Easter College

Teacher Education Department

Easter School Rd, Guisad, Baguio City

Module 5: Arts in Early Civilization

Course: GEC 4

Course Title: Art Appreciation

Course Schedule:

Topic 1: arts in early civilization

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify the central themes of prehistoric art;
2. Recognize the relationship of art and religion by giving particular examples;
3. Create an artwork which reflects one’s spiritual belief and faith.

Time Frame: 3 Hours

Learning Experiences:

Think of a local artwork, be it a song, story,

artifact, etc. What do you think is the
purpose of it and what inspired people to do
it?
Stone age is a term used to describe a
period of history when stones were used to make
tools for survival. The term “conjures an image of
men and women dressed in skins, huddling before
a fire in a cave” (Fitchner – Rathus, 2013). Though
prehistoric humans would not necessarily possess
the complex rational capabilities to tell their story
through written records and accounts, some
artifacts in the form of cave paintings and
sculptures would serve as the “storytellers.”

In order to talk about pre-historic art, there is a need to situate them within the context of the
three periods of the Stone Age culture (which roughly span the 14,000-2000 BCE): Paleolithic (the late
years of the Old Stone age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age).

The unearthing of archeological artifacts and remains provides modern society a glimpse of the
beliefs, practices, and activities of early civilizations. The motives and reasons behind the creation of
ancient materials such as sculptures, paintings, and architectural structures may not be clearly defined.
Nevertheless, the early people produced such materials that reflect their attitudes and belie systems on
spiritual, social, political, and economic matters. It can be noted that works of art and architecture were
created from a wide array of materials from limestone to precious gems and metals to name a few. As the
early humans started to transition from being nomads to permanent settlers, their everyday activities also
has some changes, which is evident through the materials and even the works of arts they have created.
Despite changes as a result of adapting to their environment, there are central themes in their artworks.
Most ancient artworks depict religious symbols, a wide array of organisms from nature and activities of
everyday life.
Pre-historic Art

Archeological explorations reveal that there has

been gradual shifts form a nomadic lifestyle of
early humans to that of permanent settlements,
paving the way for the rise of early civilisations.
The Stone Age has witnessed how humans were
able to lead more stable lives and eventually
come up with permanent shelters and tools for survival. To complement this stability and sense of
permanence, early humans also turned to the creation of paintings and sculptures that depict humans,
animals and their natural habitats. It would seem that there were attempts to record the kind of lives they
led within the period of time. Central to the representation of early civilizations would be the establishing
of possible linkages among art, religion, and life.

Paleolithic Art is a product of climate change. As the climate got colder, part of the early humans’
instinct is to look for shelters that would provide them with warmth. Caves became protective havens for
the early hums and these caves paved the way for the birth of their first attempts to create art, religion and
life. Caves became protective haven for the early humans and these caves paved the way for the birth of
their first attempts to create art. One cave paintings can be traced back to Lascaux, France and its
discovery came as a surprise. Two boys chased after their dog into a hole where their ball got stuck in.
when they followed the dog, they were astonished to discover a cave with beautiful paintings. The caves
would eventually be called the “Hall of Bulls.”

This 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. It I also important to take note that the paintings
evoke naturalism, which is evidently seen through the contours of the animal’s body and their dark colors.
Although most people would think that early humans were primitive, some of their art techniques were
considered advanced for their time. Some of the early humans already used their own version of spray-
painting technique, early humans also worked with foreshortening and contrasting of lights and shadows.
These techniques created the illusion of three-dimensional forms and seemingly real representation of
animals.

Artworks can be considered ornamental but there is little evidence to fully back up this notion, that early
humans created these cave paintings for that very purpose. Most of these works were discovered inside
the deep recesses of caves so they may not necessarily be used as decorative items. Some would say that
these waves with paintings all over the walls and ceilings served as a kind of sanctuary for the early
humans. As a safe haven, religious rituals could have possibly transpired within the confines of the caves.
Some believed that there was a linkage between what was drawn and what could happen in real life. For
example, drawing or painting the capture of a prey would translate to an actual capturing of an animal in
real life.

Neolithic art has developed especially when life for the early humans has 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. The purpose
of this fascinating edifice remains a mystery up to this day and age. Some regard it as a temple while
others see it as complex calendar that tracks the movement of both sun and moon. Others ascribe some
magical element to it by associating it with Merlin the Magician from King Arthur’s story. For whatever
purpose it was built on, it still remains as one of the architectural wonders the world has ever seen.

Stonehenge

Egyptian Art

The Fertile Ribbon from the banks of the Nile River which flows north to Africa and ventures into the
Mediterranean. It is in this very ribbon where early Egyptians recognized the integral role of the Nile
River to their daily lives. It is this indispensability and utility that eventually led to the belief that the Nile
River is to be worshipped as a god. With this came the notion that art was something that can be ascribed
and associated with religion. The Egyptian civilization can be divided into three periods: Old, Middle and
New Kingdom. