The object pictured above belongs to a group of artifacts known as incantation bowls, demon bowls, devil-trap bowls, or simply magic bowls. They were crafted by the first millennia Anno Domini people of Mesopotamia and are found, perhaps exclusively, in modern day Iraq. They can be dated as early as 3rd century AD and as late as 8th century. The majority date between 400AD and 700AD. Known pieces in public collections number around 2000 with several times that number likely to exist in private collections. (Saar 2) This report will expand on these statements as well as explore incantation bowls’ production, their function, and what little is known (or provided) of the particular bowl from the Kelsey museum. First, however, we’ll look at the historical setting of the location and era. Introduction Mesopotamia, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, was and is still an extremely important region for the water it provides. For this and its ability to support agriculture, it’s known also as the Fertile Crescent. It’s also been called the Cradle of Civilization for providing the earliest existence of a civilization. In the first century after the death of Jesus of Nazareth, the Roman Empire was reaching the height of its power. It vied for control of the area of Mesopotamia, some of the east-most territory to ever come under their control. In the several hundred years we’re concerned with from about 200AD – 700AD, Mesopotamia experienced control by three main empires: the Romans, Persians, and finally Muslims. The Romans seized control of the area in 198AD from the Persians, more specifically the Parthian Dynasty. In 226AD, the Parthian Persian dynasty was replaced by the Sassanid. This new Persian dynasty would fight cont... ... middle of paper ... ...s nonsense! In conclusion, what is true for the Aramaic-script bowls also applies to the pseudo-script ones. Food for Thought The most profound revelation from the incantation bowls is their widespread use despite a variety of religions and shifts of governing power throughout the 500 years that they are dated. Communication and dealing with the spirit realm wasn’t so much an aspect of a religion as it was a fact of life. As previously stated, the final disappearance of the incantation bowls seems to roughly coincide with the onset of the Muslim conquest around 630AD. If we looked at the incantation bowl not as an aspect of religion (as it transcended them) but as a superstition, it may seem to the modern science goer a ridiculous one. However, when measured against today’s still prevalent black cats, ladders, and water dowsing we can hardly begin to pass judgment.
The durability of clay has brought forth an immense abundance of Greek pottery, a craft mastered by Athenian artists. Archeologists have found hundreds of varieties in creation, shape, function, style, and artwork in Archaic vases. The museum has been blessed with one of these priceless artifacts; it is the duty of this establishment to accumulate as much data as possible surrounding the vase. In first identifying technique, dimensions, and condition, as well as describing shape, ornament, and figural scenery, one may then begin to analyze the vase. This serves the general purpose of understanding where the artifact stands in Greek culture and history. Through the examination and research of figural scenes, it is then possible to compare these to other scenes and styles of the same and other painters. Finally, one can then hypothesize where, why, and how this piece was used.
Surely, it was easily recognizable during the Early Zhou dynasty that it was a ritual wine vessel and for the wealthy to use for their offerings. But today, at first glance, it may look intimidating with its sharp points from top to bottom. The vessel has a unique shape and green patina color that catches the eye whether looking disgusting or elegant. It is also not very inviting with its rough looking texture, long spout, and awkward handle. Right where the rim of the cup starts and the spout ends are a pair of capped posts rising from the rim. Opposite from the spout is a sharp leaf-shaped rim, which could be easily mistaken as the spout, since wine could be poured out from that end too, technically. The design was modeled after a bird in flight. However, with a closer look, the detailed work on the vessel shows. This one has a somewhat thin braided or grid-like design imprinted around the whole cup, which makes it unique from other bronze vessels. Most Shang bronze vessels have a dominant motif of a frontal monster or animal-like mask known as a taotie. It typically had horns, eyes, nose, upper jaw, fangs, horns, eyebrows, and ears; therefore, sometimes could be known as opposed animal profiles or split representation as well (Cantor). Some versions include legs and a tail. With the closer look, the strong structure is more apparent as well. It is a unique one resembling a camera's tripod, though pointier and could actually be real sharp. Developed from the gu which was a goblet used for a single drinker, this jue was considered a small ewer on legs. It was a wine cup that only ancestor spirits could "hold and touch", not to mention its large size. This specific Ritual Wine Vessel measures a little over eight inches in height and a little over six inches in width due to
Rituals are held as a very important part of any society, including ours. They go back to ancient times, or can be as simple as maintaining one’s hygiene. Non-western societies have rituals that may seem very foreign to us, but they have been engrained in their communities and are essential to their social structure. This interpretation will focus on the Great Pilgrimage, a ritual performed by Quechuan communities. We will be looking specifically at a community in the Sonqo area.
During the years of 3500 BC to 2500 BC, the geography of a land often impacted a civilizations development in great measures. Depending on the resources available or the detriments present due to certain topographical characteristics like rivers or deserts, a civilization could flourish or collapse. By studying the geographic features of growing societies like the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers as well as the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the link between developing cultures and geography will be examined through sources, including Egypt: Ancient Culture, Modern Land edited by Jaromir Malek and Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek. To determine the extent of its influence, this investigation will attempt to compare and contrast the role of geography in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, focusing on the civilizations’ various periods of development and settlement.
Despite the artistic beauty of the two vases, both were made for more than just decoration. The vase depicting Artemis is what was called a Bell Krater and was used for mixing the popular Greek drink of water and wine. The other, called a Lekythos was used to pour liquids during elaborate burial ceremonies to honor the wealthy. Another main function of pottery in many cases is to tell a story, which is exactly what Artemis Slaying Actaeon intends. The vase depicts the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, slaying a hunter Actaeon, whom accidentally intruded on her bathing while on a hunt. On the other hand, Woman and Maid is intended as a remembrance of a wealthy woman, and depicts an offering of a chest of valuables from a slave girl to the deceased.
