Arts have played a prominent role in shaping our world since the existence of the very first human being. Art was a way of expressing thoughts, teaching, and glorifying different historical elements to be remembered in the future.
Great Monuments Over the Years
Arts have played a prominent role in shaping our world since the existence of the very first human being. Art was a way of expressing thoughts, teaching, and glorifying different historical elements to be remembered in the future. From the days of Adam and Eve, many individuals had the idea of creating something to hold the present for the future generation. Hence writing was not an option; art was the very first human work to embrace the present. People started creating art that held so much symbolism that evolved with the evolution of different empires at different eras and locations. Therefore, the act of innovation can be traced back tens of thousands of years. The innovative moves in presenting art were a result of different ideologies and beliefs that lead earlier men (artists) to invent new techniques — the precision of producing art with limited resources and undeveloped tools showed the strength of artists of that age. As a rule, analyzing those various forms of changes among art, archeologists were able to speculate the stories behind most of the great artworks such as paintings, sculptures, monuments, etc. Moreover, going through recorded history, art symbolized the surrounding environment as many detailed features were derived from distinct political, social, and cultural influences.
Political, social, and cultural influences had a stake in inspiring the artist to create a piece of art that serves its environment. Markedly, for example, cave art paintings served as a detailed explanation to humankind of some of the efficient techniques to hunt. While pre-historic portable sculptures held a different responsibility like passing on luck among citizens, its monuments were an excellent invention for uniting the people that came from miles to celebrate in the Stonehenge. Shortly, the Egyptians with their superstitious ideologies succeeded in building a monument that was recorded as the most fabulous building at that time. The pyramids were so magnificent that it took “architects” 3000 years to be able to build similar monuments.
Afterward, the empire’s evolutions lead the artists to go toward capturing humanism, coupled with the ideology of polytheism. As a result, architects built massive Parthenon among the lands of the Greek empire. Moving toward a similar realm, The Romans wanted to cherish natural features that are vital in characterizing every human. They built pantheons holding a massive number of busts to serve the empire and spread its legacy. Moreover, they made the Colosseum– a place was about 3000 Christian sacrificed themselves for the sake of dying as martyrs.
The Prehistoric Art – Neolithic
From around 10,000 BCE until 3,000BCE, the Neolithic (New Stone Age) has been considered a period of human development. Throughout years, people did not belong to any place as they were not settlers. Changing site was a common practice among the last stone age. However, Neolithic men changed the rule by building massive monuments that had survived until today. Moreover, the progression affected the “behavioral and cultural characteristics” were new techniques had been used in cultivation and livestock.
The monuments of the Neolithic period were not seen just in certain close civilization. As the people mobilized to different areas and along various routes, they were able to spread it from Europe to a culture like the ancient Near East that was discovered to hold the earliest civilizations within the region. Those monuments spread from among the modern Middle East, including Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, ancient Iran, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. Throughout those years, the period of Neolithic had been divided into three phases. Firstly, the “Neolithic One – Pre-Pottery Neolithic A” phase, that started with a temple in southeastern Turkey at Gobekli Tepe circa 10,000 BCE. Secondly, the “Neolithic Two - Pre-Pottery Neolithic B” phase, which proved the permanent settlement of the citizens by its architecture development.
Finally, the third phase is the “Neolithic three - Pottery Neolithic” were settlers began producing pottery.
Neolithic One – Pre-Pottery Neolithic A
Gobekli Tepe – the oldest known human-made place of worship – has been built by the long-term settlers that put effort to construct such an intricate temple. It featured “seven stone circles covering 25 acres that contain limestone pillars”. Those pillars contained sculptural reliefs of animals, insects, and birds, which implies the development of domestication of plants and animals. Furthermore, the depictions of sacred symbols known from Neolithic cave paintings may represent the existence of a belief they specialized in. Those pictograms were prominent to understand what was taking place in that era. The dead body was exposed to the public, unlike the Egyptians.
Neolithic Two - Pre-Pottery Neolithic B
Around 8800 BCE, settlers began building settlements that contain single or multiple rooms in rectangular mud-brick houses. Although mudbricks are considered perishable, the constructions held details that shows the precision in making it. Earlier settlers have spent time and effort to create a single location for the long-term use. For example, Ain Ghazal – the most significant prehistoric settlement in the Near East – held about 3,000 inhabitants. The settlers of Ain Ghazal have produced the earliest large-scale human figures.
