of Venus Willendorf 28,000 BC Civ./Period: Paleolithic Material: limestone Seen as a symbol of fertility due to large breasts and accentuated feminine figure. Very healthy given her weight. Head is covered in plaited headdress, possibly a royal figure?
Venus of Laussel 25,000 BC Civ/Period: Paleolithic Material: limestone Significance: holds a horn or cornucopia in one hand with 13 notches, possibly symbolizing the 13 menstrual cycles in a year. Her hand on her abdomen and prominent breasts indicate that she could be a fertility figure. Her faceless head is looking at the horn, indicating that it is over importance. Discovered by a physician in France.
Cave of Lascaux 15,000 BC Civ./Period: Paleolithic Located in Lascaux, France Most of the images are of animals and humans, painted on using mineral pigments. "The Crossed Bison" is used as an example of how skilled Paleolithic artists were. The crossed hind legs give the image depth, and creates the illusion that the bison is closer to us than the bison next to it. Some of the abstract and geometric images may refer to star charts or other astronomical occurrences.
Catal Hoyuk 6000 BC Civ/Period: Neolithic Located in Catal Hoyuk, Turkey Famous for its large and dense population. Large wall paintings all source of interest. Excavation reveals that Anatolia was the cultural center for the Neolithic period. The settlement contains only domestic houses, no obvious public buildings. Murals and figurines are found throughout the village.
Stonehenge 2500 BC Civ/Period: Neolithic Salisbury Plain, England Composed of large standing stones set into earthworks. At the center of many Neolithic monuments. Surrounded by circular earth bank and ditch. May represent realm of dead or a burial ground. Human remains suggest that only certain people were buried here. Timber rings in nearby areas suggest people lived there. Stones line up with summer and winter solstices.
Warka Vase 3200 BC Civ/Period: Sumer Made of alabaster Found in the temple of Sumerian goddess Inanna in the ancient city of Uruk. One of the earliest surviving works of native relief sculpture. The three registers of the carving depict vegetation of the Euphrates and Tigres deltas, as well as processions for the goddess Inanna.
White Temple and Ziggurat 3200 BC Civ/Period: Sumer Made of alabaster These ancient structures were built in Mesopotamia, shaped as a stepped terrace pyramid. Mesopotamians believed the height of these structures connected heaven and earth. The flat top of the pyramid may have served as a shrine. They were not public worship places, however, but considered the dwelling place for that city's patron god. The purpose of the White is Temple to get closer to the heavens.
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin 2200 BC Civ/Period: Akkad Made of pink sandstone Naram-Sin was the Akkadians moon god. First known pharoah to have claimed divinity for himself. Depicts the triumph over Satuni, chief of a neighboring civilization. Horned helmet on stele depicts Naram-Sin as a god-king. This stele uses successive, diagonal tiers rather than traditional horizontal ones.
Stele with Code of Hammurabi 1700 BC Civ/Period: Old Babylon Made of basalt One of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length in the world. Consists of 282 laws and codes, dealing with contracts and transactions. Enacted by Hammurabi, the sixth Babylonian King. Earliest example of a constitution. May have been meant to self-memorialize Hammurabi's wisdom and justice
Lamassu 700 BC Assyria Limestone Horned cap signifies divinity and belt signifies power. Has five legs. This is because when viewed from the front it appears to be standing firm. When viewed from the side it appears to be walking. Meant to protect and support Assyrian palaces.
Khafre Enthroned 2500 BC Egypt (Old King) Diorite Funerary statue of Pharaoh Khafre. His importance is shown with the value of the stone. Carved for his temple. The pharaoh's ka (life force) needs a place to rest after death. That is what the statue is for. The headdress and false beard are symbols of his royalty and divinity. He sits rigidly in his chair, gazing off into the distance. Lotus and papyrus plants symobolize the unification of upper and lower egypt, as does Horus, the god of lower egypt.
Seated Scribe 2500 BC Egypt (Old King) limestone The scribe is seated and appears to be holding a writing utensil. He is not as perfected and idealized as Enthroned Khafre. He is flabbier, lacks muscle tone. His face is aged and imperfect. However, a statue of this nature would indicate is relative importance as an educated man and possibly servant of the pharaoh.
The Great Pyramids 2500 BC Egypt (Old King) Giza, Egypt Three pyramids for three different pharaohs. Largest is Khufre. Built of casting stones, most of which have been stripped away now. Khufre contains tombs for Khufre and his wife. This was the tallest structure in the world until the 19th century.
Temple of Hatsheput 1473 BC Egypt (New King) Near Luxor, Egypt Mortuary temple dedicated to sun god Amon-Ra. Composed of a colonnaded terrace and three layered terraces. A relief sculpture depicts the divine birth of a female pharaoh. This was the first of its kind.
Akhenaton 1350 BC Egypt (New King) Sandstone Pharaoh of Egypt who switched from polytheism to monotheism. Considered one step below the sun god, but above regular deities.