Essay on Egyptian Art and Culture - 2468 Words

Egyptian Art and Culture Current scholarship generally acknowledges that art does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, art is an expression of the culture which creates it, revealing common beliefs, aspirations, and feelings. Within the vein of cultural art history the true nature of ancient Egypt has become the focus of much questioning. Much has been said regarding this ancient civilization within the context of the continent of Africa. The focus has not been merely geographic—although some scholars contend that the physical location of Egypt has been all but overlooked. At the core of this controversy is the issue of ethnicity and culture. What was the identity of the people who built and populated ancient Egypt?1 Many scholars decry the†¦show more content†¦Shu and Tefnut, representing Space in its dual aspects, male and female, were of the first generation. They in turn engendered Geb and Nut—earth and sky, who gave birth to Osiris, Horus, Seth, Isis, and Nepthys and they gave birth to the multitudes of this world.4 In another version, the creation was understood in its first state as metaphysical, attributed to Atum. On the spectrum, creation progressed each step closer toward matter. Myth often relates the story of Ptah, the divine blacksmith, who brought materialization to the entities created by Atum. And, to Khnum, the divine potter, who modeled men and things from clay on his potter’s wheel.5 It is within this framework that the Egyptians conceived of what it meant to be human. A distinction was made between the aspects of a human being of that which was eternal and that which was subject to cycles of death and rebirth. According to funerary texts, humans are composed of a mortal body, called the kha, and three immortal elements known as the akh, ba, and ka. These have been translated as the spirit, soul, and double. More current interpretation assigns a less specified role for each entity. Regardless of the translation, an understanding of the concept of creation by the divine, imparting multiple aspects to each being was necessary to the Egyptian use of art to represent themselves and deities. The personification of theShow MoreRelated Egyptian Art Essay893 Words   |  4 Pages Egyptian Art was once considered to be unchanged, when viewing this art as a whole. Egyptian Art seems to be repetitive pattern of images and ideas. Yet all of these images are uniquely different. Ranging from 3000b.c to 50b.c. Taking the same principles through out the entire period. Which consists of Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. Each dynasty had a different addition to the basic concepts that were established in the beginning, ideas of the artist grew faster and better. Many cultures shared fromRead MoreThe Importance of Animals and Symbolism in Ancient Egyptian Art1611 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Egyptians are known for many of the incredible aspects of their culture and everything they have made. Some of the well known ancient Egyptian relics are the ones like the ancient pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, mummies, and their many forms of art. Ancient Egyptian art, most commonly the paintings, are one of the most recognized styles of art. Not only is Egyptian art beautiful, but it carries a huge deal of value and significance with it. A great portion of the time, the art has someRead MoreSimilarities in the Artwork of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Aegean cultures, and Ancient Greece941 Words   |  4 Pages The artworks of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Aegean cultures, and Ancient Greece have similarities that not only reflect objects and images, but also the media, style and representation. 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Egypt lies on the fertile Nile River valley ,Read MoreDesign And Innovation : The Sphinx Of Taharqo1171 Words   |  5 PagesDESIGN AND INNOVATION: THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO INTRODUCTION: Since its establishment, the British Museum has been an iconic symbol of human culture, art, and history. It was built around 263 years ago and has served as the storehouse for many iconic discoveries over the centuries (Caleca, 1979). With a collection of almost 8 million artifacts and historical objects, it s hard to choose one. Each object has its own value in the museum and reflects the ancient times (Caleca, 1979). In this paper, weRead MoreEgyptian Art vs. Sumerian Art Essay1165 Words   |  5 Pagesdoes not help the issue. When looking at both Egyptian and Sumerian art, there is certainly a resemblance to some degree. Both are from before our time, and both express the beliefs and culture of their respective lineage. But if you delve deeper, you can certainly start to see a difference. Egyptian art is known widely for its hieroglyphics, while Sumerian art may be seen as focusing more on the naturalistic views on the human form. Both these cultures deserve the utmost respect, for their artworkRead MoreWhat Is Art? Art996 Words   |  4 Pages What is art? Art is a difficult word to describe, because it means something a tad bit different to everyone you encounter. The official definition of art according to the Oxford Dictionary is â€Å"the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.† The only problem with this definition is that it is very open ended, creativity and imaginationRead MoreAncient Greek Architecture : The Doric Style And The Ionic Design Essay1610 Words   |  7 Pagesstyle is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a scroll-like design (a volute). This style was found in eastern Greece and the islands. 2). The ushabti (also called shabti or shawabti, with a number of variant spellings, Ancient Egyptian plural: ushabtiu) was a funerary figurine used in Ancient Egypt. These earliest examples had no spells inscribed or other specific words for their purpose, but were nevertheless expected to perform work on behalf of the dead. Model stone statuettesRead MoreCompare/Contrast 2 Ancient Sculptures782 Words   |  4 PagesFor this essay I have chosen two sculptures, each from a different culture that I am very fond of, to compare and contrast. The first piece that I chose is an Egyptian sculpture of royalty (picture on the left). This statue represents an eternal existence reflected in its emotionless calm and enduring serenity. In this statue Menkure and His Chief Queen from the Old Kingdom’s 4th Dynasty are depicted; it is thought to have originally stood on the processional causeway leading to Menkure’s pyramidRead MoreAncient Egyptian Art And Art Essay1655 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Egyptian sculpture was influential for the time and as well as today through many methods including various sculpture and pottery ranging from colossal obelisks to tiny pieces of pottery. Egyptian developments in sculpture and pottery show aspects of religion, the spreading of their culture, and advanced design. Egyptian sculptures was influenced by their religion through many methods. One of these methods were the obelisks, there happened to be specific rules for them as they were after