Option #2 Mystery Images

I would have to say that image number one, the fisherman, is a Minoan work. This is because of several things that I noticed in the piece, when comparing it to other images of Minoan art.

The first thing that struck me was how curved the fisherman's back is. This curve and this stylization of the human form is shown in several images found in our textbook. It can be seen in Bull Leaping on page 88, in The Harvester Rhyton on page 89, and in the Vapheio Cup on page 90.

It also has another similarity with The Harvester Rhyton with how the fisherman's face is in a profile view, while the upper torso is in a front facing view. Several figures on the Rhyton share this same pose. The fisherman's profile face also reminds me of Girl Gathering Saffron and Crocus Flowers on page 80 (which is another Minoan painting). The style that his eye, chin, nose, ear, and hair were painted in is very similar to that of the Girl Gathering Saffron.

Another thing that gives this painting away for me is the way it was colored. The colors for this image are very bright and unshaded. Which is a characteristic of Minoan painting. I would also have to say that the painting is a buon fresco rather than a fresco secco because of how well preserved it looks. I could be wrong, but I'd imagine that a lot more of it would have chipped off by now if the painter had not of painted it on a wet plaster surface.

When it comes to image number two though I have to say that it is a Mycenaean work. I feel kind of like I've cheated on this one though, because I've learned about this piece in an ancient Greek studies class, that also covered the Minoans and the Mycenaeans. Off-hand I remember learning that the Mycenaeans copied the Minoans in their ceramic/pottery work. However they not only copied the Minoan's work, but they vastly improved the craftsmanship behind it.

The Mycenaeans created highly refined ceramics, and the first thing that gives this piece of pottery away to me, as being Mycenaean is the very long and thin handles on both sides of it. In the book we see two examples of Minoan pottery, the Octopus Flask on page 90 and the Kamares Ware Jug on page 86. In both of these examples the pottery has smaller, thicker, and rounder handles. The handles from image number two look nothing like the Minoan handles, and I also know that these thinner, longer, pulled handles require a lot more skill to make. (I've made them in a ceramics class before).

Another thing that gives it away as being Mycenaean is the overall shape of the pottery. From the very wide and open top, to the very small and curved in foot. This all suggests a highly refined form of craftsmanship, that could be associated with the Mycenaeans. On page 99 the Mycenaean Warrior Krater bowl has a very large, pulled, opening similar to image number two's.

The last thing that gives it away to me as being Mycenaean is the highly stylized painting decorating the pottery. The Mycenaeans were known for having highly stylized (or very geometrical) paintings. An example of this is once again the Mycenaean Warrior Krater. Which has very stylized and cartoon like warriors on it. While image number two has highly stylized bird/chicken people that are riding on a cart being pulled by what looks like a horse.

Similarities? I think so.

Ziggurats and the Great Pyramids

Ziggurats can be described as stepped structures with temples, and or, shrines at the top of them that were built from bricks/mud bricks that had been baked in the sun. Some of which can even take on the form of a stepped pyramid, though their meaning and purpose are much different than that of a pyramid.

The purpose of the ziggurats was to protect shrines from flooding, but it also carried other purposes and meanings as well. Such as, it showed off the wealth, prestige, and stability of a city's ruler. It also glorified the gods in the area and acted as a bridge to them. And by bridge to them I mean a bridge between heaven and earth where humans could meet and interact with the gods.

(A side note before getting to the pyramids at Giza)

Stepped pyramids were formed by stacking six mastaba like elements one on top of one another, and decreasing in size with each level. The meaning behind these structures was that they were to act as a stairway to the sun god Ra, and their purpose was to protect a tomb. The first of these stepped pyramids was designed by Imhotep who was originally planning on building a single level mastaba as a tomb for Djoser. However after building it he changed his mind and decided to build/enlarge the structure on top of it.

Unlike the stepped pyramids the Great Pyramids at Giza are in the shape of a true pyramid, which has a square base with four sloping triangular faces.

