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Katherine,

I also found chapter 13 to be very interesting especially the significance it played in the church system. My favorite part of chapter 13 was reading about the stained-glass windows. I found it interesting that they used most blues, reds and gold. Cathedral architecture is amazing but I really like all of the color added with the stained-glass windows. I enjoyed reading about how they created the stained-glass windows and how they put them together. I imagine this is something that took a lot of time and hard work. Overall, I found chapter 13 to be very interesting due to all of the architecture and meaning behind it.

Gothic Art

Chapter 13 was all about Gothic Art and where we can find Gothic art. This chapter was packed full of historical points in time where this kind of art is seen or even changes or spreads through Europe. This style began in France around 1122 by a French Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis. I thought it was very interesting to read about the spread of Gothic art and the significance it played in the church system. 

The style of Gothic art can be seen in the construction of churches. The way churches and cathedrals were built before this style was based on the Romanesque style of art that was talked about last week. The construction of these churches changed mainly with the use of rib vaults in the ceiling. These rib vaults created a cavern look on the ceilings. This network of ribs would be connected at the pillars in the middle of the rooms. These ribs also created an X pattern all across the ceiling if one were to look straight up. The inside wasn’t the only thing to change architecturally but additional structures were connected to the sides of the churches to help support the weight. These extra supports were called buttress pier. These would have connectors to the sides of the main building to help with stability and support. These new style church were considered today to have an exoskeleton, the main supports or the skeleton of the church is on the outside of the structure.  

One thing in this chapter that caught my eye was the stained glass windows in churches now. I had not realized that there were no stained glass windows in church’s so far in the book and this is something that did not occur to me until this chapter. I have always been fascinated with these works of art and how delicate they must be to create. These stained glass windows were an idea by Abbot Suger who was inspired by the light and so he created these beautiful windows. Stained glass windows were used through the Byzantine and Early Christian churches but not until this period do we see the use of stained glass more common. Suger wanted to use these windows as a way of God’s presence to be shown and it being shown through colors and light.

In the town of Chartres, we can see some of the most preserved examples of Gothic Cathedrals. This cathedral was almost not constructed due to a fire and insufficient funds. The cathedral was finally built and completed. Although this cathedral had a rough beginning, it is now a landmark for tourists and people of pilgrimage. The exterior of these beautiful cathedrals amaze me but also puzzle me. They puzzle me because we are so used to seeing symmetry in art but many cathedrals have uneven towards on either side of the structure. After reading more, it is revealed to me that symmetry was not a requirement for these towers and buildings.

From here, we can see many Gothic traditions across Europe and the traditions transferred. It is interesting to me to see such a unique style to be transmitted to already developing cultures like Germany and England.  

Naves of Reims Gothic Cathedral, Vassil, March 2007

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Chapter 13- Gothic Art

Chapter 13 was all about Gothic art which I found to be very interesting. The term Gothic was applied primarily to the art produced in Western Europe from about the middle of the twelfth century in France to the sixteenth century in other parts of Europe. Gothic was first used by the Italians in the sixteenth century to describe the pre-Renaissance style. Credit for the invention of Gothic goes to Abbot Sugar of the French royal monastery at Saint-Denis.

 There were many elements of Gothic architecture and some are rib vaults, piers, flying buttresses, pointed arches, skeletons and stained glass windows. Out of all the elements, I found stain-glass windows to be the most interesting. Whenever seeing new cathedrals, that is the first thing I look at. I enjoy all of the different colors and the hard work that is put into the stained-glass windows. The predominant colors of Gothic stained-glass were blues and reds in contrast with golds that characterize most Byzantine mosaics. Stained-glass windows were made occasionally by Early Christians and Byzantine churches and more often in the Romanesque period. In the Gothic period, stained-glass became an integral part of religious architecture.

 In about 1144, before Abbot Sugar turned his attention to the rest of the church, other towns in northern France had been competing to build cathedrals in the new Gothic style. The construction of a cathedral was the largest single economic enterprise of the Gothic era. Jobs building cathedrals were created for hundreds of people. Once the cathedral was finished, it was a focus for community activities, secular as well as religious. Also, it attracted thousands of pilgrims and other visitors and the continual traffic stimulated the local economy as well.

 The cult of the Virgin Mary expanded during the Gothic era. Most of the cathedrals were dedicated to “Notre Dame” (“Our Lady”), the Virgin. It was easier to refer to the cathedrals by the towns in which they were located so there was no confusion. At Chartes, the importance of Mary’s cult was reinforced by the tradition that a pagan statue of a virgin and child, worshiped in a nearby cave, had prefigured the coming of Jesus and the Virgin Birth.

