Holy Trinity College

of
General Santos City

GEC-AA ARTS APPRECIATION

LESSON 7
ARTS IN EARLY
CIVILIZATIONS
By the end of this lesson, the students
should be able to;
 discuss how art was used by prehistoric people to
depict everyday life.

 identify the central themes of prehistoric art.

 differentiate the techniques used during the three

kingdoms of early Egypt; and

 explain how art is linked with religion in early Egyptian

civilization.
Introduction
 The Stone Age
Stone Age is a term used to describe a period of
history when stone were used to make tools for survival. In
order to talk about prehistoric art, there is a need to situate
them within the context of the three periods of the Stone
Age culture.

 Paleolithic (the late years)

 Mesolithic (middle age years)

 Neolithic (new stone age)

 Prehistoric Art
 Archeological explorations reveals that there has
been a gradual shift from a nomadic lifestyle of early
humans to that of way for the birth of their first
attempts to create art.

 One cave painting can be traced back to Lascaux,

France and its discovery came as a surprise.

 The cave paintings would eventually be called the

Hall of Bulls.
 Prehistoric Art
 The figures depicted on the walls were done with a
certain level of crispness and life that there were
initial hesitations of the work’s authenticity

 However evidence later on pointed out that the cave

paintings were created during the Paleolithic Period.

 Artworks can be considered ornamental but there is

evidence to full back up this notion, that early humans
created these cave paintings for that very purpose.
 Prehistoric Art
 Most of this works were discover
inside the deep recesses of caves so
they may not necessarily be used as
decorative items.

 One of the works that reflected such

beliefs would be a sculpture called the
Venus of Willendorf.
 Prehistoric Art
 This figure is a highly abstracted woman from
highlighted body parts associated with fertility.

 Figure to shows that the woman have a oversized

breast, enlarged hips, and round abdomen.

 The representation may show the importance of

taking care of this body parts for procreation and
consequently the survival of species.
Neolithic Art
 Neolithic art has developed a special life for
the early humans as they become more
stable. They have learned to cultivate the
land and domesticate animals.

 By 4000 BCE, there were several

monumental and architectural structures
erected.

 One of them is the Stonehenge located in

southern England.
Neolithic Art
 The purpose of this fascinating edifice remains a
mystery up to this day and age.

 Some regards it as a temple while others see it

as complex calendar the tracked the movements
of both the Sun and moon.

 Others ascribe some magical element to it by

associating it with merlin the magician from king
Arthur’s story.
Neolithic Art
 For whatever purpose it was built on It’s
still remains as one of the architectural
wonders the world has ever seen.

 As the Neolithic Period drew to a close, it

was evident that different elements of
civilization flourished in various parts of the
world.
EGYPTIAN ART

 The fertile ribbon starts from the banks of the “Nile

River” which flows north to Africa and ventures in
to the Mediterranean.

 It is this indispensability and utility that eventually

live to the belief that the nile is to be worshipped
as a God.

 The Egyptian civilization can be divided into three

periods. The old, middle, and new kingdom.
EGYPTIAN ART

 During the Old Kingdom, It was evident that

religion was bound to the afterlife.

 A concrete manifestation of this would have to be

the erection of tombs.

 They decorated the tombs with everyday objects

that would reflect day-to-day activities as if the
afterlife is a mere continuation of what transpired
on earth.
OLD KINGDOM

 One of the cosmetic palettes found in Egypt

was called the Narmer Palette.

 It was a palette that utilized and applied dark

colors around King Narmer’s eyes.

 The palette was also a symbol that

commemorates the unification of Upper and
Lower Egypt.

 The unification was significant because it

marked the beginning of their civilization.
OLD KINGDOM

 During the Old Kingdom, one of the

architectural wonders was also constructed.

 The pyramids in Giza served as tombs since

their main purpose was to provide a resting
place for the pharaohs.

 These pyramids are massive in size and were

constructed using roughly more than two
million limestone blocks.
OLD KINGDOM

 The construction of the pyramids did not only

show the brilliance of the early Egyptians but
is also highlighted the reverence of the
people to their pharaoh at the expense of the
citizens.

 The Egyptians also ensured that the insides

of the pyramids would celebrate the life of
their pharaoh by lavishly decorating them.
Middle Kingdom

• One of the key features of the Middle Kingdom is a

shift in the political hierarchy.

• There is an emergence of powerful groups of

landlords that threatened the authority and rule of
the pharaoh.

• This happened during the rule of King Mentuhotep

when Egypt eventually got back on track.
Middle Kingdom

• Art during the Middle Kingdom had some references

from the Old kingdom, however there were some
experimentation in terms of style that transpired
during this period.

• Portrait sculptures and fresco paintings that were

freely drawn are some of the styles that emerged
during this period.
New Kingdom

• 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 .
• During the previous kingdoms, tombs were just used for
worshipping the dead but with the New kingdom, they started
having mortuary temples.
• These temples, which were carved out of living rocks, served not
only a sanctuary for the dead but also a place of worship for the
living.
• During the period, Egypt has established itself as a more advanced
and powerful civilization.
New Kingdom

 After the New Kingdom, Egypt witnessed the Amarna Revolution led by
King Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti.
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.

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.
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

who is the sun God.
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

who is the sun God.

 During this period, the only God to be revered was Aton

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

who is the sun God.

 During this period, the only God to be revered was Aton

New Kingdom
 Most sculptures during this period had curving lines
and full-bodied forms.

 Most artists created artworks that are natural and

seemingly real, highlighting features of their subjects.

 Naturalism was not only used to depict the pharaoh but

also for the former members of the royal family.

 The Bust of Queen Nefertiti has a long and sensuous

neck.

 This figure was enhanced by applying paint to the

limestone.
New Kingdom
 Probably one of the greatest discoveries from the Egyptian
Civilization was 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.
The END