Lesson 7: Art in

Early Civilizations
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you should be
able to:
1. Know and understand how art was used
by prehistoric people to depict everyday life;
2. Identify the central themes of prehistoric
art;
3. Differentiate the techniques used during
the three kingdoms of early Egypt; and
4. Explain how art is linked with religion in
early Egyptian civilization.
 The Dawn of Time
• The Earth was formed 4 Billion years ago.
• Life (in the form of small blue algae) appeared
200 million years ago.
• Dinosaurs walked the Earth 200 billion years
ago.
• The most distant ancestors of man, Homo
sapiens, appeared 200,000 years ago in Africa
• Homo sapiens arrived in France only 35,000
years ago, they are known as Cro-Magnon
Man, responsible for the cave paintings
17,000-18,000 years ago.
 What does PREHISTORIC mean?

Pre: Before Historic: Written History

Prehistoric: Before written history

Prehistory is defined as the time before writing, and without written

records, we have only the works themselves and archeological
evidence to help us interpret them.
Prehistoric artifacts have been
found widely spread throughout
Europe, Russia, Africa and China
 Pre-Historic Art
There have been a lot of archaeological
explorations worldwide in order to discover
and understand humans starting from the Stone
Age. Central to the representation of
early civilizations would be the possible linkages
among art, religion, and life itself.
Stone age is a term used to describe a
period of history when stones were used
to make tools for survival. Civilizations
during the time did not have the complex
rational capabilities to tell their stories
through written stories or accounts, but
some artifacts in the form of cave
paintings and sculptures would serve as
their “storytellers.”
The discovery of archeological remains and artifacts
gives modern society a glance of the beliefs,
practices, and activities of early civilizations. The
creations of paintings, sculptures, architectural
structures paved the way for the modern world to
learn and understand their attitudes and beliefs
systems on spiritual, social, political, and economic
matters. It is notable that works of art and
architecture were created from various lines of
materials from limestone to precious gems and
metals to name a few.
As the early humans started to transform from
being nomads to permanent settlers, there also
had changes in their everyday activities.
Regardless of changes as a result of coping to
their environment, there are central themes in
their artworks. Most ancient artworks
represent religious symbols that would unlock
how arts in the past were linked to their
everyday lives.
Prehistoric art is divided into two periods-
1.Paleolithic
2.Neolithic

The first period is called the PALEOLITHIC period,

otherwise known as the OLD STONE AGE.
The Paleolithic period was from 30,000 - 10,000 B.C..

The second period is called the NEOLITHIC period,

otherwise known as the NEW STONE AGE.

The Neolithic period was from 8,000 - 5,000 B.C..

Why did they paint the cave? What do the paintings mean?

Just the animals that were around at that time.

Instructions on how to hunt or not to hunt.

The cave was used for religious ceremonies.

Painting were for good luck in hunting.

 Around 15,000 B.C..,
ancient hunters drew
and painted important
life events on cave
walls.
These are now called the
Lascaux Cave Paintings
and are found in France.

In 1940, a group of young boys discovered the caves

by accident. They had been untouched until then.
The pictures in the caves tell us a lot about the
lives of our Prehistoric ancestors.
Paleolithic Art is a product of climate change. As
the climate got colder, humans at the time opted
to look for shelters to keep them safe and warm.
Caves became their protective havens and these
caves paved the way for the birth of their
attempts to create art. One cave painting can be
traced back to Lascaux, France and its
discovery was indeed a surprise. Two boys were
chasing their dog into a hole where their ball was
stuck in. When they followed the dog, they were
amazed to discover a cave with beautiful
paintings and was eventually called the “Hall of
Bulls.”
Hall of the Bulls (Lascaux), c. 15,000-13,000 BCE
Tour Lascaux
 The figures portrayed on the walls were done with a
certain level of crispiness and life that there were initial
doubts of the work’s authenticity. However, there have
been evidences that such were created during the
Paleolithic Period. The paintings evoked naturalism
which is evident in the contours of the animals’ body and
their dark colors. Even if people back then were said to
be as primitives, their art techniques seemed to be
advanced for their time. Some already used their own
version of spray-painting techniques by using ground
pigments blown through reeds or hollowed-out bones
since these are the only readily available materials at the
time. They were also able to do foreshortening and
contrasting of lights and shadows which created the
illusion of three-dimensional forms and seemingly real
representations of animals.
 Materials
•Primitive “paint” (ground
minerals)
•Feathers
•Moss
•Fur
•Chewed sticks
•Finger painting
•“spray Paint”
 Artworks being ornamental may be the purpose
of these cave paintings especially
that most of the discoveries were found at the
deep recesses of caves. Such caves
may be the early humans’ sanctuaries and
possibilities of religious rituals transpired in found
caves. While others believe that there was a
linkage between what was drawn
and what could happen in real life. Other works
also reflected beliefs especially with life
and fertility and one of these is the sculpture
called the “Venus of Willendorf.” This figure
is a highly abstracted woman from highlighted
body parts associated with fertility.
 Venus of Willendorf
(Austria), c. 28,000-
23,000 BCE, limestone

