes
- Horus is hiding behind his head
- He appears calm, dignified & permanent.
- Ideal body type, and compact control
- A place for Khafre's Ka to rest in the afterlife
- 2 lion bodies comprise the throne & Lotus & papyrus flowers decorate the sides
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- Portrait of Akhenaten
- New Kingdom Egypt
- from Akhenaten
- Carved & then painted on Limestone
- c. 1353-1336 BCE
- Androgynous figures, aside from garb - protruding bellies and egg-shaped heads
- Engaged children, loving parents, equality (although Akhenaten is sitting a little higher up), emotional, intimate, loving
- Aten is shinning over the family from atop
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- Bull Leaping Fresco
- Minoan civilization
- Found in palace at Konossos (Crete)
- Wall Painting
- c. 1550-1450
- Depicts 2 woman (light skin) & 1 man (dark skin) engaging in Bull Leaping
- Possibly representing an initiation or fertility ritual or honoring a god by displaying human courage
- Controlled, emotionless, teamwork, balanced order
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- Lion's Gate
- Mycenae
- c. 1250 BCE
- Limestone Relief
- Post & Lintel design with relieving arch (open triange)
- 9 ft tall lions decrated the relief, and are positioned in a way that works with the shape
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- Ajax & Achilles - Exekias
- Archaic period, Greece
- c. 540-530 BCE
- Black-figure decoration on cermaic amphora
- Geometric elements are present
- Scene is balanced, controlled & even
- Depicting Ajax & Achiles playing a game of dice before the Trojan War
- Their speech is written out
- Clear symbols of war: attire, spears, helmets & shields
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- Funerary Vessel from Athens
- Geometric Period, Greece
- From Dipylon Cemetery
- c. 750-735
- Grave marker - designed to hold offerings
- Documents funerary rituals - attendants mourn over dead man, triangular shaped bodies & a seated priest
- Bottom tier shows that dead man was in the military - horses, armor, military procession
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- Parthenon
- High Classic period, Greece
- c. 447-432 BCE
- Made of White Marble, doric style columns
- Original Acropolis was destroyed in 480 BCE after Persian invasion, Pericles rebuilt it in 447 BCE
- The New Temple was dedicated to Athena (god of wisdom and civilization)
- Decorated w/ winged Nikes
- 5th Century CE, it was converted to a Christian church and then a mosque in the 1940's after the Ottoman conquest. Ottoman ammunition within the building ignited & damaged the building & many of the sculptures.
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- Parthenon - East Pediment
- High Classic Period, Greece
- c. 447-432 BCE
- Much of the the pediment is destroyed, but scholars have speculated on the palcement and shape - originally 90 ft. long
- Narrates the birth of Athena from her father, Zeus.
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- Parthenon - Marshals & Young Women
- High Classic Period, Greece
- c. 447-432 BCE
- Made of Marble
- Iconic Frieze - continuous band of sculpture
- 525 ft-long strip - represents great Panathenaic festival when women of Athens carries a new wool peplos to the Acropolis sanctuary to clothe an ancient wooden statue of Athena
- Woman are slow, stately, graceful & dignified - a moment frozen in time.
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- Marble metope from Parthenon
- Athenian Acropolis
- High Classic Period, Greece
- c. 447-432 bc
- Made of Marble
- Lapith (greek tribe member) in mortal combat with a centaur - during 1st king's celebration of marriage, the Lapiths invite centaurs over for wine & it gets out of hand - a battle ensues
- Lapith is on the verge of winning - control
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- Doryphoros ("Spear Bearer") - Polykleitos
- High Classic Period Greece
- c. 450-440 BCE
- Roman Marble Copy
- In 450, Polykeitos developed a Canon with rules to construct the ideal human figure (ratios, body part lengths, etc.)
- The "Spear Bearer" was originally crafted in bronze and represented the ideal body
- Cross-balance body: weight of body supported by straight right leg, with left foot poised - suggesting movement. A similar tension is reversed in the arms - the right arm is relaxed while the left arm is raised to support the weight of this missing spear
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- Aphrodite of Knidos - Praxitels
- Late Classic period, Greece
- c. 350 BCE
- Roman marble copy
- Sculpture shows Aphrodite (goddess of love & beauty) preparing for a bath, in the nude - Praxiteles was the first well-known artist to do this (controversial).