 I found the architecture of Chartes very interesting. Chartes was constructed on an elevated site to enhance its visibility. The southern tower on the right dates from before 1194 and reflects the transition from Late Romanesque to Early Gothic. I found it interesting that the tower reflected both time periods.  The northern tower began in 1507 and was taller, thinner and more elaborate than the southern tower. The northern tower in Late Gothic. Its higher height reflects advances in structural technology as well at Suger’s theological emphasis on vertically and light as expressions of God’s presence. The difference between the two towers are very interesting and unique. I enjoyed reading this chapter because of the unique architecture and color. Stained-glass windows are always something I have admired, so learning about how they put them together and what certain colors they used was very interesting to me.

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The Islamic art is something that I found very interesting in Chapter 11. I thought the Great Mosque was very pretty and I enjoyed the geometric, colorful designs. I was surprised when I read that sculptures were basically nonexistent since they believed sculptures to be the work of Satan. I enjoyed reading the little section on the religion of Islam. I did not know that Islam means “submission (to God’s will). At the time of Muhammad’s death, Islam was only established in Arabia. Islam differs from Christianity in having no priesthood hierarchy, sacraments or liturgical requirements. I thought it was interesting to see the difference between Islam and Christianity since I am a Christian. Muslims are instructed to circumcise male infants, pray to Allah five times a day facing Mecca and worship in the mosque on Fridays. At least one pilgrimage to the Mecca is expected of every Muslim. I found this section to be very interesting and I liked reading about what is expected from Muslims.

In chapter eleven, it begins by discussing Islamic Art. Islamic religious paintings consisted of geometric and floral patterns. The primary architectural piece of expression of the Islamic world is the mosque. The mosque is where Muslims can pray, facing or kneeling towards the Mecca. The most popular known mosque is The Great Mosque, Cordoba. In this mosque, the system of double arches came about. In my eyes, the Great Mosque reminds me of a never ending tunnel. The expansion of the mosque makes the building look as if it is never ending, and to me almost reminds me of a horror story. The building itself though, holds a lot of history. Even after being used by the Islamic people, the Christians later turned it into a church.

The next part of the chapter discusses Northern European Art. The first piece of art is called the Anglo-Saxon Metalwork. The perfect example of this artwork is the seventh century cover of a purse. The purse decorations were made of gold and dark red garnets. Another piece of Northern European Art is the Hiberno-Saxon Art. An example of this art is the Manuscript Illumination. It was produced by monks in Irish and English monasteries. The manuscripts were hand-decorated pages of text, and often told stories from the Bible. 

The Palace Chapel was a place of worship for the imperial court and was Charlemagne’s personal chapel. The Palace Chapel was a large, sturdy, centrally planned building that allowed visitors to catch a glimpse of the emperor from the second level window. I believe this building reminds me of the capitol or government buildings we have today. The space below the dome and the lighting and architecture often reminds me of the Iowa State Capital building and how the higher up you go in stories, the higher the positions of people are placed.

The last part in chapter eleven discussed the Ottonian Period. During this period, Europe fell to invaders. Vikings took over Normandy and the Saxons resumed control of Germany. The word “Ottonian,” references to the three rulers named Otto who helped after Charlemagne’s death to stabilize the Holy Roman Empire.   

In chapter twelve, I quickly found out what the word “Romanesque” means; a broad range of styles, embracing the regional variants that flourished in Western Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Immediately I knew this chapter was going to be broad with the different types of architecture and art pieces. The first type of architecture the book discusses is the Sainte-Foy at Conques. It is known in English as the Saint Faith. It is a pilgrimage church located in Auvergne, France. The most important attractions for pilgrims to this church was the saint’s relics. The relics were contained in a gold reliquary statue.

The second piece of architecture was about the developments at Autun. In the Autun Cathedral located in Autun, Burgundy, a person can see the New Romanesque developments in capitol decorations. A popular scene is the Flight into Egypt, which shows the Holy Family fleeing from their King Herod. One of the reasons for fleeing is the way King Herod killed all male children under the age of two.

 The last two parts of chapter twelve caught my eye the most. The first being the mural paintings and the second being the “Bayeux Tapestry.” I find it fascinating how they used mural paintings as a teaching function. As a future educator, I see these mural paintings as a visual aid and I see where it could help aid as a teaching function. I also found it interesting how more than one artist would work on the mural at a time. I feel as if this would be hard to work with because we all have different styles of creativity and art. Lastly, I learned that the “Bayeux Tapestry” is a detailed battle scene of the Norman invasion of England in 1066. It contains over 626 human figures and is over 230 feet long. It also includes 731 animals, 376 boats, and 70 buildings and trees. This type of artwork was actually embroidery, where they had to stitch in the characters and objects. I could only imagine the time and patience it took to create this masterpiece!

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Chapter 11 & 12

Chapter 11 talked about the Early Middle Ages. The Early Middle Ages was the period following the decline of the Roman Empire through the thirteenth century. As the Roman Empire declined, Germanic tribes overran Europe, affecting artistic developments and producing radical changes in social and political organization. The Germanic tribes were not the only thing changing in Europe. There was a powerful new influence from the Middle East that entered Europe---Islam.