Neolithic three - Pottery Neolithic
The effect of agriculture and permanent settlement have significantly affected the production of pottery in that era. Individuals used ceramic vessels to store the food they grew, and the water taken by local resources. From the need to consume food and beverages, people were inspired to create those ceramic plates and cups. (“Boundless”)
Stonehenge
Being one of the world’s most famous monuments, the Stonehenge attracted many archeologists to study the reason behind building such a stone circle that is shrouded in mystery. However, this did not stop the speculations and theories that made sense after examining its large scales as well as the period that it took ancient people to build.
Built on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, the Stonehenge was seen as a healing center or an alien’s landing site. But that was not the only theory as some say it is a Druid temple, built by those ancient Celtic pagans. – In research written in Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, the author states that “Druidism was the ancient magical religious faith found to be operating in Gaul and later England and Ireland as the Romans pushed northward that has been revived as a twentieth-century Neo-Pagan religion. The name derives from an old Welsh term for oak, implying that they are the people who know the wisdom of the trees.” (“ Druidism”) – The Druic societies still see Stonehenge as their pilgrimage destination since 2,000 years. Moreover, new excavations in recent years have found hundreds of human bones dating across 1,000 years with signs of cremation before burial. In 2010, archeologists located a second stone circle known as “Blue Stonehenge.” Blue Stonehenge provided more evidence. He estimated that “Stonehenge could have been part of a huge memorial complex where high-ranking individuals took part in elaborate rituals and ceremonies honoring the dead.” (Staff) In my opinion, this new excavation played a key role in proving the theory of a Druic temple as many Druic tribes have visited Stonehenge as pilgrims. As a result, if we can forget the over popular theory of the relation between Stonehenge and astronomy, then the temple’s theories provide more evidence of what was inspiring those builders. (Staff)
The Pyramids of Giza
Built to endure an eternity, The Giza Pyramids are considered the world’s most mysterious monumental tombs. For many years, archeologists were searching for the process used by Egyptians to build those enormous monuments. Those monuments reflected tremendous economic prosperity and stability that was enjoyed by Egyptians during the third and fourth dynasties of the Old Kingdom. (Forman and Handwerk)
In the first place, the reason for building such tombs was presented in an article named “Pyramids in Giza,” where Brian Handwerk sheds light on how artists built the pyramids. Handwerk starts by mentioning an element that made the Egyptians eager to create magnificent artwork. He said: “Egypt's pharaohs expected to become gods in the afterlife. To prepare for the next world, they erected temples to the gods and massive pyramid tombs for themselves—filled with all the things each ruler would need to guide and sustain himself in the next world.” (Forman and Handwerk) Additionally, the things buried with the pharaoh would also benefit his relatives, officials, and priests who were buried near him; this ideology inspired beneficiaries to build and stack such an enormous building with gold and his needs.
The oldest pyramid in Egypt is known as the step pyramid built around 2630 B.C. at Saqqara for the third dynasty’s King Djoser. Djoser’s pyramid began as a traditional mastaba but grew into something much more ambitious as it became a place where Djoser would enjoy his afterlife by surrounding himself with a complex of courtyards, temples, and shrines. Not to mention that it was the first temple made out of stone and not mud bricks. Likewise, the Red Pyramid at Dahshur is the earliest tomb constructed as a smooth-sided and not stepped which symbolizes the rays of the sun, and it helped the king's soul ascend to heaven and join the gods. This pyramid was built for the first king of the fourth dynasty, Sneferu (2613-2589 B.C.).
However, the only pyramids that attracted light on for so many years and were able to become one of the seven wonders on earth are the Great Pyramids of Giza (the Pyramid of Cheops) which is made up of three different pyramids with some other small monuments. The first Giza pyramid project began by 2550 B.C; it was for embracing the power of a pharaoh known as Khufu. He was a chosen intermediary between the god and the human being, which made Egyptian eager to build such a monument. Additionally, Khufu's pyramid is surrounded by three of his queens and a tomb containing an empty sarcophagus of his mother, Queen Hetepheres. The pyramids were built up by different stone blocks put together, which weigh an average of 2.5 to 15 tons with a total of 2.3 million stone. (Forman)
Just by hearing the weight, archeologists were shocked about the incredible number of rocks, and when studied thoroughly, archeologists announced the mystery behind the way the pyramids were built. Many excavations proved several theories, but the most realistic one, in my opinion, is the one that has been verified by physics. To go back, for so many years, Hollywood has presented the Egyptians who built the pyramids as slaves under the lash of a whip obliged to work. In contrast, the American archaeologist Mark Lehner, head of the Ancient Egypt Research Association (AERA), in 2014 had found a reasonable discovery. After Lehner discovery of the ruins of a port that served to transport materials along canals in the Nile, he proved that the workers were not slaves, but skilled and well-fed workers. Whereas, after the archeologists researched and combined their studies with empirical sciences, many methods have been found out and are tested. It is known that the interior parts belong to a quarry in Aswan more than 800 kilometers away. Those rocks were transported by ships to the Nile.