cult of the fertility

goddess/ lack of
naturalistic rendering

The woman has oversized

breasts, enlarged hips, and
round abdomen. The
representation shows the
importance of taking care of
these body parts for
procreation and survival of
species.
 Neolithic art developed when life for the
early humans has become more stable.
Several monumental and architectural
structures were built by 4000 BCE. One of them
is the Stonehenge in Southern England. Its
purpose is still a mystery up to this time but
undoubtedly, is one of the architectural
wonders of the world.
At the closing of Neolithic Period, different
elements of civilization flourished in all parts of
the world. Most of them emerged and
flourished in river valleys: the Nile in Egypt,
Indus in India, Tigris and Euphrates in
Mesopotamia, and Huang Ho River in China.
Stonehenge
Salisury Plain, Wiltshire, England
ca. 2,550-1,600 B.C.E.
sarsen and bluestone
Art of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt
Big Idea : Art reflects religion and their
belief in the afterlife.
Big Idea
n Ancient Egyptian art reflects their beliefs in
the afterlife and immortality.
n Major monumental structures such as the
great pyramids and the sphinx reflect those
beliefs.
Media/Processes
n 2-D media: paint
n 2-D processes: Wall painting and scroll
painting made from papyrus used
hieroglyphics.
n 3-D media: stone, gold, and jewels
n 3-D processes: architecture-sphinx and
pyramids, steles, columns, tombs-
sarcophagus.
 Paintings
 Parts of body shown from the most
familiar point of view

 Eyes & shoulders were depicted

from the front

 Face, arms and legs shown from

the side

 Paintings on the walls of the

pyramids, used descriptive
perspective: more
important figures were drawn
larger than others
• Painting was often
narrative which
means it told a story.
This painting shows a
cow being
slaughtered and then
taken to the king to be
eaten.
• This painting
shows the king
doing a little
hunting while in
his boat. His
queen and his
servant are with
him
Egyptian Wall painting
 Early form of picture writing
 stylized

 Frontal position

 Rigid bodies

Relief
sculptures:
 intended to be
viewed from one
side

 carved from a flat

tablet/plaque
The Great Sphinx, at Giza
Temple of Luxor, Egypt
Egyptian
Stele
Canopic Jars
Purposes of Ancient Egyptian Art

n Ceremonial- most of their art was used for

religious purposes that dealt with the afterlife
and the gods.
n Narrative- Hieroglyphics that told stories of
everyday life.
n Functional- sarcophagus held dead, vases
held organs.
Art Subject Matters in Ancient
Egyptian Art
n Portraits- stylized paintings of pharaohs,
slaves, and everyday life.
Art Influences of Ancient Egypt
n The art reflects the endurance and solid foundation of
the culture.
n (Egyptian culture has withstood many years in order
to develop as sophisticated as the were.)
n Their art also reflects their belief in the afterlife of the
pharaoh and other ruling class.
n Their art also reflects beliefs in many gods that
helped protect them.
 It can be noticed that for them, art should
be something religious or spiritual.
Take for instance the Fertile Ribbon ( a long
and thin piece of land where crops grow
easily) that starts from the banks of the Nile
River, which flows north to Africa and
ventures into the Mediterranean. It is in this
very ribbon that the Early Egyptians
recognized the integral role of the Nile River
to their daily lives. It’s the indispensability and
utility that led them to believing the Nile to
be worshipped as a god.
 Nile River
-Nile River flooded
every summer

-Deposited layers
of fresh fertile soil

 transition from
food gatherers to food
producers (farmers)
Egyptians relied more on animals they raised than
animals they hunted.