 Islamic religious paintings consist mainly of abstract geometric and floral patterns. Sculptures were considered to be the work of Satan so they Islamic sculptures basically did not exist. I found it very interesting how Islamic art did not incorporate sculptures due to them believing they were the work of Satan. It was interesting that monumental architecture and architectural decoration were something very important in the Islamic religion. The primary architectural expression of Islam is the mosque. The mosque is where Muslims play, kneeling and facing Mecca. The main features that mostly all mosques have are a sahn, or an enclosed courtyard and a qibla, or a prayer wall.

 As Islam spread to the West, more mosques were needed. In the eight century, the ruler of Spain had a mosque built in his capital at Cordoba. This mosque was one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture in the Western style. In the thirteenth century, the Christians turned the mosque into a church.

 The Anglo-Saxon metalwork was also something I found very unique. One example is the seventeenth century cover of a purse that originally contained gold coins. The purse’s designs combined Early Christian and Germanic crafts together with the aspects of the Scythian animal style. It was interesting that it was found among the treasures of a pagan boat burial which indicated that the belief that boats carried the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Beowulf describes the burials of kings with armor and other valuable objects.

 Chapter 12 talked about the Romanesque Art. Romanesque, which means “Roman-like”, refers to a broad range of styles, embracing the regional variants that flourished in Western Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The term is intended to describe medieval art that shares with ancient Roman architecture with features like round arches, stone vaults, thick walls and exterior relief sculpture.

 One section of chapter 12 that I found interesting was the pilgrimage roads section. Two of the most sacred pilgrimage sites were Jerusalem and Rome but journeys to these cities could be dangerous, especially Jerusalem. Pilgrims followed four main routes across France to the Pyrenees and then west to Compostela. Along the way, networks of churches, hospices (lodging places) and monasteries were constructed. The design and location were a response to the ever-growing crowds of pilgrims.

 With the influx of pilgrims, Romanesque architects had to construct churches large enough. Churches had to be structurally sound and adequately light. Availability of materials often presented problems because of the increase in building activity. The earliest surviving example f a pilgrimage church is dedicated to Sainte Foy, a third-century virgin martyr known in English as Saint Faith. The pilgrims were attracted to this church due to the saint’s relics. One important new architectural development in Romanesque churches was the replacement of wooden roofs with stone barrel vaults. I enjoyed reading about the architecture of churches in this chapter!

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Lacey, I am also a Christian so I found this chapter to be very interesting. I enjoyed reading about this chapter because I found it interesting how not much as changed with the practices of Christianity. Also, I found it very interesting how churches came out and how that also has not changed much. The architecture of the churches is something that I thought was interesting because of the thought behind them. Overall, I found this chapter to be a very interesting read.

Reading this chapter on Early Christian and Byzantine Art was by far the chapter I have been able to relate to the most so far in this course. As a Christian, most of this chapter is easily relatable because most of the practices that these Early Christian people did are still applicable today. The one thing that stood out most to me was the performance of mass or Holy Communion in recreation of the Last Supper. In Communion, bread is consumed in representation of Christ’s body and red wine is drank in representation of Christ’s blood.

Two things that are appealing when it comes to Christianity is the fact that this religion didn’t worship the emperor as the embodiment of the state and rejected the Roman and Greek pantheons and Egyptian gods. Also, this religion was appealing because it favored and represented the lower class well. This is the first religion that gave respect to all classes and even respected the lower class, whereas the other religions of the world paid very close attention to the classes and the people were treated as they were ranked.

When this chapter went into explanation of the basilicas it was very interesting to read that the exterior of the buildings were very plain and simple, yet the interior of the buildings were extravagant and very unique. To someone who doesn’t believe in God, the building would look just like any other building back then. The worshippers and teachers however knew that once you entered the building it was nothing but “greatness” on the inside with mosaics, marble columns, and iconography presented. One thing I wasn’t aware of is how the layout of the basilicas and churches were strategically planned, such as the image of Christ located in the apse of the Church. The apse and alter were then framed by a huge triumphal arch and the arch was supposed to symbolize the triumph of Christ.

The piece of art that stuck out the most to me in this chapter was the Apse mosaic showing Christ with San Vitale, Bishop Ecclesius, and two angels. The detail of this mosaic is very intriguing and the meaning and symbolization that is portrayed in it is astounding. Christ in this piece of art is beardless and in a purple robe to symbolize royalty while sitting on a globe. Christ is also handing a jeweled crown to San Vitale with two angels by his side.

The codex was interesting to read about as well, at some point the use of a scroll would be too complicated considering that at some point the scroll could measure up to thirty plus feet long. The codex was the beginning of a new way to easily document/preserve things without having to roll it out on paper and roll it all back up again. The fact that the codex was made out of parchment (goat/sheep skin) for the pages. The Vienna Genesis was one of the earliest codices to illustrate scenes from the Bible and contained ninety six pages of which twenty four have survived. To think that this is the era that we invented the modern day book is very cool to think about how it all began.