The Warka Vase is a uniquely large piece that was laboriously built, and carefully decorated. The images on the Warka Vase are significant and have iconographic meanings unique to the Uruk people and the cult of Inana. The images reference common practices in cuneiform and iconography of the time and place the Warka Vase was made and can be cross compared with other pieces from the time to understand the symbolism of this brilliant piece of art. To understand who is in the images, what they are doing and how they relate to one another may bring unique insight to the practices of the cult of Inana.
There has been evidence of over two hundred human sacrifices in just one general area of Mesoamerica. Not just in an area of a city – but a “building”. Many pyramids, temples, and art forms such as sculptures were made and used just for the purpose of sacrifices and blood-letting rituals. Such violent rituals are shown in art and architecture to show the effect of symbols on the humans of Ancient Mesoamerica. The question that will be uncovered is, how far did the Mesoamericans go? To what extend do symbols effect Mesoamerican art and architecture? These effects could of course lead to the stronger subjects, specifically human sacrifices. The extent of symbols on the architecture and art therefore is reflected as the extent it had on ancient Mesoamericans. It will first be evaluated how Architecture is made to reflect their beliefs on the lives of their gods. Second, how architecture and art can depict symbols will be revealed, and lastly it will be discussed how architecture and art shows the effect of symbols on ancient human lives and interactions. Finding these things will answer the research question by revealing how much effort believers would make to please their symbols, how Mesoamericans believe their gods to be, and how far they would go with tradition or rituals.
Millions of years ago the procreant low lands in the river basins of Euphrates and Tigris was probably the home of some animal life, but no great civilizations. However, things change over time, and just a few thousand years ago the same fertile low lands in the river basins of Euphrates and Tigris became the home of a very rich and complex society. This first high society of man was located in what some still call "Mesopotamia". The word "Mesopotamia" is in origin a Greek name meaning "land between the rivers." The name is used for the area watered by the Euphrates and Tigris and its tributaries, roughly comprising modern Iraq and part of Syria. South of modern Bagdad, this alluvial plain was called the land of Sumer and Akkad. Sumer is the most southern part, while the land of Akkad is the area around modern Bagdad, where the Euphrates and Tigris are closest to each other. This first high, Mesopotamian society arose as a combined result of various historical, institutional, and religious factors. The reality of these factors occurring at a specific place within the fabric of space / time indeed established the basis for this first high civilization. Items like irrigation, topography, and bronze-age technical innovations played a big part along with the advent of writing and the practice of social conditioning (through the use of organized religion) in this relatively early achievement of man.
Most of the world’s first civilizations were river-based. Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley are just two of the many civilizations that relied on nearby rivers. Mesopotamian civilization was first established in 8000 B.C.E., located mostly around modern day Iraq, but also stretched to parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey, and lasted until around 500 B.C.E. The Indus Valley was located in what is now Pakistan and parts of Northwest India. The Indus Valley arose in 2600 B.C.E. and was concluded at 1900 B.C.E. The Mesopotamian and the Indus Valley civilizations demonstrated many similarities and differences in religion, technology, and the legacy they left behind.
Western civilization's ancient myths tell of a time where the invention of Spirit brought the chaos into harmony. This beeing the symbolism of the Pentagram, the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, controlled by Spirit.
Within the Inca religion they strongly believed in numerous Gods and focused on their purpose for being on earth. There is a theory that Inca believe that a God know n as Viracocha created the earth and the humans. Some women were known as oracles who they believed to be connected with the Gods (Rosen 1). According to Rosen, they strongly believed that if they were obedient and faithful to the Gods, then their nature and society around them would be balanced (1). Compared to western Christianity culture; there is belief that God created hell and earth along with all living things. Christianity believes in worshipi...
As I wrote in my think piece, Mesopotamia is considered to be the birthplace of civilization and this development was fueled by technology. The invention of irrigation techniques around 5000 BC in the region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers was the foundation for the development of the first towns and cities. Irrig...
were not for the two rivers occupying the region, Mesopotamia would not have been considered
While is a common conception that pre-modern societies are primitive compared to their modern counterpart, this is not often the case, theses societies have complex systems within their society especially within their spirituality and religion. It is this complexity that has allowed aspects of pre-modern societies to evolve and adapt into modern societies. Myths, rituals and sorcery have been terms to describe the activities of pre-modern societies, but these activities have also been found to exist within modern society as well. This essay will further discuss the connections between pre-modern and modern societies that has allowed for myths, rituals and sorcery to exist in the modern societies.
On display in the beginning of this back room was a bunch of different sizes bowls that were well decorated, crafted, and painted. In this section I learn that “In 1954 Ladi Kwali became the first woman member of a pottery training center established in Abuja, Nigeria and still remains its best known artist skilled in tradition methods of hand-built pottery.” Which is metaphoric because usually the pottery was created by women, crafting its shape, size, and designs all by hand; they used wood to help create and be a mold for the shape of the pots. These pots were used daily naturally for various reasoning’s like cooking and storing water, during dry months or so that the women wouldn’t have to walk far from the villages to fetch the water. Some of them had coloring to them and I’m sure this came from plant dyes, the pottery was known to be very fragile and heavy, which is not hard to understand why given their circumstances. With the coloring the colors can convey important messages but may not always be symbolic or have a meaning depending on the culture. African cultures vary in meaning and traditions as it comes to the design work and colors of their materials and clothing. Bowling making goes hand in hand with the African baskets and weaving which is a huge part of the culture and daily life of African