- Her right hand is in a gesture of modesty, which actually calls attention to her nudity
- She has an idealized body w/ natural movement
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- Sarcophagus with a reclining couple
- Etruscan civilization
- c. 520 BCE
Made of Terracotta
- Designed for a cremated body
- Husband is laying in bed with his wife drinking wine - closeness, equality (although man is still taller), relaxation
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- Portrait of Roman Emperor Augustus
- c. 20 BCE
- Original Bronze
- Augustus is dressed in military clothing, barefoot, realistic appearance, serene facial expression, stepping forward raising his right hand - perhaps addressing his troops (Orator)
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- Arch of Titus
- Rome
- c. 81 CE
- Made of Concrete White Marble
- Commissioned by Domition
- Triumphal Arch built to commemorate Titus' victories - including the Seige of Jerusalem
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- Spoils from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem
- Relief in the passageway of the Arch of Titus, Rome
- c. 81 CE
- Depicts Titus's soldiers carrying their booty through the streets of Rome after the 2nd Temple of Jerusalem is destroyed - they are carrying a large Menorah
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- Pantheon, Rome
- c. 118-128 CE
- Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa for all Ancient Roman gods, rebuilt later by Emperor Hadrian
- One of the best preserved of all Roman buildings
- Traditional entrance w/ 8 Corinthian columns, circular rotunda is extremely spacious with a vaulted, domed ceiling
- Latin Inscription: "Marcus Aggripa, Son of Lucious, Consul for the 3rd Time, built this."
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- Dome of the Pantheon, Rome
- c. 118-128 CE
- Coffers along the dome alleviate pressure since the dome is so heavy
- The hole at the very top is called the oculus - primary source of light
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- Portrait of Marcus Aurelias, Rome
- c. 176 CE
- Gilded bronze
- Renowned for his intellect & military success - dressed as a military commander (short tunic, heavy cloak), but with no armor or weapon
- Horse raises leg to smash a defeated foe (now lost)
- Outstretched hand signals that he was giving some sort of speech to his troops (Orator)
- During Middle ages, this statue was mistaken as Constantine, so it was not melted down
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- Catacomb Painting w/ Ark of the Covenant
- Rome, 3rd Century CE
- Found in Jewish catacombs (underground burial chambers) just outside of Rome
- Depicts Menorah & Ark of the Covenant
- Stylistic, opaque colors, delicate foliage
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- Oratory of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
- c. 425-426 CE
- Used as a mausoleum
- Small cross-shaped chapel - simple exterior, walls covered with mosaics on the interior
- The central lunette depicts martyr, St. Lawrence, holding a cross next to a grill (how he was put to death) and a cabinet full of the Gospels - signifying the faith for which he gave his life
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- Oratory of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
- Good Shepherd Mosaic on lunette over the west entrance
- c. 425-426 CE
- Rocky cliff in front, with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, watching over the sheep
- Jesus is wearing purple, has a large golden halo, and is holding a large cross
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- San Vitale, Revenna
- Early Byzantine period
- c. 526-548 CE
- Walls are covered with reflective veined marble veneer, colored glass & gold mosaics
- In the conch of the sanctuary apse, an image of Christ - imperially enthroned on a cosmic orb, flanked by archangels. St. Vitalis is receiving a crown of martyrdom from Jesus, and Bishop Ecclesius is presenting Christ with a model of the church itself - dedication
- Vitales in burried at the church
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- Emperor Justinian & his Attendants
- From north sanctuary wall of Church of San Vitale
- Ravenna, Italy
- c. 526-548 CE
- Justinian carries golden bowl for bread (communion)
- Whereas the portrait of Theodora shows her walking into the church, Justinian is already there - he has more power
- He has barbarian mercenary soldiers on one side, and church folks on the other side.
- Distorted shape - body in front, feet behind - supernatural
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- Empress Theodora & her Attendants
- From south sanctuary wall of Church of San Vitale, Ravena, Italy
- Early Byzantine Period
- c. 526-548 CE
- Shows procession into church
- Theodora is carrying a chalice for wine as a gift, she is wearing purple, has a gold halo & is accompanied by friends and sisters
- Distorted/altered space
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- Abel & Malchizadek
- Church of San Vitale, Italy
- c. 547
- Depicts Abel offering a lamb & Melchizadek offering bread to the alter
- The hand of God extends from the sky
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- Icon of Virgin & Child w/ Sts. & Angels
- Monestery of St. Catherine, Mt. Sinai, Egypt
- Early Byzantine period
- c. 550-600 CE
- Mary is enthroned & Jesus is enthroned on her lap (holding scroll)
- Theodore & George - 2 dragon slaying warrior-saints are next to her
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