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Chapter 10: Early Christian and Byzantine Art

Chapter 10 starts out by talking about a new religion: Christianity. Jesus Christ died in A.D. 33 and was crucified outside Jerusalem which was then part of the Roman Empire. Christianity started in the Mediterranean world and in Rome during the first century after Christ. Christianity was founded on written texts, was monotheistic and taught a code of ethics. I thought it was interesting that there was now a founded religion and that it had a name. Christian rituals did not include animal or blood sacrifice except only for symbolic form. Jesus’ sacrifice was a symbol during the Last Supper which was the bread that stood for his body and the wine that stood for his blood.

 Christians differed from followers of the other Eastern Religions by refusing to worship the emperor as the embodiment of the state. With the rapid growth of Christianity, it had a special appeal to the lower classes of society and the fervor of the adherents. Rome was not entirely safe for Christians before A.D. 313. In A.D. 313, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which granted acceptance for all religions, including Christianity.

 Sarcophagi is a good example of Early Christian art that can be seen on a marble sarcophagus in the Church of S. Maria Antiqua in Rome. Reading from left to right on the sarcophagus, the first character is the Old Testament Jonah, who was emerging from the whale. To the right of Jonah are Christian transformations of a Greco-Roman poet and his muse. Next is the seated poet who wears a Roman toga but is shown as a Christian reading a religious text. The muse stands with her arms raised that combines prayer and mourning visually shown in reference to Jesus’ cross. Spreading out from her palms were leafy branches from a tree which symbolized the wood that the cross was made of. There was also a Shepard that was carrying a sheep on his shoulders. This symbolized Christ being the Good Shepard. John the Baptist was the next figure on the marble. John is baptizing a small child which was Jesus Christ. Baptism represents rebirth into the Christian faith and salvation. I found this imagery to be very interesting because it’s the first kind of art displayed that was related today’s common religion. I think this imagery from left to right told a story which I thought was very interesting.

 Christians worshiped private homes until the early fourth century. Christianity was legally protected from persecution and it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. New buildings were needed due to the growing population of the Christian community. Greek and Roman temples main purpose was to house the statue of a god but Christian churches were built so that crowds, who were believers, could gather for worship. Churches were constructed quickly due to the support of Constantine. Churches were modeled on the architectural design of Roman basilica so that they were able to hold large numbers of people. I thought it was interesting how churches first were created and why. It is interesting to think that this is something that is still current today with little changes.

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I found the wax death masks interesting as well. I didn’t know what it was either until I looked it up but then I found it kind of interesting. In a way, I found it interesting that they did that because that’s something that can be kept basically forever and a good thing for family history. The public baths were also something that I found interesting because that was their way of getting people together. It is even more interesting that it worked. Kind of crazy to think that a public bath was a way to get people together and promote relaxation. I found this chapter to be very interesting.

Week 6- Ancient Rome

Greek art was a model throughout the Mediterranean and provided a classical ideal. Rome had its local styles but the Romans continued to be influenced by Greek sculpture, painting, and architecture. Unlike Greek art, Roman art was typically commemorative, narrative, and based on history rather than myth. A lot like the Hellenistic style, Roman portraits preserved the features of their subjects. They even did more and made wax death masks and copied them in marble. Now I had no idea what a wax death max was, so I googled it. And according to google, a wax death mask is an image, typically in wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death, often by taking a cast or impression directly with the corpse. Super creepy if you ask me!

The Romans carried out extensive building programs, partly to accommodate their expanding territory and its growing population, and partly to glorify the state and the emperor. The public baths were something I found sort of interesting. The Roman public bath was a cultural center, a place used for socializing, bathing, and swimming. It also provided facilities for playing ball, running, and wrestling. So basically, like a big rec center I suppose.  Except the amenities included a cold room, a warm room, a hot room, steam rooms, changing rooms, libraries, gardens, and a museum. I thought it was interesting and sort of cool how the public baths had things like the garden, museum, and library in there, it’s something different. And I’ve never known of one building to have so many different options and things to do.

The most typical sculptural type of the Romans was the sarcophagus, which had also been used by the Etruscans and became an expression of status under Hadrian. One of the most important Roman sculptures in the round was the emperor himself, The Augustus of Prima Porta. In this sculpture, the emperor is shown as a general addressing his troops. By the right leg, Cupid rides a dolphin and serves as a reminder that Atticus traced his lineage to Aeneas and was descended from the gods. This sculpture is the first sculpture I’ve seen throughout the chapters that could look like a person from today’s time, so I thought that was cool.

Roman murals are among the most significant legacies of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Hundreds of wall paintings and mosaics have been discovered among the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. I remember learning about the Pompeii eruption, but I don’t remember ever learning that and I thought that was neat. Roman mural paints had small amounts of wax added to increase the surface shine. Because of the durability this adds, the murals could survive the volcanic ash and stay in decently good condition. The scholars have divided the wall decorations of Pompeian houses into four styles. My favorite from these out of the picture I seen is the first style. The exaggerated expressions are a characteristic of the Hellenistic style. You can tell this in the Soothsayers picture. The witches’ faces are creepy looking.

