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Art of Early Man. Prehistoric times through the Persian Empire. Art history begins with cave paintings of prehistoric man. The Paleolithic period lasted between 30,000 B.C. and 10,000 B.C . Paleolithic period is also known as the Old Stone Age .
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Art of Early Man Prehistoric times through the Persian Empire
Art history begins with cave paintings of prehistoric man. The Paleolithic period lasted between 30,000 B.C. and 10,000 B.C. Paleolithic period is also known as the Old Stone Age.
The two best preserved examples of cave paintings are at Lascaux caves in France and Altamira caves in Spain.
Animal depictions were made to ensure a successful hunt. The images were believed to capture the animals spirit.
Neolithic period or New Stone Age (neo=new, lithic=stone) begins around 9500 B.C.
Neolithic people changed from cave painting to carving images in rock and animal bone.
People move from caves into the open. They built shelters out of stone.
Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England Built in stages between 3100 B.C. and 1600 B.C. Large stone structures are known as Megaliths
Stonehenge is important to art history because of its construction. It is one of the first examples of post and lintel construction Who Built Stonehenge?
Around 4500 B.C. people from the east known as Sumerians settled in what is known as……………. Mesopotamia The Origin of Civilization
Ziggurats (stepped pyramids) were built as shrines They were meant to bridge the gap between earthbound worshipers and their heavenly gods.
In the Sumerian city of Ur many decorative art objects have been recovered from ancient cemetery tombs. Artifacts include chariots, jewelry, headdresses, sculptures, and musical instruments. The practice of combining animal and human features was common.
Sumerians developed an early form of writing with pictures known as Cuneiform (writing with wedge shape characters) The writings were some of the first used to keep records and contracts.
A group known as the Akkadians took control of Sumer around 2340 B.C. This relief carving is known as a stele (stee-lee). A stele is a stone or wooden panel with a relief carving on it.
The portrait of Neo-Sumerian ruler Gudea (2144-2124 B.C.) is a good example of late Sumerian sculpture. While the body is stiff and squat, the face is more portrait like.
Babylonian Civilization 1800-1750 B.C. “The Code of Hammurabi” Babylonian laws were visually depicted on stone pillars (stele). Each law included a punishment specific to the crime. Punishments were very literally "an eye for an eye”. These laws represent the beginnings of law and order in the Western World.
Assyrian Civilization (900-800 B.C.) The most notable artwork from this time were large stone relief carvings that would have covered the mud-brick walls of palaces. The figure is simply picking dates from a tree, but his powerful stance, horned helmet, and wings depict him as a god.
Neo-Babylonian Period (800-530 B.C.) The Ishtar Gates Named after the godess Ishtar, the gate was one of 8 entrances into the city of Babylon. The gate is adorned with images of animals that protrude from the surface.
Ishtar Gates The lion is obviously a known animal….. But what about the animal below? Was it real or imagined?
The Persian Empire (539 -331 B.C.) Persians built amazing palaces adorned with relief carvings and sculptural columns. This is the remains of the palace at Persepolis. Not much remains from this period because Alexander the Great destroyed much of it in 331 B.C.)