At Giza there are three of these great pyramids: Menkaure, Khafre, and Khufu. With Khufu being the oldest and largest pyramid covering 13 acres and built somewhere between r.c. 2551-2528 BCE. This pyramid had been originally finished with a veneer of polished limestone to make the sides of the pyramid seem smooth instead of stepped.

The second smallest pyramid at Giza is Khafre, which has the Great Sphinx in its valley temple, and is the only pyramid to have retained some of its veneer finish; while the smallest pyramid is Menkaure.

All of these pyramids were connected to their own funerary temple by a causeway. (Which is an elevated and closed pathway or corridor). This causeway also connected to a valley temple on the bank of the Nile where a kings body was sent to after being embalmed for ceremonies. The causeway was used to carry the kings body to the chapel in the funerary temple where food and drinks could be offered to him. Other religious practices where preformed here and finally the kings body was taken into the pyramid itself and entombed in a vault. These tomb chambers were then sealed off with a 50 ton stone block after the burial.

When it comes to the Great Pyramids and ziggurats the only real similarity that I can connect between them is the notion that they were a way to connect humans to the gods. With the ziggurats acting as a bridge and the pyramids acting as a set of stairs where gods and humans could meet. There are other small similarities that kind of connect them when it comes to them being used for religious practices, but other then that they were pretty different.

The Ishtar Gate

The Ancient Near Eastern art piece that I have chosen to write about is The Ishtar Gate. I chose this piece of architecture because when I look it at I get the feeling of a very powerful civilization. From the structures sheer size, to its bold colors, and to all of the materials and skills that were needed to create it.

The first thing that is striking about The Ishtar Gate is the pure size of it. With the gate it self standing at 40ft tall and its four crenellated, military defense, towers standing at 100ft tall. The structure is very blocky and sturdy looking, and to anyone standing near it, it would look very formidable. It's easily understandable why Babylonia would want to create such a powerful ceremonial enterence to give patronage towards their god Marduk, and toward their goddess Ishtar.

The second thing that really makes The Ishtar Gate stand out is the colors that were chosen to decorate it. The majority of the bricks are a very vibrant and bright blue color that gives it the impression of being made out of lapis lazuli, which was in it self very expensive stone. This strong color was then complemented by gold images and patterns, adding to the buildings richness. Which definitely shows the new power that has come to Babylonia in both the form of strength and wealth.

These colors were comprised of a thin glass glaze that was placed over the surface of the bricks before being fired in a kiln. However along with these glazed bricks there are specially molded turquoise, blue, and gold-colored bricks that were used to form images and symbols of the gods and of the goddess Ishtar.

The symbols that you can find patterning around the gate are: lions which represent the goddess Ishtar; dragons that are composed of a body and head of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind legs of a bird of prey symbolizing the god Marduk; and there were also bulls with blue horns that represented the storm god Adad.

These specially molded bricks have a form to them, and they pop off the blue brick background. When looking at closer images of them you can see intricate details that really make them stand out. With the Ishtar lions you can see muscle mass in the figure and its mouth is wide open and showing off its sharp teeth. This creates a very strong and powerful image of the goddess, and great detail is even given to her in the lions mane which is made up of a pattern of diamond shapes.

Marduk's dragons also have this very powerful form in their lion legs, and especially in their bird of prey legs. The claws on the bird feet are very sharp and dangerous looking compared to the rest of the form creating the dragon. All of the areas in the form that are similar to a snake are a lot softer and curvier by comparison. However these areas are also full of more diamond shaped details that give the impression of a snakes scales. These scales can also be seen in details of the bird like feet.

Adad's bull figures are given form through muscle, but not as much as Ishtar's lions, and most of the detail seems to go to their manes, tails, faces, and horns which give it a very decorative look compared to the lions and dragons.

Another interesting pattern that can be found at the bottom of the gate is a row of bricks that have a flower design on the. I'm not sure what kind of flowers they are or what purpose they hold, but they remind me of daisies. And they add a feminine touch to the gate, which could be another way to connect it to the goddess Ishtar since this gate is supposed to embody her and her power. 

All of these elements put together create the image of a very power set of gods as well as a very powerful and wealthy civilization.