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Chapter 9 did a good job showing the similarities and differences with other cultures. I thought it was interesting that after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C, Rome began to rise power in the Mediterranean. Everywhere the Roman legions went, they influenced their culture, laws, religion and the Latin language. Greece and Hellenized kept the Greek language otherwise Latin was the official language.

 There were differences between the Greek and Roman approaches to history which showed the difference in their views of art. Greek art was a model throughout the Mediterranean and provided a classical idea. Rome had more local styles but it continued to be influenced by Greek painting, sculpture and architecture. Greek art was more an idealization, but Roman art was more narrative and based on history rather than myths like Greek art. As the Hellenistic style, Roman portraitists wanted to preserve the features of their people. They made wax death masks and copied them in marble. The purpose of Roman portraiture was for genealogical purposes. It was something that could connect them to the past. Portraits were either sculptures or paintings and they both preserved the person’s image and added to the history of the family.

 One thing I found very interesting was how the Greeks thought Rome was founded and how the Romans thought Rome was founded. According to Roman legend, Rome was founded on April 21, 753 B.C., by Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus were twin foundlings who had been nursed by a she-wolf on the Tiber River. According to the Greek myth, Rome was founded by the Trojan hero Aeneas after 1200 B.C. I thought it was interesting how different the two stories were but in the end, official history said that Aeneas was the ancestor of the twins.

 Romulus later killed Remus, built Rome on the Palatine Hill and became Rome’s first king. Romulus ruled until the late  8th century B.C. In 509 B.C., the last king was overthrown and the Republic was established. The next 5 centuries Rome was ruled by two consuls, a senate and an assembly. Consuls were elected every year and shared the military and judicial authority that the former kings did. The Republic lasted until 27 B.C., when Octavian became the first emperor.

 Architecture was something that was growing in Rome. Romans carried out extensive building plans to accommodate their expanding territory and the growing population. Roman law made it easy for people who had distant regions to obtain citizenship even if they had never been to Rome. Roman domestic architecture was created from Etruscan and Greek antecedents but developed characteristics of its own. The atrium was the main feature of the Roman domus. The atrium was a large hall that was entered through a corridor from the street. I found it very interesting what the atrium was used for. The atrium’s roof was sloped inward with a rectangular opening which allowed rainwater to collect in the basin in the floor. I found it interesting how each culture sort of copied another and then expanded on it to make it their own thing. Each and every time, it grows a little bit.

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The Etruscans civilization thrived between c. 1000 and 100 B.C and was up-to-date with Greek culture. Something interesting I found the Etruscans did was they had elaborate burials that included iron, bronze and ivory objects. The Etruscan language resembles no other language that is presently known and it us unsure where it came from. I thought it was interesting that no other language was like the Etruscan language and how they wrote from right to left. The writing that remains today is mostly religious texts and epitaphs on graves, otherwise the rest of the Etruscan writing has disappeared.

 Architecture in Etruria was inspired by Greece and the idea of erecting temples within open air came from Greece. Etruscan architecture used the wattle-and-daub construction. Wattle was the clay they used to reinforce branches and daub which was mud to also help reinforce branches. I thought was interesting how the Etruscans kind of stole the Greeks ideas and they tweaked them just a little to create their own civilization. It was interesting how similar but also different the two civilizations were.

 I found it very interesting that Etruscan women participated in a more public life with their husbands and held a higher position than women in Ancient Greece did. In Etruria, women went to banquets with their husbands which took the place of male-only Greek symposia. Rich Etruscan women wore elaborate jewelry that was equal with their rank. Bronze mirrors were only used by women and they were typically decorated with mythological scenes and their inscriptions indicate that the women to whom they belonged were knowledgeable.

 Etruscans believed in afterlife and their concept was closer to what the Egyptians believed. It is not known exactly what the belief is in afterlife but it seemed to be materialistic, like the Egyptians. When Etruscans died, they would bury them with mirrors, jewelry, weapons and banquet ware. It is very interesting to find out how each culture perceived the afterlife! Etruscans cremated their dead bodies and buried the ashes in an individual tomb or urn, which often had a lid in the form of a human head. The vessels would have body markings to tell whether the remains were a male or female. The urn is made out of bronze and the head is made out of terra-cotta. Tomb paintings were also something that the Etruscans used for the afterlife Etruscans used pictures, architecture and sculpture for the dead. Tomb paintings were usually in frescos. A fresco in the tomb of the Leopards shows men and women on banquet couches and the standing figures are servants. The different cultures are interesting because each culture elaborates more on something within the tomb than the other does.

