The Vase & The Fisherman

The first piece of art I looked at was the vase. It has a very smooth texture and it is very rounded. I definitely feel like this piece of art belongs to the Minoan civilization. It seems to have a very “bold” feel and its shape is very interesting. Just like the Harvester Rhyton, the vase tells a story of battle or warriors. The Mycenaens like to show brutality or war. The Mycenaean’s Vases are shaped wide at the top and small at the bottom just like this vase does. It is also a crater shaped, which the Mycenaean’s used for mixing water and wine. The crater form is very popular with the Mycenaean’s. It also compares to the interior of Tholos, because the tressed stone is smoothed down so much, just like the exterior and interior of the vase. The Mycenaean’s also painted their human figures until the Minoan’s would. Also, Mycenaean’s men are more cartoon-like structures, which these characters look like.

            The fisherman on the other hand does not look like something the Mycenaean’s would have made. The fisherman looks like the Minoan’s made because of the style used to make this man. Just like the Bull leaping fresco, c150-1450 BCE because the style and texture are very similar. The Minoan’s have a lot to do with strength and power, a lot of that is in their artwork, just like this piece. The Minoan’s had a lot to do with natural and being part of nature. They enjoyed the beauty of life and the world around them. The fisherman is part of everyday life and surviving. They have to fish to eat and it definitely represents a part of nature. The Minoans also have a very distinct relationship with the sea. That I feel is also another reason why the fisherman is so important because fish are apart of the sea. Most of the Minoan culture has fresco art influences throughout most of their art. The style of the way they create people is also very familiar in the fisherman. The detail from the “Flotilla” Fresco form Akrotiri, c 1650 BCE compares to the fisherman because of the marine life. The ocean is their lively hood and what they know best.

The Great Pyramids at Giza & Ancient Ziggurats

 

The Pyramids at Giza and the Ziggurats of the ancient near east monuments are very unique and beautiful in their own way. The Pyramids at Giza are located in Egypt during c. 2575-2450 BC. They have three pyramids known as Menkaure, Khafre, and the great pyramid Khufu. The Ziggurat at Magaiyir, Iraq, was built during c. 2,100-2,050 BCE and contained many different entrances around the pyramid. The Great Pyramids were much larger than the Ziggurats. The average height of the Ziggurats was about 150 feet and the pyramids averaged around 480 feet. Which is absolutely amazing because they are all man-made structures. The Ziggurats are also spread out across different countries such as Babylonia, Assyria, and Samaria. It is also known that about 25 of these were built.

Although these have similar qualities, they are also very different. They both appear to look like pyramid shapes but the ­­­­­surfaces, textile, and layout are slightly different. The Ziggurats are only made of one very large shape with other stacks of smaller rectangle shaped pyramids. The Ziggurats are made with flat surfaces on each layer, as well as the very top. They were also built higher up off the ground to be near the Gods. The Pyramids at Giza were made to a point, with smooth textures, looking sharp and very angular. The Great Pyramids were made up of limestone and had internal chambers and pathways all over. The Ziggurats were made up of baked brick and had no internal chambers, just a thick core made up of mud brick. The Ziggurats had so many entrances/exits to their pyramids for the priests to escape and be with the gods whenever they wanted. I thought that was very ingenious and unique, and somewhat personal.

         The Ziggurats were built for religious purposes and the Great Pyramids at Giza was supposedly built as chambers to protect their pharaoh’s tombs. I find that very interesting because each the Great Pyramids were each built for their pharaohs and leaders, and the ziggurats were built as a temple to be closer to their gods, to be closer to the sky. And that’s why they are built so high off the ground. I think that each of these reasons are cherished in their own way. I find that the Great Pyramids are fascinating because they have ascending pathways and descending pathways, which is amazing architecture for being so old. I also think its remarkable that these were all man-made structures and they are still standing to this day.The Ziggurats and the pyramids are so different in structure, but if you think about it, they were built for the purposes of the higher power and to cherish their gods just like we do today, with churches, mosques, etc.

 

The Good Shepherd Sculpture: Ancient Art

The Good Shepherd is a remarkable piece of early ancient history. It is an early Christian sculpture that also relates to the “The Good Shepherd” painting. I have chosen this piece because I find this sculpture to be very interesting and mysterious. When I first saw this piece it made me feel as if the man was at peace and content. I say this because of the way he seems to be standing, in a relaxed matter. The way he's holding the sheep by its legs seems like he it protecting it from any harm and will take care of it.

The composition of the piece is very organized. The three baby sheep around the man seem very close and intrigued by their surroundings. I really like that the sheep are laying so close to the man because its almost as if he is their protector. The detail in the sculpture is nice and realistic. It is easy to specify the coat of the sheep is soft and the man’s attire is baggy. The lines on his cloth make it look “flowy” and possibly worn. The stump and stick are a nice detail like they are outside. The way he is standing and holding on to the stick makes me feel like they’ve been walking for a long time and are exhausted. Or perhaps he comes off as confident and challenging.

The sculpture is made of marble, which is a smooth and gentle texture kind of like the piece represents. I think this texture works well with the sculpture because it shows so much detail. The color and texture work well together. The warm colors and smooth details make it easy to look at. The marble makes me think of something that is delicate, yet strong. I think the man holding the sheep treasures the sheep on its back like it is something fragile. The sheep on his back makes me wonder why he’s carrying this animal that way. “The Good Shepherd” name alone makes me wonder what makes this shepherd so “good”. My theory is when I look at this sculpture I think of how this shepherd would do anything just for his sheep, even carry a “weak” or in pain sheep. I say the animal is weak because of the way its positioned on his shoulders like he is frail and cannot walk anymore. Then I look at the younger sheep lying by his feet and I think, maybe the mother is dying. The man is holding the sheep with one hand, which gives off the energy that he is strong.

This piece is three dimensional and only 19 3/4 x 10 1/16 x 6 1/4 inches. It is small with good equal proportion. The man is standing large but what it seems like, he is resting by the stance of his leg and the stick. The dimensions give the piece a nice contrast with shadows. Everything is symmetrical and easy to identify. The angles are not too dramatic but define each figure with just enough detail. The sculpture is a fairly light color and the shadows help separate the figures. It seems the man is looking away from the viewer, which could easily give off mystery because it is unknown why he is looking in a different direction. It also makes me wonder why the other figures are looking in the same direction. The artistic style definitely makes this sculpture seem as if it were ancient because of the worn marks. Some parts are not as smooth as the others, probably due to how old it is. The sculpture is all the same material and color. The visual interest in this piece is comforting and gives off an innocence feel. This artistic style is an ancient piece also because of the clothes he is wearing. All of the figures are close together and connected. The atmosphere of this piece feels innocent and mysterious.