As I viewed these funerary pillars from the Han dynasty, I noticed that the tops of their heads were flat. This indicated to me that they may have been used as a support system to hold up something. This led me to believe they may have been part of an entrance to a Han dynasty tomb.
The pillar to the left shows an image that appears to be a human-like being holding a stone tablet while sitting on top of a pillar. I could not read what was on this tablet, so I was unable to have it translated. I did note that it appears to have four characters engraved on it. Since languages change over time, I found it difficult to decipher the message. I have discovered that many of these inscriptions are relevant to the person who was buried at the site. The pillar to the right shows an image that appears to be a human-like being holding something up with his or her hands.
These sculptures appear to be in breath form due to the oversized stomach; indicating air in the stomach from inhaling. These sculptures appear to have high relief imagery as well. They are sculpted all the way around instead of having a backing. These sculptures also appeared to never have had any paint or lacquer on them. This is indicative of the lackof remnants on the sculptures. The pillars that these human-like beings were sitting on have intricate detail. The one to the left has more detail to view. I assume this is because over time the detail may have been worn off. Based on my examination of this sculpture, I believe this detail comes from being stamped or possibly carved.
Artistic Research
I researched other funerary pillars that have been discovered from the Han dynasty era. I discovered one that was a decoration...
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... fine bronzes, lacquers and jades used in court life were buried, and ritual vessels declined in importance. In the later Han dynasty (first-second century AD), replicas of buildings and other aspects of daily life were placed in the tombs. In northern China during the Han dynasty, hollow terracotta bricks were used to construct the small, rectangular chambers of underground tombs. The doors, pillars, and lintel assembled reconstruct the entrance to such a chamber. Before firing, the terracotta was impressed with images of great force from daily life and from mythology. This combination of subject matters reflects a dualistic view of the human soul: separating at death, one part of the soul was thought to remain in the earthly tomb, while the other ascended to a paradise. This is the realm of ancestral spirits and of the special beings who have achieved immortality.
First theory that comes from astronomical angle is usually the more believed one since there was so many close in content interpretations of it with tiny variations. In the structure of this ancient monument, several types of stones can be observed. There are: Sarsen stones, Trilithon, Blue stones, an Altar...
The First Emperor’s Army: An Important Chinese Find. Archaeology. Volume 28, No. 4 (pp. 267-269)
... burial places. Not only did it provide these individuals with an eternal essence, it was a demonstration of their wealth and taste. These burial practices are cultural dedications that engage with society. Though are not all the same, they provide the same type message. This message is in regard to the heavy presence of power at a certain time. The society of elites engages in the world, competes with each other and in this generates a sense of control. Creating tombs and spaces for themselves ensures them that their mark on the world lasts forever even when their body doesn’t. It is religious in that it provides space for someone who has died and ascended yet it is symbolic of the spirit where the individual can back to the high ether and be where the gods live.
Beginning as early as the Shang dynasty, we have found evidence of the Chinese honoring and paying respect to their ancestors. The process of divination used turtle carapace or ox scapula in order to find out if their ancestors wanted certain rituals or sacrifices done. Evidence of honoring the deceased has also been found in tombs during the Shang dynasty. Lady Fu Hao’s tomb is a prime example of this, since hundreds of artifacts were buried with her, obviously denoting respect for the dead or that t...
...uare Temple at Eshnunna; both very different mediums of art. Although the mediums are different, both are greatly significant in understanding the cultures of the past. Within each of these works of art the theme of immortality is prevalent. One states the theme very plainly, whereas the other has acquired this theme as time has passed. Never-the-less the theme of immortality is important in understanding each of these works of art. It is this theme of immortality which connects these works of art to our modern day and the dream a lot of us have of living forever. Although many hold this dream, I think the artist Freddie Mercury said it best in his song “Who Wants to Live Forever” when he said “This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us.” Our life is very fleeting in the grand scheme of things, it’s this same fact that gives our life such great importance.
In Ancient Egypt, stelas are either stone or wooden slabs used as a means of presenting a monument, usually for funerary purposes. They were also used as markers between territories. Stelas usually feature some sort of decoration and are carved in relief, either raised or sunken. Paint also was incorporated in some of these stelas and often featured hieroglyphics detailing the scene. In Egypt these stelas were primarily used as funerary ornaments, very much resembling tombstones. Looking from the first dynasty on, stelas changed throughout the dynasties in Egypt including their shapes, kind of decorations, and their inscriptions. Initially used as tombstones, these stelas were placed outside of the tombs to name the tomb owner and acted as a marker for offerings. Stelas were also used as a way of portraying gods and used for prayer purposes. We also see stelas used as a way of commemorating conquests. For my paper I will be looking specifically at the use of stelas for funerary purposes and how they changed throughout the dynasties.