  I found it interesting that the Etruscans taught the Romans a lot about engineering, building, drainage, irrigation and augury. Augury is how to read the will of the gods and foretell the future from the entrails of animals and the flight of birds. I found this interesting because this is the first time I have heard of the Etruscans and they are so intelligent! The Etruscans were good at divination, bronze casting, jewelry decorated with gold granulation and dentistry. I found it fascinating that the Etruscans had made bridges and dentures! This is the first out of any culture we have talked about that has made an advance in health.

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I also found The Pathenon very interesting and the rest of Greek architecture. I have seen/read about Greek architecture before but I thought the meaning behind the Pathenon was something very fascinating. I did not know that it was a temple for Athena, the Greek goddess and it stood for her aspect of virginity. The thing that stood out to me the most was how each pediment stood for mythological events of Athena’s life.  

The Ancient Greece

The art of Ancient Greece has always inspired me in their ability to carve such masterpieces into rock to make the sculptures. All though the sculptures are the main thing that comes to mind when I think about Ancient Greece art, the paintings and pottery from this time also show the talent of the artist. Like most art, the religion and culture of the area played an important role in the final piece. There were also many philosophers that had a great impact on the art as well. The architecture of Ancient Greece also made a great impression on the rest of the world and would influence the architecture in many other regions of the world.

Ancient Greece had many styles of pottery, but the one that stood out the most to me was the Hellenistic Style. The Hellenistic Style stood out to me the most because of the nontraditional and exotic shape. I was also intrigued by the example in the book because of the contrasting colors. These colors help to get the message across easier by relying on it in the lighter color and outlining with darker colors. These pots were used for grave dedications and therefore the example has a soldier sitting next to a grave on it.

The architectural piece of Ancient Greece that has always left me speechless is the Parthenon. I have always been amazed at the structure and fascinated by the pillars outlining the premise. Although the Parthenon has been pretty well destroyed to this day, we have a good understanding as to what it looked like. This building was initially built as a treasury and would later be transformed into a Christian Church and then a mosque after being taken over by Turkey. The Parthenon is decorated with Doric pillars as well as multiple gods sculpted into the peak. These sculptures consist of Apollo’s horses, Dionysus/Herakles, Demeter and Persephone, Iris or Hebe, Three Seated Goddesses, and the Horse of Selene.

The sculpture that caught my attention the most in this chapter was the one of Laocoon and His Two Sons. This sculpture is very interesting to me because of the story behind it. The story behind the sculpture is that Laocoon did not trust the Greek’s with the Trojan Horse and he warned all the Trojans about this. Then Athena sent to serpents up to kill Laocoon and his two boys. After Laocoon and his boys were killed the Trojans believed even more that Laocoon was not to be trusted and they let the Trojan Horse in. After the Trojan horse entered the city, the Greek soldiers in the Trojan Horse broke out and let in the rest of the army and took over Troy. Like the pottery that stuck out to me, this sculpture is also a Hellenistic piece. This sculpture also caught my attention because I have seen this sculpture in real life while in the Vatican City.

The podcast about the Ancient Origins of Modern Beauty was inspiring to say the least. I never really thought about the extravagant difference the emphasis and strength you put on a word can affect the meaning. Like the example in the podcast of calos and callos, meaning good/fine and beautiful. Both words almost sound the same but have a big difference in meaning.

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Week 4- Chapter 7 and podcast

The readings the past two weeks about Egypt and Ancient Greece have been very interesting. This week the reading about Ancient Greece was interesting to me because it talked about the religion and the gods. Mythology is something that I have always been interested in, so I enjoyed reading into it a little more. I liked the chart on page 86 where it shows the gods, fiction, attribute and roman counterpart. This reading talked a lot about how different Greek culture was from the rest of the Mediterranean cultures which I thought was interesting. In the Greek religion, gods were not only human in form but they also had personalities and conflicts they had to deal with. The gods participated in human events like the Trojan War and attempted to influence the outcome.

 One of the things I found most interesting about Greece was how different their culture was from other Mediterranean cultures. I liked how it talked about how death and death rituals in Greece and how they are different from Egypt. The Egyptians focused more on preserving the bodies of the dead whereas the Greeks had grave markers and memorials to the dead instead of having offerings to the gods. I never really stopped to think about how different the death rituals are in different religions, so this is something I found very interesting and a common ground between different cultures.

 The Greek artists started a new relationship between the artwork and the creator of the artwork. The Greeks were the first Westerners who signed their artwork and took recognition for it. During this time, this is what made artists famous and their work was noticed for many years. Not only was the Greeks artwork something that was interesting but the architecture was very interesting. The Parthenon was one specific piece of architecture that really stood out to me. The Parthenon was designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates and was completed in 432 B.C. as a temple to Athena, goddess of Athens. The Parthenon stands for Athena in her aspect as a virgin goddess. Parthenos in Greek means “virgin”. I found it interesting that the two pediments of the Parthenon represented mythological events from Athena’s life. Each pediment stood for something different which I think really stood out on how unique Greek architecture was.

