Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
During the Classical period in Greek culture, they were developing their standardization of cultural material. With the Greek’s growth in this period, it’s civilization became more complex. Establishing greater trade routes, resulting in the exchange of cultural styles that we know as the Hellenistic period. ‘The Laocoon and his sons’ is a exceptional blend of Roman and Greek styles. The Greeks Kore’s influenced the perfect musculature of the body vs the Romans that influence the realistic emotions and body movement. As civilizations become more developed, new factors are adding to the influence. Eventually shifting the Greeks standardization of their style into a generalization of other cultures being added, creating a variety of artwork being made. This has continued to present day, much of the Greek culture has influenced modern architecture to its artwork.
To Gabe
Your thoughts of how the pursuit of perfection shifts it because it is unattainable was great. Do you think the shift was caused by their own culture? Do you think that there were other influences that caused it? If so then what are they? Great ideas!For thousands of years, humans have been evolving not just with technology but styles and body standards as well. During the classical period in Greek culture, they went through massive growth due to conflicts and influences of cultures. ‘The Polykleitos’ Spear Bearer (Doryphoros)’ 450-440 BCE displayed Polykleitos of Argos ideal human body shape. For the size of the ideal man was exactly seven heads tall, with a wider built. ‘The Lysippos’ Man Scraping Himself’ 350-310 BCE is eight heads tall, giving a longer and leaner body type. In a span of a hundred years the standard of men changed drastically; today you can see this even more intensified. Just ten-twenty years ago the ‘ideal’ women was thin and lengthy vs an hourglass/natural figure currently. This does vary through space and time, and every individual is different. Although humans have always had the habit to group and share common ideals and standards, this goes as far back to the classical period in the Greek culture.
To Kaylyn Kelly
I completely agree with your thoughts about how greedy people can become. Do you possibly think that cultural material in the past could have been traded, stolen, sold, gifted and the last place where it was uncovered could possibly not be the original location. Luckily archaeologist are getting better at tracking trade routes in the past. Also if we learn that cultures gave gifts to each other it can spark new relationships between cultures. Great thoughts!Many civilizations have died out through the course of thousands of years. Regardless they all leave their mark on this planet. When it comes to ‘ownership’ of sites, artifacts, and remains I have always believed that these should be restored and left where they are found. Unfortunately artifacts like the ‘Berlin Kore’ were removed from its original place. There are some cases where it is necessary to move these remains and cultural material to keep them safe due to weather and/or war zones. Besides these incidences I would much rather travel the world and put myself in the environment that they once lived in. But for someone to claim a culture, endless there are direct ties to present day people, no one should claim it. I also believe that the countries in the surrounding areas should have say how things should be handled. The lines and borders that we live in today were very different from those in the past, so the cultural material found might have ties to them as well. In time, hopefully people can come together to take the right step to handle these fragile and priceless cultural material to share with each other.
To Kaylyn Kelly
I thought your example of how Egyptian gods and goddesses were represented by half animals was a perfect contrast from the Greeks. Do you believe certain events and or technology in human evolution changed humans perspectives of how gods were viewed to them. It is interesting how their thoughts saw gods as humans but with other worldly powers. Great job!Humanism is the belief of potential goodness in all human beings, and putting more importance into humanity over the devine or otherworldly beings. Many civilizations, such as Mesopotamia and Egypt focused on the importance of honoring and worshiping their gods/goddesses based on their culture, idolizing them for survival. The Greeks culture however showed value in humans stature through Kore and Kouros figures. The Dying Warrior at the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina shows the great honor one receives after dying in battle. The ‘Archaic smile’ on the warrior represents strength and vitality. Much of the Greeks art work displayed dominance over supernatural beings such as the bronze figurine of “The Man and Centaur’. These representations of humans help support the Greeks philosophy of humanism.
