Art History of Egypt - Essay Example

ART HISTORY Imhotep was an architect who built Stepped Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara. According to some rumors Imhotep was son of one of the kings. He was the chief vizier, architect, poet, physician, and high priest and later was given a status of god and was worshipped. 2. The Pyramids of Khufu (2551-2528 B.C.E.) were part of the Fourth dynasty of Pharaohs that include Khafre (2520-2494 B.C.E.) and Menkaure (2490-2472 B.C.E.). These Pyramids are also known as Gizeh Pyramids that testifies the wealth and pretensions of Pharaohs. 3. Pyramid of Khafra (2520-2494 B.C.E) also known as The Great Sphinx said to be built by Cephren. The Great Sphinx was one of the most preserved Pyramids. Its height is 143.5m and weighs about 53 million tons solid Limestone. The Great Sphinx. Giza, Egypt. http://www.arthistory-archaeology.umd.edu/courses/ARTH275/FA05/Class%20image%20pages/92705egypt.htm 4. The statue of seated Khafre (2520-2494 BCE), was built near the Great Sphinx for the Pharaoh's valley. During the reign of Khafre Egypt was a peaceful country with no military attacks and full of prosperity. Khafre kept the title "Son of Re" which was started by his father. 5. Menkaure and Khamerernebty are shown with perfect bosy and faces. Care was taken to show the Queen looked very feminine and the King as masculine. It shows that they represent a class that is prosperous and rich in culture and walth. 6. A group of islands that form a circle in the south of Aegean Sea is called as Cyclades. Cycladic art is considered as prehistoric as no scriptures were found. Most of these are figures of nude females whose arms are folded across the chest. The male cycladical idols are cylindrical in shape. 7. Palace of Knossos (Crete) 1700-14-B.C.E. was the home for the tyrant King Minos. He was the son of Zeus and the mortal woman named Europa. The palace has low cilings, all the columns were made of wood, has stone masonry walls. Small chapels were used for worship and religious activities. The palace was not just for royal purposes, evidence shows that they used for administration also. 8. Bull Leaping (Toreador) fresco, from Knossos, 1450-1400 B.C.E. was one of the best-known wall paintings of Knossos. The painting depicts a charging bull, two girls and a boy. One girl holds the horns of the bull, the jumps on to the back of the bull and other girl is ready to catch the bull. This bullfight might be a ritual in which the bull or the fighters or both were sacrificed. 9. It is situated at Akrotiri and one of the best preserved mural paintings. Most of the painting used to depict people but this one was drawn on a landscape. Its full of flowers and colored rocks and tourists title was "the Spring Fresco". 10. The important structures that were reconstructed by the archeologists that form the defensive elements, one used for regal gatherings and the royal reception hall. It is a large set of rooms that's connected to a portico to the open yard and a great hearth at the center and a throne to one side. 11. Lion Gate of Mycenae is a cyclopean masonry that introduces a refine element to the monumental entrance. The structure so made that it keeps enemy soldiers off guard and vulnerable. The bastion is on the hillside, much taller and inaccessible height. Lions at the entrance give a resemblance of guardian that is there to protect. 12. The Greek paintings used to depict humans and animals and lately full Geometric style was developed. The paintings contain different geometric shapes like triangles, circles, square, etc., to depict torsos, long legs and many more. 13. Exekias: Ajax and Achilles playing a dice game, 540-530 B.C.E. was a part of painting known as black figure. Exekias was panel and vase painter and depicts the rivalry between the two Trojan heroes into a board game. His vision of the painting was telling a story where both the warriors were locking horns to fight. 14. Euphronios: Herakles Wrestling Antaios, 510 B.C.E., natural red from the pottery was used to paint. Antaios was a wrestler who hails from Libya was seen suffering in pain and Herakles was more composed. 15. Euthymides: Three Revelers, 510 B.C.E., was a Attic red-figure amphora. It's a wine jug on which three Greek men were painted. Unlike traditional paintings that were two-dimensional this was seen as view. This was a new method that Euthymides experimented on this painting. 16. Kouros means young man and the plural is kouroi, male statue were called as Kouros. Kouroi were always nude and used to depict different gods, warriors and athletes. Young and strong males were considered as strong contenders for family continuity, the statues became a symbolic ancestor figures. 17. The paintings of Kroisos were similar to Kouros, the only difference was that the sharp edges were organically melted and replaced by bulging muscles. In Kouros they used have symbols of muscles but in Kroisos muscles can be seen. It can be said that it's a transformations from Geometric design to the more naturalistic imagery. 18. Kroisos represents nude male figures while Kore represents figures of females. Unlike the males the Kore's were dressed. In those times men's bodies were displayed sensuously and women's obscured. Nowadays women's bodies were shown quite sensuously and men are obscured. 19. Temple of Aphaia: Dying warrior from east pediment Aegina, c 490 - 480 BCE, is Doric temple that is 45x90 feet and has six columns across the front and another twelve columns on each side. 20. Temple of Aphaia: Dying warrior from east pediment Aegina, c 490 - 480 BCE, the sculpture shows the struggle between the Greeks and the Trojans, Athena being at the center. Variety of combat poses was depicted like full standing, crouching and finally leaning to the ground. 21. The Parthenon Temple was 69.5 m x 30.9 m (228.0 x 101.4 ft) in diameter. Lapith Fighting a Centaur, is located on the south side of Parthenon. It is made of Marble and height is 56" (1.42m). Horsemen is located on the north side of Parthenon and height is 41 " (106cm). 22. The Parthenon is Doric temple with an octostyle that has Ionic features. The temple has Metope decoration and ninety two Metopes were carved which shows the significance with which the glory was depicted. 23. Polykleitos: Doryphoros, 450-440 B.C.E., is a Roman copy of the original bronze of c. 450-440 BCE. Marble, height 6'6" (2 m); Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer). http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/kpycha/art111/lectures/greece.htm References CFBISD. Unit TWO: Cycladic and Minoan ArtSTUDY GUIDE. Retrieved 27 October 2008 from < http://cfbstaff.cfbisd.edu/huntst/ap%20art%20history/doug's%20study%20guides/unit%202%20SG/Unit%20Two%20Part%20Two%20SG.doc >. ISU. Aegean. Retrieved 27 October 2008 from < http://www.public.iastate.edu/tart/fall2003arth280website/aegean.html>. ISU. Egypt I: Predynastic and Old Kingdom. Retrieved 27 October 2008 from < http://www.public.iastate.edu/tart/fall2003arth280website/egypt1.html> Read More