The first piece in this set is tilted The Fall of Giants, accession number 1974.607, and it is a detailed depiction of the grecian god Zeus, calling down a storm of stone that crushes every man underneath it. If not for close inspection, one would walk right past the stony mound and never notice the crushed limbs sticking out from underneath. Piamontini intended this in order to show the brutality of the gods, also representing symbolism of returning to the earth, the old religion is
...helped me understand how god, the universe and our spirit revolves around almost every aspect of our lives, now and in the past. Two out of the three artifacts that I picked were from the Asian area, because it was one of the area’s I enjoyed exploring while at the museum. The museum stated that the emperors’ were sons of heaven, which caught my attention so I did a little further research and found an article that supports my opinion on how spiritual ancient china was. The article states the following, “it established that a ruler must be wise and just, follow the Dao- the way of Heaven- and be attuned to destiny.” (Chan & Li, 2012, P. xx-xx) This supports my analysis about the universe, god, and spirit are in everything we do, and especially found in these there artifacts which help to understand how they represent the individual associated with the relics.
The light-weighted archaic theriomorphic shrine was constructed using reeds and wickerwoods that was meant to represent a crouching jackal, which is also Anubis’s sacred animal. The artistic sketch of the shrine the author provided depicts a better understanding of the overall structure and representation of this shrine. However, he also suggested in addition to the representation of Anubis, the possibility of the shrine being just an animal where certain rituals taken place in. Similar in reproduction a certain object, the mortunary temple of Pharaoh Neterikhet Djeser at Saqqara has structural elements that tried to imitate reeds and woods by using limestone. By describing the different imitations in different structural components, such as the door resembles ajar, the author provided a vivid overview of the natural environment that the mortunary temple tried to reproduce. Because of its mesmerizing illusion, the concept of “illusionistic copying of plant elements” (Reference) was inherited, with better stylistic illustration, after the 5th dynasty in constructing different temples and funerary
It is clear that tombs and burial rituals were a key element in the Egyptian society and their way of life as it ties into almost all things they did on a daily basis. Whatever a person’s status was when they were alive followed them into the afterlife. Food and luxury goods were buried with a person so that they could have it in the afterlife. The tombs became a person’s new house after they died. Therefore, making it as nice as possible was really important. Art work and clay models were added to a person’s tomb as material goods needed for the afterlife. They were also seen as decorations that kept the tombs looking nice. Throughout the years, Egyptian artworks on the inner parts of the tombs and on the coffins show a development in the Egyptian customs. Each new development was created to better preserve the bodies and comfort of the dead.
Wedge tombs are orientated towards the setting sun; a possible suggestion from Jones (2007) is that they may have functioned as an opening to the Otherworld incorporating the symbolic dichotomy of light and life versus darkness and death. Likewise Scarre (2002, 160) mentions that these tombs brought believers into contact with the supernatural and were central to their beliefs. The belief in supernatural power was expressed through words and actions in ritual ceremonies, appeasing the tomb spirits and celebrating the community enduranc...
There is no doubt that scholars, artists, and educators remain undoubtedly amazed by the immense collection of treasures that are consistently found within ancient Egyptians tombs. There is true meaning and history behind each artifact that has been found; collectors still see these priceless items as art, and many forget that they once served the main purpose in the afterlife. Everything in the ancient Egyptian culture was meant to serve their highest deities and gods. They created treasures to ensure that their lives would mean something, and many forget to reflect on the purpose of art or an object in general.
This stone sculpture is a naked human-like figure standing six feet tall. The body is in chiasmos stance with the left leg slightly bent and the left foot slightly behind the right. The head is turned slightly downward and to the right, and its size is approximately 1/6 of the body. The hair is cropped closely to the head with no part. The body has a defined musculature, however the forearms appear to be missing. There is an object behind and to the right of the right leg that is about 2 feet tall and 10 inches wide.
...n Canaan. However, another explanation, beyond the mere availability of bedrock, must be sought for the presence of built tombs. This explanation may be related to cultural factors, as these are the largest tombs and required the most effort to construct. One of the shaft burials is likely associated with one of the chamber tombs, the shaft probably comprising the original access to the chamber tomb. When the massive earthen embankment was deposited over the remains of the previous occupation and tomb shaft, a new shaft was dug out. The question is whether the burials date to the shallow, pre-embankment shaft or the deeper post-embankment shaft. At least four individuals with burial goods were interred here; the uppermost was flexed and relatively intact. The configuration of flexed position and burial goods rules out the simple disposal of refuse (Ilan 1995).
The constructions of these pyramids also raise inquiries. 20,000 and 30,000 laborers were said to have finished the three tombs in an estimate of twenty-three years, cutting, transporting and assembling 2.3 million blocks of stone, with each block of stone weighing an estimate of 2.5lbs each (McCauley, 2014). Khufu’s pyramid reached a height of 451 feet high, and with that enormous amount of height, it is hard to imagine how the slaves were able to carry and transport the heavy blocks of stones to the topmost part of the pyramid with nothing but their