They no longer had to move, resulting in building

more permanent houses, villages, and kingdoms.
 Pharaoh
• most powerful person in
ancient Egypt

• political and religious

leader of the Egyptian
people
 Ka (=soul) leaves body at death, then
returns

 If body is destroyed  ka (soul) is left

wandering SO, Egyptians went to great
lengths to preserve bodies
(strong tomb=insurance against final death)

 Grave goods (such as small clay

sculptures) made to be buried with
Pharaohs in their tombs (to comfort them
in their afterlife)
3 Major Periods of Egyptian History
•OLD KINGDOM
•MIDDLE KINGDOM
•NEW KINGDOM

Egypt is
Located in
Northern
Africa
Old Kingdom
The beginning…
 At the time of the Old Kingdom, it was
obvious that religion was tied to the afterlife.
A solid presentation of this would have to be
the erection of tombs which are not only for
keeping dead bodies of important people,
particularly the pharaohs, but such served as
a shelter for the next journey – the afterlife.
The decorations of the tombs were with
everyday objects reflecting day-to-day
activities as if the afterlife is a mere
continuation of what happened on earth.
Example of an Egyptian Tomb
The human figures found in tombs were
represented in such a way that the
profile of the head was evident, while
the pelvis, legs and upper torso were
important and the eyes in frontal view.
Walls were decorated and carved low
relief and incised detail inside the tombs.
The use of color was very noticeable but
may have not been widely used
because of relative permanence.
The Narmer Palette was one of the
cosmetic palettes found in Egypt Palette.
It was a palette that used and applied
dark colors around King Narmer’s eyes.
The palette was also a symbol that
celebrates the unification of Upper and
Lower Egypt. The unification
was important because it was the mark
of the beginning of their civilization.
King Narmer can be seen wearing the crown
of the Upper Egypt at the back of the palette
looking victorious over a slain enemy. There
are also two dead warriors that could be
seen beneath him. There is a falcon at his
right, the god Horus placed on papyrus stalks,
which is a symbol of Lower Egypt. The top is
sculpted with bull-shaped heads with human
features that is a representation of Hathor.
This god symbolizes love and joy. What is
also prominent is the king’s size in the palette
compared top to the other objects.
Narmer, as the subject, is evidently larger than
the people around him – a clear indication and
assertion of his royal status. On the front palette
shows lion-like figures with intertwined necks
bound on leashes and tamed by two men. King
Narmer is still present at the front side and is
shown reviewing the captured enemies. In here,
he is wearing the crown of Lower Egypt and
holding objects that denote power. The Narmer
Palette is one of the artifacts that emphasizes
the king’s supreme and absolute authority. In
most cases, the king is not just an authority
figure but is also revered as a
god.
 Great Sphinx

 body of a Lion and the head of the

great Pharaoh Khafre
Old Kingdom (ca. 2649-2150 B.C.)
• In the seated portrait of Khafre, the
figure has the solid, block like form of
the hard diorite stone from which it
was carved.
•The Pharaoh is shown as sitting
upright and attentive, but the head
has a more lifelike appearance.
•The Pharaoh was considered both
God and King of Egypt.
• Khafre was considered to be a
descendent of the Ra, the sun god.

Pharaoh Khafre, c. 2600 B.C.

Diorite. 66 inches tall.
 Great Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
One of the architectural wonders was also constructed
during the Old Kingdom – The pyramids in Giza which
served as tombs since their main purpose was to
provide a resting place for the pharaohs.
The choice of materials for the creation of tomb
sculptures were made of hard materials since
they want the sculptures to endure and
withstand any condition. Permanence was
important because such sculptures would serve
as the house of the ka or soul once the remains
of the mummy breaks up. One impressive
feature of most of the sculptures is that
regardless of the age of death, the ka figures
highlight the prime life of the deceased.
The construction of the pyramids did not only
show the prowess of the early Egyptians but it
also highlighted the respect of the people to
their pharaoh at the expense of the citizens.
However, they did not stop ensuring the quality
of the outsides. The Egyptians also saw to it that
the insides of the pyramids would celebrate the
life of their pharaoh by lavishly decorating them.
 Pyramid
• elaborate tomb for pharaoh
• Sarcophagus: Stone Coffin
 Imhotep
• first known artist
• built the first step pyramid (2600 bce)
 Middle
Kingdom
The shift in the political hierarchy is one
of the key features of the Middle
Kingdom. There is an arrival of powerful
groups and landlords that threatened
the authority and rule of the pharaoh.
Because of the internal struggle
between these two influential sides, art
became stagnant during the Middle
Kingdom.
In order for art to re-emerge and flourish,
Egypt needed to have a more stable
situation. This happened during the rule
of King Mentuhotep when Egypt got
back on its track. During the Middle
Kingdom, art had references from the
Old Kingdom. Portrait sculptures and
fresco paintings that were freely drawn
emerged during this period. To solve the
problem of thieves that plunder tombs,
Egyptians made rock-cut tombs by
carving out a living rock.
King Mentuhotep
Middle Kingdom (ca. 2040-1640 B.C.)

