The Art of the Ancient Near East
The Art of the Ancient Near East
HIS 2100.01
April 6, 2012
The Art of the Ancient Near East Ancient sources are key to researchers and archeologists today to discovery the history of the ancient world. Such artistic resources include architecture, sculptures, writing, pictures, reliefs, pottery, and much more. The source that will be focused on in this topic of art in the ancient Near East are reliefs found within the region. There are many forms and styles in which reliefs were made. Though overall, reliefs are perceived as important artifacts for unraveling history in the ancient Near East. People were first inspired to create art since the beginning of human evolution. In the Stone Age around 10,000 BCE stone tools were first invented giving Nomadic people the inspiration to carve. It was not until the Neolithic Revolution in 8000 – 6000 BCE that hunter and gatherers began settling permanently due to population growth. More time in one place gave the people the time needed to advance in technology. Such advances include the pottery wheel and the plow. Pottery was made to simplify their way of life, though it gave them a new surface to draw upon and from there the art of carving began. “Man started drawing because he believed he can make life out of rock.”[1] Reliefs were not just used as written sources, dated back to the beginning of civilizations; people etched artwork into pottery and walls. Much pottery was found in tombs that help archeologists determine who was buried there. An example of relief on pottery is the Buff Ware Vase found in the Predynastic period around 4000 BCE.[2] This type of clay can only be found along the Nile River, indicating it belonged to the Egyptians settled at that time.[3] “With the help of the pottery we can thus gain a more or less reliable conspectus of the development of the late "Neolithic" culture of Egypt”.[4] Authors King and Hall support the idea that reliefs help unravel the history of the ancient
HIS 2100.01
April 6, 2012
The Art of the Ancient Near East Ancient sources are key to researchers and archeologists today to discovery the history of the ancient world. Such artistic resources include architecture, sculptures, writing, pictures, reliefs, pottery, and much more. The source that will be focused on in this topic of art in the ancient Near East are reliefs found within the region. There are many forms and styles in which reliefs were made. Though overall, reliefs are perceived as important artifacts for unraveling history in the ancient Near East. People were first inspired to create art since the beginning of human evolution. In the Stone Age around 10,000 BCE stone tools were first invented giving Nomadic people the inspiration to carve. It was not until the Neolithic Revolution in 8000 – 6000 BCE that hunter and gatherers began settling permanently due to population growth. More time in one place gave the people the time needed to advance in technology. Such advances include the pottery wheel and the plow. Pottery was made to simplify their way of life, though it gave them a new surface to draw upon and from there the art of carving began. “Man started drawing because he believed he can make life out of rock.”[1] Reliefs were not just used as written sources, dated back to the beginning of civilizations; people etched artwork into pottery and walls. Much pottery was found in tombs that help archeologists determine who was buried there. An example of relief on pottery is the Buff Ware Vase found in the Predynastic period around 4000 BCE.[2] This type of clay can only be found along the Nile River, indicating it belonged to the Egyptians settled at that time.[3] “With the help of the pottery we can thus gain a more or less reliable conspectus of the development of the late "Neolithic" culture of Egypt”.[4] Authors King and Hall support the idea that reliefs help unravel the history of the ancient