Fowling scence

Thebes, Egypt 1400-1350BCE

18th Dynasty tomb-Nebamun

"Scribe & Counter of Grain"

Fowling scence dry plaster

2'8" high story afterlife

Royal hunt lotuses flower-rebirth

inscription  proportion

1st pyramid tomb

Saqqara, Egypt 2630-2611BCE

3rd Dynasty Djoser

one of the oldest structures 

1st pyramid for god-king

"city of the dead" tomb

200' high master builder Imhotep

mastabas "bench" stepped

looking northwest

Sound Box

found in tomb 789 royal Ur, Iraq

royal cemetery 2600-2400BCE

1'7" high  sound box of harp

bull-head tops scene

wood shell lapis lazuli

heraldic composition

composite-view

Gilagmesh-like hero

man-bulls acting out scenes

Story Relief 2

North palace of Ashurbanipal

Nineveh, Iraq  645-640BCE

5'4" high  gypsum

Assyrian palace relief  common subject

courage & nobility royal virtues

controlled environment

glorify ruler Sardanapalus

conqueror of Elamite Susa

heroic tragedy (for lions)

Story relief 1

palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu

relief  2'10 5/8" high

875-860BCE  gypsum  inscription

documentary detail of kings accomplishments victory

Assyrian archers Euphrates River

combined viewpoints

compressed distance

Queen Napir-Asu

portrait  Queen Napir-Asu

votive offering  Susa, Iran  1350-1300BCE

4'2 3/4" high  weighs 3,760 lbs.

copper  bronze core  expensive

cylindrical volume  Elamite  inscription

queen's role  fertility

Mask

Life-size Akkadian ruler

2250-2200BCE  Nineveh, Iraq

oldest head cast  cooper

1'2 3/8" high  distinctive

features  abstract pattern

monarchy possibly vandalized

deliberate mutilation in 612BCE

missing precious/semiprecious stones

Aerial view of Persepolis

aerial view of Persepolis

Persian  521-465BCE  Iran

royal buildings heavily fortified

"Gates of ALL Lands"

audience hall-apadana 10000 guest

36 colossal colums  57' shafts

winged bull entrance

animal protomes   paved floors

mud-brick walls

Portrait of Gudea

Girsu, Iraq   2100BCE  3rd Dynasty Ur

2'5" high   portrait 

 Gudea  built temples placed statues of self

rare expensive diorite carved stone

difficult to carve

inscription  temple plans  commissioning

Battle Scenes

battle scenes  victory stele of Eannatam

"Stele of the Vultures"

carved limestone fragment 2'6" high

ruler of Lagash

Girsu, Iraq  2600-2500 BCE

modern day Telloh  historical event

commemorate battle with Umma

cuneiform inscriptions

Babylon, Iraq laws

Sumerian

Cave art

Reasons Why

1. Perspective-illusion of depth
2.The boat in the foreground is larger because it is closer. the boat in the background is smaller to show distance.
3.The artist traveled Italy and likes Roman ruins.

The Cave of Forgotten Dreams

The Cave of Forgotten Dreams Film Guide

1. When and where was the cave discovered?
   1994, in Chaucer, France
   
2. Why was a door installed into the opening of the cave? So that the climate inside the cave would not be compromised.
   
3. Where were the red spots discovered and how were they made? In the front portion of the cave, and it was made by palm of a man's hand.
   
4. What was the first proof that the drawings were not forgeries?
   Stalagmites (calcium carbonate deposits) are growing on top of them.
   
5. Why did the scientist believe that the artist created the bison with eight legs?  What other possible reason do you think that this might have been done? They believe that the artist wanted to show movement. The artist may have wanted to show importance of that particular bison within the herd (alpha male).
   
6. What possible landmark was near the cave? An ice glacier that may have formed the natural arch.
   
7. Why did the filmmakers think that there might have been dancing in the cave? Fire embers and ashes (evidence of long ago "camp fires") found inside entrance. The camp fires cast shadows on the cave walls, inviting early man to dance. The dancing and shadows would have implied moving pictures on the walls.
   
8. What does the presence of bones indicate? Early man did not use the cave as a dwelling. It is plausible, they used the cave for ceremonies and drawings.
   
9. How did they know that one person created the red dots in different parts of the cave? The scientist determined the red dots were palm prints. By the size of the prints they concluded: that the artist was about 6 feet in height, and had a croaked little finger.
   
10. What animal is combined with a woman? A bison--a drawing of a woman's body with the head of a bison.
    
11. What was discovered in 2008?  What material was it created from?
    A "Venus figure" sculpted from a mammoth tusk.
    
12. What was most significant about this cave to you? The possibilities are endless. The cave is shrouded in mystery. It holds so many secrets from the past, that can reveal untold truths about human nature.