To Lucas Warthen
I thought you had some great examples explaining how both these men changed our view with their practices and theories. Do you believe these men were aware of their actions and/or cared about them altering these cultural material? Also do you think if better methods and practices didn’t come into the field of archaeology, would archaeologist still be guessing and altering artifacts and sites? Great job!Sir Arthur Evans and Heinrich Schliemann were not the only ones to generalize certain cultural styles. Generalization was very commonly used in early archaeology methods and practices. These archaeologist would often ignore context, including time and space. Making it easier to fill in their thoughts and ideas with the evidence found. One example of generalization is of Heinrich Schliemann’s discovery of “The Mask of Agamemnon’. Instead of finding evidence that leads to the conclusion of the mask representing the king, he came to the conclusion first that it’s Agamemnon and then fit the evidence to the theory. Schliemann even went to the lengths of altering the mask to fit his 19th century theory. As for Sir Arthur Evans he didn’t alter his discovery of the “Snake Goddesses’, but instead added new pieces of what he thought it would look like by generalization of other similar looking figures. Both these men have altered the appearances of cultural material, making it harder for new archaeologist to explore other possibilities. Regardless they have contributed to paving the way for archaeology, that continues to improve everyday by incorporating better methods and practices.
To ckocsis
I thought your perspective was great on how the Minoans would celebrate when there wasn’t conflict. As well that the Mycenaeans would celebrate conflict, and how these represent their views on the subject not necessarily their daily occurrence. Do you think either or both of these cultures would use their artwork to show rarer and/or daily reoccurrences? Great ideas!The Minoan and Mycenaeans both had different lifestyles that we can recognize through their architecture and cultural styles. These cultural differences don’t necessarily mean they didn’t experience the same things such as conflicts. But their cultural outputs are none the less unique and beautifully filled with meanings. Mycenae in Peloponnese, Greece is built on a hilltop. Many theories consider that the Mycenaeans did this as a natural strategy of defense. Comparing this structure to The Palace Complex of the Minoans in Knossos, Crete. This palace was reconstructed and repaired for several centuries, giving signs of longevity to the site. Evidence also showed that the Minoans dealt with natural disasters such as a earthquake around 1700 BCE. The cypress tree trunks were inverted to stunt any growth, including being flexible to support the structure from another earthquake. Each of these cultures architecture were built with certain purpose to handle their unique situations. Without written records to tell us daily life we don’t know what stresses they experienced, but we can get a better perspective from what was left behind.
One thing to keep in mind when talking about Egyptian and Mesopotamian culture is that they both had different influences and environments. For the Egyptians they had a strong tie with the Nile, because of its fertile soil deposits. They would use art not only to show the Nile’s importance, but also its ties to the gods. “Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt’ is a perfect example of Egyptian culture. The piece displays Ti in a ritual hunt to show strength and bravery. Hippopotamus are destructive creature that are associated with Seth, the god of chaos. In Mesopotamian culture they also shared their use of art to worship the gods. Votive figure were often used in their culture to stand in place for them when they weren’t in the temple. Although both cultures used art, they each had their own styles, practices, and beliefs.
To Maggie May
I agree with your thoughts of how the Egyptians focused their art into the afterlife. Often their work would display some sort of tribute or depiction of the gods. Mesopotamians also used art for religious purposes but not to the extent that the Egyptians did. From what we know of Mesopotamian art it usually depicts everyday tasks to warfare. Great jobTo Maggie May
I thought you tying in how their relationships with the gods were also apart of their social hierarchy. I also fully agree with how massive and monumental these creations were, showing a sign of how important these ties with gods affected their daily life. Great jobAncient Egyptians displayed their relationship not only in art but in text. If it weren’t for the decipherment of hieroglyphs we may have never learned about their ideology. “The Judgement of Hunefer before Osiris’ gives us written text showing the steps to pass into the afterlife. This piece of art also depicts the interactions between men/women and gods after death. Giving us some insight into their ideology. Another example showing a connection between humans and gods is “The Palette of King Narmer’. In one panel Narmer is believed to be in the form of a bull knocking down the walls of enemies. Showing god like strength as a ruler. This was popular among Egyptians to use art to record and honor their relationships with the gods.