 The podcast “The Ancient Origins of Modern Beauty” was very interesting to listen to. One of the things that really stuck out to me is, “What is beauty?” That is a tough question because beauty is different to everyone in their own way. Even as far as standards of beauty, everyone’s is different. The statues of ancient Greek women are considered to be a standard of beauty. The question, “Why does this make something beautiful?” was very interesting to me because this again is another question that is different to everyone. The Greeks added proportion and symmetry to their statues of the beautiful women. I thought this was a very fascinating podcast just because it made me think a little bit like what does beauty mean to me and why does this make someone beautiful.

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I agree that the pyramids are one of the most amazing wonders of the ancient world! I found it very interesting that pyramids were the burial site for Pharaohs, I did not know that. It was very interesting that when a Pharaoh dies, they were transported across the Nile River and then taken to their burial chamber. One of the most interesting things that I read about in chapter 5 was about mummification. I was shocked how long the process took. Also, it was interesting how they removed all of the internal organs except for the heart and how they disposed of the brain because they did not think it was of any worth. I really enjoyed reading this chapter, I thought it was very interesting and shed more light on things that I was familiar with but needed more information on.

Ancient Egypt & The Aegean

Chapter 5 broadened my understanding of the Egyptian ways and beliefs. I have always been fascinated with Egypt and its history. With the Nile River making a great impression on the way the Egyptians live and what they believe in. To the artistic talent, they were blessed with and their ability to build such architecture with such detail still amazes me every time I see a picture of the pyramids or the Great Sphinx. Although they did have many big pieces of art with detail, their small art was just as detailed, if not more.

The Palette of Narmer is a great example of just how talented the Egyptians were with their hands. The ability to put so much detail into the stone without having the tools that we do today is what amazes me the most. The ability of the artist to get all the points in the painting across and clear to the viewer also amazes me. Just the fact that the artists can put knee caps and muscle striations on the people in the piece is crazy. The next amazing thing about the Palette of Narmer is the ability to tell the story and portray the message correctly. With the front side representing Upper Egypt and their power and domination by the pharaoh threatening an enemy with mace. On the back, it represents Lower Egypt and how they were under the ruling of Upper Egypt. It shows this through the crowning of Narmer and the subduing of an enemy. The palette was used display the importance of Narmer and all the things he represented and how powerful he is.

The pyramids of Egypt can easily be classified as one of the amazing wonders of the ancient world. Just like the Stonehenge, there are multiple theories on how they were built but one thing we do know is that they were burial sites for Pharaohs. When a pharaoh would die, they would be transported across the Nile river to the temple valley. Then they would be carried up the causeway road, which led to the temple, and they would be taken into the burial chamber. At the burial chamber, they would have offerings of foods and partake in the “Opening of The Mouth Ceremony.” Some may think that the pharaohs were treated like gods and that is because they called themselves gods and the Egyptians believed them. That was how the pharaohs got into power was by promising all these godlike favors, but if the favors did not come true then the pharaoh would either turn towards putting fear into everyone’s mind or the Egyptian people themselves would come after the pharaoh and run him out or kill him.

Chapter 6 talked about the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenean civilizations that lived on the Aegean Sea around 3000 to 1100 B.C. The part of this reading that stuck out to me the most was the Mycenaean Civilization tholos. Just like Egyptian pyramids these pieces were used as burial sites for the royal dead and are magnificent pieces of art. The design of the tholos really appeals to my eyes and I really like the road leading to it. I also like the Grave Circle on top that acts as a visiting area on top.

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Chapter 5 & 6

Reading chapters five, I discovered how interesting ancient Egypt was. Chapter five consisted of the Old Kingdom (2649-2150 B.C.), the Middle Kingdom (c. 1991-1700 B.C) and the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1070 B.C).

 In the reading about the Old Kingdom, the first thing that was discussed was pyramids. This is something that I have always found interesting but did not know much about. Pyramids was the Pharaoh’s burial site and where they began their afterlife. The architecture that is incorporated into a pyramid is very interesting. Each pyramid has been preceded by smaller, single-story trapezoidal structures called mastabas. Mastabas are similar to a bench and were originally made from mud-brick and then finished with stones laid over top of the mud-brick. I thought that it was very interesting that when the king died, his body was transported across the Nile river to the valley temple.

 One of the things that really fascinated me during the Old Kingdom was mummification. Ancient Egyptians thought that in order to ensure a good afterlife, the dead had to be physically preserved. It took seventy-two days to embalm the deceased and it began with the removal or internal organs, expect for the heart. The heart was believed to be “the seat of understanding” so it was left in the body. After removing the internal organs, the body was packing in a dry natron, which dried out the body and dissolved the body’s fats. Then the body was washed and treated with oils then bandaged with up to twenty layers of linens. It was very interesting what they did with the internal organs that they removed. They put the organs into 4 different jars but they threw away the brain because they claimed that it was useless.