This discovery answered the first part of the question. Yet, we still have the part where those stones are moved toward the pyramid and up to their position. First, “Wet sand to reduce the friction,” is the experimental science that provided some useful clues. A sled was used to transport them with the right quantity of water, between 2 and 5% of the volume of the sand. A “capillary bridges” will be formed between the grains of sand to reduce the coefficient of friction. So, led by Daniel Bonn of the University of Amsterdam, the experiment was put to the question until Bonn found out “painting on the tomb of Djehutihotep from 1900 BC shows a group of men dragging a statue on a sled, while in front another person pours water on the sand. Where the Egyptologists saw a ceremonial gesture, Bonn saw a practical solution” (“Physics Unveils the Mysteries...”)
Second, “Cylindrical structures to move the blocks” is the theory that is not based on any evidence from the Egyptians themselves it is just Joseph West’s proposal that consists of tying three wooden posts to each side of the block. (“Physics Unveils the Mysteries...”)
To conclude, the middle pyramid at Giza was built for Khufu’s son Khafre (2558-2532 B.C). Khafre’s tomb contained a unique feature inside the complex. The Great Sphinx, “a guardian statue carved in limestone with the head of a man and the body of a lion.” Uniquely, the Sphinx became to be worshipped by c.1500 B.C. as the image of a local form of the god Horus. (Forman and Handwerk)
The Roman’s Colosseum
Known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the roman’s Colosseum is still present until now after all the destruction that occurred over the years of negligence. Going back through history, a decision from emperor Vespasian caused to construct the Colosseum that became an area for entertainment. Another critical point is that by 1 July 69 AD Nero's reign was coming to an end after his rule as the great fire of Rome, 64 AD, where he “wrecked the city.” After Nero's death, Rome's citizens needed a “moral and the confidence” uplifts, and it was precisely what Vespasian did to enhance his family supporters. With this intention, he asked for demolishing the palace of Nero and constructing an arena “for housing free gladiator games and other entertainment for the amusement of the 'mob'” (“Building the Colosseum”). Not forgetting the fact that all the monuments done in Rome were to glorify one's legacy.
The building of the Colosseum took place since 73 AD, but it went under so many changes and different reigns until 81 AD. The building project used about 100,000 prisoners who were brought back as slaves after the Jewish war, which was a significant source of income to build the Colosseum. No historical records on a certain amount of money, but it was collected from the treasures of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Moving toward the inventions that allowed the Colosseum to stand until now was the concrete and vaulted arches. Even if, concrete was not an understood concept to the Romans, they worked with it. After the end of the construction, the Colosseum became a place of sacrifices as the Christians had to sacrifice themselves or their slaves for pleasing their emperor. (“Building the Colosseum”).
In other words, the Romans were fascinated with death; their gladiators were either war criminals, or a few were glory seekers. The Colosseum symbolized the triumph of Christians pagan traditions and preserved because of the martyrs that died inside. (“The Colosseum: Power, Brilliance, and Brutality,”
As shown above, a list of different monuments has been taking all the lights of historians and the media. They were the study many archeologists since they entered the field. Those monuments have played a significant role in increasing the true historical worth of the civilization they belong to…
Work cited
Building the Colosseum, www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/colosseum/building-the-colosseum.htm.
View Article: The Colosseum: Power, Brilliance, and Brutality, depts.washington.edu/hrome/Authors/jimkuo2/IlColosseo/pub_zbarticle_view_printable.html.
"Druidism.". “Druidism.” Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, Encyclopedia.com, 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/ancient-religions/ancient-religion/druids.
Boundless. “Boundless Art History.” Lumen, courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/the-neolithic-period/.
Forman, Werner. “Pyramids at Giza.” Pyramids of Giza | National Geographic, 23 Mar. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/giza-pyramids/.
“Physics Unveils the Mysteries of the Egyptian Pyramids.” OpenMind, 29 Nov. 2018, www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/physics/physics-unveils-the-mysteries-of-the-egyptian-pyramids/.
Staff, History. “Why Was Stonehenge Built?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 10 Apr. 2013, www.history.com/news/why-was-stonehenge-built.
"Images Tagged With #pharoh On Instagram - Picluck.net." Pyramids of Giza. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jun. 2019 https://www.picluck.net/tag/pharoh
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