A people’s artistic expressions have long served as a window into their culture and imagination. Ancient societies all throughout the globe created incredible art that captivates people even now, long before humans had access to contemporary materials and techniques. These enigmatic artefacts provide light on the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of long-gone civilisations. Ancient Artz takes readers on a tour of ancient art’s past, present, and future, illuminating its relevance and inspiring contemporary artists.
How Ancient Artz Came to Be
The history of ancient art is extensive, spanning from the first cave drawings by early humans to the monumental sculptures of classical antiquity. It is a visual record of how people’s artistic abilities and worldviews have developed over the course of human history.
- Art from Ancient Caves: The oldest known works of art, including the French Lascaux and the Spanish Altamira cave paintings, are believed to be more than 30,000 years old. A unique glimpse into early human existence and the link between humans and environment can be found in these drawings of animals, hunting scenes, and handprints. These artworks, made using basic materials and colours found in nature, are a strong representation of the universal human need to share and remember our stories.
- Art of Ancient Egypt: The Egyptians built several magnificent structures to pay homage to their gods and the afterlife. Egyptian tombs, like the ones in the Valley of the Kings, included elaborate tomb paintings, sphinxes, and pyramids meant to assist the deceased on their journey to the afterlife. Every aspect of Egyptian art has deep symbolic implications connected to the religion and culture of the Egyptian people.
- Ancient Greek sculptures such as the Discobolus and the Venus de Milo are among the most recognisable examples of classical antiquity in Western art. The idealised human shapes that the Greeks sought to depict were those that were harmonious, balanced, and beautiful. Once the Romans embraced and improved upon Greek skills, they produced intricate mosaics, sculptures, and frescoes depicting mythology, daily life, and significant historical figures.
- Art from Mesopotamia and Persia: Ziggurats, cylinder seals, and elaborate bas-reliefs are examples of the complex creative forms created by ancient Sumerians and Babylonians in what is now Iraq. In a similar vein, the Persian Empire left behind magnificent textiles and architectural marvels like Persepolis to demonstrate their prosperity and cultural legacy.
- Art from Asia and the Americas: Jade sculptures from China and ceramics from Japan are examples of ancient Asian art that represents profound spiritual and intellectual traditions. Maya and Aztec peoples, among others, created magnificent pyramids and stone sculptures that the ancient Mesoamericans used to represent their relationship with the universe and their deities.
Ancient Art: Its Symbolism and Function
Many works of ancient art served important ceremonial, religious, or political functions, in contrast to contemporary art that is typically made for aesthetic or personal reasons. Ancient kings, priests, and community leaders would commission works of art to honour the gods, commemorate triumphs, or represent authority.
As an illustration, consider:
- The intricate Egyptian language that used hieroglyphs to record historical events and sacred writings was much more than a mere beautiful art.
- The busts of emperors, philosophers, and military leaders demonstrate the Roman emphasis on leadership and legacy.
- The Maya used stone monuments called stelae to record the years of monarchs’ reigns as well as major astronomical occurrences, creating a connection between the rulers and the gods.
The cultural and symbolic background of these artworks must be understood in order to completely grasp their importance. Every item is a record of a bygone era, preserved in it are the norms, assumptions, and priorities of that period.
The Impact of Classical Art on Contemporary Innovation Artists, architects, and designers of today draw inspiration from works of art that are thousands of years old. Contemporary works in many fields reflect the classical values of harmony, balance, and symbolism.
- Classical forms often serve as inspiration for modern architecture. Ancient Greek temple columns and pediments may be observed in many buildings, including the United States Capitol and the British Museum.
- The arts: many contemporary artists draw ideas for their work from time-honoured practices. An accurate depiction of the
