Pre-Historic Art and Lascaux Cave

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Questions and Answers

What are the primary subjects of prehistoric artwork?

Cultural events such as rituals and depictions of the environment, including animals and landscapes.

Prehistoric sculptures and engravings were primarily made from synthetic materials.

False

What is the name of the famous cave in France that features prehistoric cave paintings?

Lascaux Cave

What nickname is given to Lascaux Cave due to the significant number of impressive paintings?

The prehistoric Sistine Chapel Signup and view all the answers

How old are the paintings in Lascaux Cave estimated to be?

17,000 years old Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the group of people believed to have created the Lascaux Cave paintings?

Magdalenian Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the largest animal depicted in the Lascaux Cave paintings?

The Bull Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the 'hand stencils' found in caves like Cosquer Cave and Altamira Caves?

A method of communication Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the famous prehistoric sculpture that symbolizes fertility and good luck?

Venus of Willendorf Signup and view all the answers

The Venus of Willendorf was crafted using what type of material?

Oolitic limestone Signup and view all the answers

When did the period of Ancient Egyptian art begin?

6th millennium BC Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary subject of tomb paintings in ancient Egypt?

The afterlife Signup and view all the answers

On what concept was the Egyptian belief in life after death based?

The Egyptian 'Book of the Dead' Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the famous Egyptian tomb painting depicting a hunting scene in the afterlife?

The Fowling Scene Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the Egyptian god of wisdom?

Thoth Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the ancient Egyptian king referred to as 'King Tut' ?

King Tutankhamun Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the famous Egyptian god associated with mummification?

Anubis Signup and view all the answers

The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by the god Horus.

False Signup and view all the answers

Ancient Greeks were a monotheistic culture.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which famous Greek god is known as the 'God of Lightning' ?

Zeus Signup and view all the answers

Which famous Greek god is known as the 'God of the Sea'?

Poseidon Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the artistic style in which figures are depicted in a standing position with most of their weight on one foot?

Contrapposto Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the famous Greek sculpture that is considered the representation of the Greek goddess Aphrodite?

Venus de Milo Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary material used by Alexandros of Antioch to sculpt the Venus de Milo?

Marble Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Greek god known as the 'God of War'?

Ares Signup and view all the answers

Which Greek goddess is associated with the 'foam of sea waves' in Greek mythology?

Aphrodite Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the famous Greek sculpture known as 'Winged Victory'?

Winged Victory of Samothrace Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary material used to create Winged Victory of Samothrace?

Marble Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the female garment worn by Greek women that was a long, rectangular piece of woven fabric?

Peplos Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of garment worn by Greek women that was a light and simple garment made from rectangular pieces of fabric stitched together?

Chiton Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of garment worn by Greek women that was a woolen cloak or shawl that could be draped in various ways?

Himation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Pre-Historic Art

Pre-historic art often depicted cultural events like rituals and environmental features like animals and landscapes.
Natural materials like stone were commonly used for sculptures and engravings.
Pigments from natural materials created illustrations in cave paintings.

Lascaux Cave, France

Nicknamed "The prehistoric Sistine Chapel"
Discovered by Marcel Ravidat when his dog fell in a hole.
Estimated to be 17,000 years old.
Painted by the Magdalenian Cave Man.
Contains paintings of animals (bulls, horses, oxen, deer) arranged in a circle, facing each other.
The largest animal painted is a bull, measuring 16 feet.
Not a hunting scene, as hunters are absent in the paintings.
One of the first examples of human art and pictorial art.

Cave Paintings (Lascaux Cave - continued)

Includes paintings of human figures (bird-headed man) and abstract signs.
Also includes engravings: zigzag lines and crosses.

Hand Stencils

Typically painted with red, white, or black pigment.
Made by blowing pigments through a hollow tube (likely bone).
Some incomplete fingers might suggest beliefs due to hand mutilation..
A method of communication in dim cave conditions, offering advice on safely navigating through passages.
Also found in other caves (e.g., Cosquer Cave, Altamira Caves).

Pre-Historic Sculpture

Venus of Willendorf (24,000 BCE): Discovered in 1908 in Austria.
- Crafted from oolitic limestone.
- Symbolized as a fertility figure, to bring good luck, or a mother goddess.
- Physical characteristics: braided hair, faceless, very large breasts, and unusually large buttocks and thighs, a large stomach (possibly due to pregnancy, oddly bent short legs, ending with small feet.
- Little is known about its origin, creation process, or cultural significance to the people who created it.

Ancient Egyptian Art

Refers to art produced in ancient Egypt between the 6th millennium BCE and the 4th century CE.

Tombs Painting

Portrayals of the "Afterlife": Scenes depicting the deceased happily in the afterlife.
Based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead (beliefs about life after death).
Depicts human and animal-like gods from ancient Egyptian mythology.
Figures are highly stylized and shown in side view.
Painted using the fresco technique.
Common colors: blue, black, red, green, yellow, and gold.

Egyptian Gods

Thoth: God of wisdom; ibis-headed man.
Pharaoh: The King; meaning "Great House".
Sobek: Crocodile God; God of the Nile, protection from crocodiles.
Anubis: God of the dead; jackal-headed, associated with mummification.
Horus: Falcon; national patron god.
Osiris: God of death and rebirth; green skin symbolizes rebirth.

King Tutankhamun

Famous Egyptian king.

Burial Practices

Egyptians buried their deceased with their belongings, furniture, vases, cloth, and food.
Belief that these items would be useful in the afterlife.

Tomb of Nebamun

'The Fowling Scene' from the Tomb of Nebamun depicts a scene of bird hunting and fishing.

Queen Nefertiti

Painting on a tomb wall depicting Queen Nefertiti, wife of Ramses the Great.

Relief Sculptures

Carved into temple and tomb walls.
Decorated tombs of the wealthy and powerful.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Ancient Egyptian writing system.
Written on papyrus, walls, and objects.
Believed to have been invented by the god Thoth (God of wisdom).
Rosetta Stone: A significant artifact with carved hieroglyphs that helped unlock the meaning of the script.

Egyptian Scribes

Ancient Egyptian record keepers.
Learned to read and write hieroglyphs.
Recorded daily life events, inventories, administrative records, legal contracts, medical documents, tax records, and magic spells.
Famous scribe: Imhotep.
Scribes would sprinkle water before work in honor of Imhotep.
Scribes mostly sons of scribes.

Ancient Greek Art

Polytheistic: Belief in many gods (e.g., Zeus, Poseidon, Medusa, Venus, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo).
Greek Mythology: Full of mysterious stories and legends (e.g., Hercules, Achilles, Minotaur, mermaids).

Ancient Greek Sculpture (800-300 BCE)

Archaic Period (600-500 BCE): Examples include Kroisos, Kore, and Kritian Boy.
Contrapposto: A sculptural style where figures stand with most of their weight on one leg, creating a natural and dynamic pose.
- Examples include the Discus Thrower and Doryphoros (Spear Bearer).
Venus de Milo (around 130 BCE): Known for its beauty and mystery surrounding the missing arms.
Aphrodite (around 400 BCE): Depicts the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
Winged Victory of Samothrace (around 200 BCE): Represents the Greek goddess of victory and has a notable feature of the missing head and arms.

Greek Costumes (Women)

Peplos, Chiton, and Himation.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of pre-historic art, including the famous Lascaux Cave in France, known for its stunning animal paintings. Learn about the materials, techniques, and cultural significance of this ancient art form, which provides insight into early human creativity. Delve into the symbolism behind the artwork and its place in history.