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This piece is from the Banditaccia necropolis, Cerveteri, Italy, and is from ca. 520 BCE. This piece is made from painted Terracotta and is 45 ½” x 6’ 7”. It is now placed in the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Guilia, in Rome. This sculpture was fired in four pieces, and it is said to originally contain human remains. The sculpture shows a couple reclining on a sofa of sorts - which is referred to as a "kline" - meaning dining couch with specially cushioned seats. The bodies are specifically elongated; you can see their legs are very long, and even the structures of their faces - which was common. Another common thing was the naturalistic features they had, including their abstracted and stylized hair The banquet scene was a very common funerary art.

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The axe was traditionally called "Yue," which was a ceremonial term for axe. This ax is actually from the Tomb of Fu Hao, and it was a ceremonial/ritual object; however, it was not the only weapon in the tomb - there were over 130 bronze weapons found in there. The rectangular openings on the top right and left would have been used to connect to a wooden handle and be used from there. Something unique about this piece is that it is not only highly decorated but also has a function. On the axe there are two lion heads being depicted, which were ultimately there to represent the fact that it could take a human's head off. The head and the lions however are very different stylistically; the human head is more naturalistic, whereas the lions are zoomorphic. Another interesting aspect of this piece is that Fu Hao is still being represented, as Fu Hao’s name was inscribed on the object under the figural decoration.

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Marine Style octopus flask c. 1500-1450 BCE

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Marine Style octopus flask c. 1500-1450 BCE

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The Octopus Vase is from Palaikastro, Crete, Greece, during the Neopalatial period. This piece is 11 inches in height and is hand-painted Ceramic. When looking at more details of how this piece was made, the ceramic itself was wheel-made and hand painted with dark clay slip, and when creating this vase, they made it in two pieces - with the base and handle being added. This vase was meant to hold a valuable liquid, and this "marine-style pottery" perfectly fits that. The elements on this vase are decorative based on the sea - hence the octopus on the outside. The shape of the elements on the outside is very "Minoan-like" as they present a naturalistic sense of energy and movement. The octopus itself is very center-oriented, presenting it's power. The vase is now placed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete, Greece.

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From the palace at Knossos, Crete, Greece, c. 1600 BCE. Faience, this piece is approximately 11½ inches tall and is currently placed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete, Greece. Not many people understand exactly the meaning behind this piece; however, it was discovered by Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos in a pit underneath paving stones. She was actually reconstructed, and when she was found, her head and arm were missing. It is kind of goofy, as the head has a hat and a cat on it - it is often times joked that she presents the original "Cat in The Hat." Her fancy skirt may express a form of hierarchy it also may represent some sort of ceremonial tribute. The skirt itself is a "flounced" skirt - meaning it was weaved, which was common in Minoan culture. She also has her chest showing, which was a way to show their social scale.

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The Sphinx is 60' x 240' and is labeled as a composite creature - meaning it holds more than one body type, hence the human face and animal body. It is a pharaonic, meaning it has a hierarchy, which can be assumed based on its massive size. It might be an image of Khafre (which is the pyramid of Khafre located next to the Sphinx) stylized with the ceremonial head of a pharaoh - hence the pharaonic iconography aspect I mentioned. The piece is shown with the false beard and headdress on the body of a lion; a lion was a royal symbol at the time. The lion-like iconography could have also been used to represent the way a pharaoh has the intelligence of a human, but the authority of a lion. The Sphinx may have been used as a protective piece in honor of Khafre.

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The Parthenon was the most famous building on the Athenian Acropolis, with the architects being Iktinos and Kallikrates and the sculptor being Phidias. The building is in Athens, Greece, and was dedicated to Athena. The building itself was made of Pentelic marble and is identified as a Peripteral temple - meaning it is surrounded by columns. The temple is a Doric style, meaning it was the "machoist" of them all; this structure helped to show its authority and strength. The structure also had Ionic elements to it meaning it had some more sleek and elegant aspects to it as well. The structure was also built with ”optical refinements” to make sure that everything was perfect from any angle. The building itself was considered a symbol of democracy and Western civilization - and is truly a symbol of Greek culture and history. It's one of the most recognizable ancient sculptures in the world.

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This piece was done by an artist named Phidias - as you may recognize from the Parthenon slide. This sculpture was made of chryselephantine, meaning it was gold and ivory. It is currently placed in the cella of the Parthenon (hence it being dedicated to Athena). The sculpture is an over-life-size presentation of the goddess herself, and in the presentation, you can see her signature aspects, such as the military helmet, shield, spear, and aegis (basically protecting her from any and everything). In the hand she has placed outward, you see a small figure that represents Nike - a goddess of victory. Unfortunately, however, the original version of this piece is lost, as it disappeared at the end of the first millennium CE. This sculpture is now only represented through replicas. The version in this photo, however, is placed in Centennial Park, Nashville, TN, at the replica of the Parthenon due to the relationship between the two.

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Statue of Dionysos leaning on a female figure ("Hope Dionysos") 27 BCE–68 CE

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Statue of Dionysos leaning on a female figure ("Hope Dionysos") 27 BCE–68 CE

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This piece was restored by Pacetti, Vincenzo during the Augustan or Julio-Claudian Period and is from the Roman culture. The sculpture is made of marble and is 82 3/4 inches. The statue depicts the "God of Wine," Dionysus, as he leans casually on a smaller woman figure named Hope. He appears more relaxed as she is stiff and stands still. He stands beside her while her pose and dress imitate Greek statues carved in the sixth century B.C. Although pillars and other things similar to that were common in Roman art, the young woman may have been in place solely to support the man's outstretched arms. This sculpture would have been used as a religious cult sculpture in the temple, however, it is said that a lot of it's significance has been lost and it is now looked at as a decorative piece that represents the great Greek past. In the 18th Century, this piece was broken and restored, as you can see several small details have broken off, such as the fingers and the nose of the man.

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Statue of Dionysos leaning on a female figure ("Hope Dionysos")

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This piece is from grottos of St. Peter, Vatican City, Italy. The sculpture is made of Marble and is 4 × 8 ft. It is now placed in the Museo del Tesoro della Basilica di San Pietro, Vatican City. This sculpture notably depicts Christian beliefs and is a perfect example of how Roman art traditions were adapted to fit those suggestions. As an elite Roman official himself, Junius Bassus was buried in a sarcophagus made in a similar late Roman/classical style. The sculpture presents two horizontal registers, with each of them containing carved scenes. When referring to the Christian aspect of it all, you can see that the scenes depict both the New and Old Testament. This style closely aligns with the typical Late Antique style, as it expresses scenes of faith and ultimate salvation; along with some of the figures being rather similar to the figures on the Arch of Constantine.

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This building was an Abbasid construction - another type of structure style from the time. It was a 170-foot tall minaret; minarets have a rather prominent height and visual presence that displays power. Oddly enough, however, the building was only actually in use for 56 years. The building was made of baked and unbaked brick, and at the time, the most common decorative motif was stucco - which would traditionally be covered in designs. The designs were usually carved or pressed into the material; additionally, the patterns along the building are plant-inspired shapes with naturalistic and curved lines. Unfortunately, however, It was the first Islamic site to be systematically excavated - not until the 1910s, though. The Samarra, Iraq, is located about 35 miles from Baghdad (Baghdad being the first capital of the Abbasid Caliphate). However, this building may be more well known as it was the largest mosque in the world until modern times.