 The New Kingdom talked about the temples. The first known Egyptian temples in the Neolithic period were in the form of huts preceded by a forecourt. During the beginning of the dynastic period, a courtyard, hallway and inner sanctuary were added. The Egyptian temple was called a pylon temple after two massive sloping towers adjoining the entrance. Painting was started in the New Kingdom, I was surprised that it was not started before that due to the architecture that they were doing in the previous times. Colors that the Egyptians used were blues, greens and golden yellows.

 Chapter six covered three different cultures, the Cycladic civilization, the Minoan civilization and the Mycenaean civilization. The Cycladic civilization hunted and farmed and faming had required village settlements. Their culture had no writing system. One example of early Bronze Age Cycladic art was human figures made of marble. They mostly created figures of women and not men and the purpose of the figures is unknown.

 The Minoan civilization was the modern Greek island of Crete and it was the home of the most important Bronze Age culture. Crete was the home of the tyrant King Minos, son of Zeus, and the mortal woman Europa. Very little is known about the religious beliefs of the Minoan. Shrines were located on the mountaintops and inside palaces, which were important for religious ceremonies.

 The last civilization is the Mycenaean civilization. In this civilization, I believe that this was the more modern civilization. During this civilization, the “megatron”, a large room was created and it was where the King stayed. All of the walls and floors were painted and they also had painted pottery.

 Overall, I thought both of these chapters were very interesting. Chapter five was more interesting to me just because of the pyramids and the mummification process. I was fascinated with reading about the mummification process and was surprised how long the process took.

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In Chapter 3 and 4 I found the Venus figurines to be the most interesting.  During the Paleolithic time period  (c. 1,5000-c. 8000 B.C.) it was believed that people at that time lived in a harsh ice-age environment. According to an episode of How Art Made the World on pbs.org,  neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran and others thought that the people who must have made this statue lived in this ice-age harsh environment where features of fatness and fertility would have been highly desirable.  The parts that would have mattered most to them had to do with reproduction – the breasts and pelvic area.  Other scholars believed that the statue was a symbol of fertility or a carving of what was perceived to be an ancient goddess. It was originally named Venus after the Roman goddess of love and fertility and the Willendorf comes from where the statue was found, Willendorf, Austria. The traces of the red pigment on the pelvis also are believed to be associated with childbirth. One other speculation that archaeologist suggest is that the statue was a charm for the men to carry while they were off on their prolonged hunting trips It could have been for good luck or a reminder of what was waiting for them when they returned to camp. These hunters typically traveled lightly and the size of the statue would have been easy for them to carry it. Another thought would be that it represents something to do with the burial practices during the Paleolithic period. Bodies were arranged in the fetal position toward the rising sun, which may have meant that they believed in life after death. Possibly during this ice-age, women died off earlier than the men.   Men most likely did all of the sculpturing during this time period also. After all that I have read, I would lean toward believing the theory that it was a symbol of fertility.   The advancements made in art between the Stone Age and the Neolithic Era surely answer the three most universal questions – Who are we? Where did we come from? and Where are we going?  The limestone figures tell us that we are humans and I believe the red pigment on the pelvis area gives us an idea of where we came from. The forms of art such as Stonehenge, which are believed to be burial plots tells us where we are going after life. My interest did not just stop at the Venus figurines because of a history course I took last summer, I also found the Stele inscribed with the Law Code of Hammurabi dated back in c 1792 to 1750 B.C. to also be very intriguing. This figure being over 7 feet tall and code of laws being wrote out on a piece of black basalt stele – a igneous rock. The Law Code of Hammurabi being a milestone in legal history. These laws were said to be designed to prevent the powerful from abusing the weak, to give rights to orphans and widows and for fair land decisions to be made Not that I agreed that the punishment King Hammurabi imposed was in line with the severity of the act. Death seems to be pretty harsh for stealing a property of the courts or temple and even more so for the sorry soul who takes the property from the person who stole it, even if they didn’t know it was stolen. The statue shows Hammurabi standing before the sun god, who is shown to be sitting on a throne and wearing a long robe, which typically meant that he was a man of power.   It is said with the way the sun god is facing on his throne  but has his legs and hands towards Hammurabi, he is giving his blessing on the law code which is inscribed below them.

(n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2017, from http://www.pbs.org/howartmadetheworld/episodes/human/venus/

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Like Lacey, I have never seen this painting before but it really stuck out to me. It is very interesting what color can do to a painting and how it makes the painting speak to someone. I agree that it shows that nothing else matters except the couple in that moment. This is a great painting.

“Dance Under the Rain” by Leonid Afremov is one of my favorite paintings because of how he portrays the happiness and warmth of the couple without showing their faces or emotions. I also love how he uses the color to single the couple out and make them seem like they are the only thing that matters in the painting or the world at the point in time.

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This is an image I found that I really love. I am going to school for nursing so this is something that is close to my heart. I am very caring and that is one of the reasons that I chose nursing. This photo really speaks to the aspect of caring with nursing.