Timeline by Marsh, Rebecca N

Headdress Ornament, 13th Century AD

rmars921 — 2024-10-28 16:38:56 UTC

This jade nephrite object that is 2 3/16 inches tall and 1 3/4 inches wide can be found the Metropolitain Museum of Art in New York. It has a smooth and glossy finish with lots of negative space to bring the solid-colored object to life. The ornament features organic curves, plant life, and bird life that flow and connect to each other. Jade in traditional Chinese culture was seen as immortal and protective which may have some apotropaic properties for who wore this.

Great Sphinx, ca. 2500 BC

rmars921 — 2024-10-28 16:49:28 UTC

This statue is 60' x 240' and is a composite creature. He has the head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion which not only describes a composite creature but also pharaonic iconography as he wears a Uraeus Coba and Nemes headdress. It is an apotropaic figure which protects Khapres complex, where the pharaoh Khapre was buried. The complex is a collection of different pieces of art and architecture which includes his pyramid. He is mostly monolithic and carved out of the plateau which is unique for the time. Pharaonic iconography was very prominate in Egypt much like other dynasties and empires. It showed the power the leader has and was a way to gain favor of the people.

Sarcophagus of the Spouses, CA 520 BC

rmars921 — 2024-10-28 17:18:36 UTC

This object if from the Banditaccia necropolis and is 45' 1/2" x 6'7". It is made out of terracotta that was fired in four different pieces that would have originally been painted. The style mirrors other Archaic civilizations as it is very atomically naturalistic and has stylistically abstracted hair. A Kline is what the couple are reclining on and was used as a dinning couch. While this idea of reclining seams foreign to our culture, this would have been very typical and a relatable piece to the people of this time and the couple who have passed. In typical Etruscan style, the bodies are elongated and describe a banquet scene.

Lion Gate, thirteenth century BCE

rmars921 — 2024-12-03 12:45:36 UTC

This limestone relief is outside the singular entrance of the Citadel at Mycenae which was used and an apotropaic image to guard the city. While the heads of the animals are missing from this gate, they are believed to be lions who protect the city and stare down at the people entering. They were designed to be intimidating as additional defense. The Myceneans had devised an architectural masterpiece that funneled all visitors (or enemies) into one gate. Alongside this gate was a wall where snipers could be perfectly positioned to defend and defeat whoever would dare to invade the citadel. This gate and much of the Citadel itself was made with Cyclopean masonry because "only cyclopes" could move bricks that big. Seeing to intensive defensive system of the citadel we can see that the Mycenaeans were a militaristic society with lots of power.

Law Stele of Hammurabi, 1760 BCE

rmars921 — 2024-12-03 13:18:13 UTC

The code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest legal records that we still have today. It is approximately 7.5' tall and carved from polished basalt. This record contains Babylonian laws in cuneiform script along with punishments according to social class. The top register has King Hammurabi receiving divine power from the sun-god Shamash who are both carved in low relief. They sit on top of the register of laws to show their divine power. The main presentation of the Law Stele was to present the rulers power and law to the people. It was in a way a propaganda to grow the peoples trust and favor with Hammurabi just as the sun-god did. However, it also makes sure people then understand the societal make up of Babylon. We as viewers from outside this society can also understand the social class system and how society was built.

Nike Of Samothrace, 190 BCE

rmars921 — 2024-12-03 14:29:41 UTC

Nike is the goddess of victory which leads many historians to believe that this was part of a naval victory monument. Victory monuments were important because they displayed royal propaganda during the Hellenistic era which wasn't seen much in the classical period. The monument is made from a ship's bow made from Lartos marble and white Parian marble. This further helps describe her as a naval victory monument. She is 9' tall and originally would have had a head and arms. The whole complex would have been 18' tall! This monument is a staple of Hellenistic art because it is created to be viewed from all sides and interact with the viewer. Additionally, there is a lot more motion involved in Hellenistic art than classical art which was more focused on male bodies standing in contrapposto stance (non-dynamic one foot in front of the other).

The Temple of Dendur, 10BCE

rmars921 — 2024-12-13 17:59:14 UTC

This temple showcases the range the Roman empire spread to and the diversity within. This is a temple from Egypt and represents the stylistic strength from that area by the hieroglyphics and floral columns. The carvings on the outer wall we see in the foreground are extremely Egyptian by their flat side profiles of the bodies and the headdresses. The only way we know this is from the Roman empire is by the mention of emperors or Caesars on the writings. This complex is now at the Metropolitain Museum of Art and is home to the Met Galla celebration. The complex includes the gate and temple and was entirely polychrome. It is made from Aeolian sandstone and stands 6.4m x 6.4m x 12.5m. It was originally dedicated to Isis who was an Egyptian goddess whose worship spread to the Greco-Roman world.

Dome of the Rock, c. 687-692 AD

rmars921 — 2024-12-13 18:43:17 UTC

Jerusalem is the heart of three major world religions including Islam. It was built during the Umayyad period and is a testament to the power of Islam and their new faith. The architecture incorporates Coptic, Sasanian, and Byzantine elements. While the building was the first Islamic masterpiece, it was not a mosque, and the original function is still unknown. The location is not random spot, the location is where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac and where Muhammed ascended for his night journey. There are two walkways, ambulatories, and is built in an octagon plan. Mosaic influence from the Late Antiquity period, vegetal motifs, geometric designs, and calligraphy decorate the interior.

Church of Santa Sabina, c. 422-32

rmars921 — 2024-12-13 19:11:47 UTC

Since Christianity worships and celebrates inside, that necessitated large assembly spaces. Churches during the late antiquity period were modeled after the roman basilica because it would be inappropriate to model after a roman temple which were dedicated to multiple different gods not only one. Santa Sabina is the oldest extant early Christian church located on Aventine Hill. Even as Rome was declining in political power, it because the center of immerging Christianity. It was constructed by brick and mortar and features classical Roman elements like the Corinthian columns in the colonnade (row of columns). Christian architecture also features clearstory windows to illuminate the church. Much like Islamic architecture, it was adorned with mosaics, but it was also decorated with frescoes or painted plaster that preserve very well.