• Much of the sculpture was

destroyed in this period by invaders
and by the New Kingdom rulers who
followed.
•A fragment of King Sesotris III is an
example of the skill and sensitivity
demonstrated by the carvers of this
period.
• Depicted with a sense of Realism.
• His expression conveys a look that is
troubled and weary.

Fragment of Head of King Sesostris III.

Red Quartzite stone. 6.5” tall.
 Pyramids were
expensive so
transitioned to
building
mastabas

 Mastaba: low
flat tomb
 New
Kingdom
Egypt was not resistant from foreign invaders
and eventually fell into the hands of the Hyksos.
This Asiatic Tribe introduced Bronze Age
weapons and horses to the Egyptians.
When these foreign invaders were overthrown,
the Egyptians formed the New Kingdom.
It was a time of expansionism through territorial
acquisition. With the expansion came
an increase in wealth leading not only to
economic but also political stability.
The art of the New Kingdom had references
from both of the preceding kingdoms.
Monuments and sculptures were still linked with
death and reverence for the deceased. With the
New Kingdom, they started having mortuary
temples. These temples were carved out of
living rocks, served not only a sanctuary for the
dead but also as a place of worship for the living.
During this period, Egypt has established itself
as a more advanced and powerful civilization.
  The Valley of the Kings:
Burial place for the pharaohs of the new
Kingdom
After the New Kingdom, Egypt witnessed the
Amarna Revolution led by King Akhenaton and
Queen Nefertiti. He moved the capital to Tel El-
Amarna, thus the name Amarna. During his
reign King Amenhotep wanted to revolutionize
the arts and religion. He later on changed his
name to Akhenaton, which came from Aton –
the sun god. This shifting of names signified
shift in religion wherein the only god to be
revered was Aton.
King Akhenaten/ Queen Nefertiti
Akhenaton
Egypt became monotheistic and Akhenaten
ordered all to destroy all monuments of other
gods and ordered the erection of monuments in
reverence to Aton. Most sculptures during this
period had curving lines and full-bodied forms.
There is emphasis to life-like features of the
face like an elongated jaw and thick-lidded eyes.
Naturalism was also used for the members of
the royal family.
New Kingdom (ca. 1550-1070 B.C.)
• Nefertiti translates to “the beautiful one
has come.”
• Carved from limestone, coated with
plaster, and then richly painted.
• Depicted with more realism than the
earlier periods before.
• Continued tradition of figure depiction
in Egyptian art. Most portraits are frontal
and depict serious facial expressions.
• Mother-in-law of King Tutankhamen
and was Queen of Egypt for a short
period before the rise of King Tut.

Queen Nefertiti. c. 1360 B.C.

Limestone. 20” inches high.
 The use of naturalism in artworks was rather
short-lived. When King Akhenaton died, his
successors returned to the more rigid and
conventional styles they employed during the
period of the kingdoms. They also destroyed
images and figures of Aton and subscribed to
monotheism.
 One of the greatest discoveries from the
Egyptian civilization was probably the tomb of
Tutankhamen. He became king at a very young
age and died at the age of eighteen. Howard
Carter discovered his tomb in 1922. They were
astonished to find gold artworks and that the
coffin was made out of solid gold. The body of
the young king was covered in linen and a gold
mask covered his face.
King Tutankhamen
n Tomb found in Valley of
the Kings.
n Dated back to 1327
B.C.E.
n The inner coffin is made
from hundreds of
pounds of gold, and
decorated with colored
enamel, and gemstones.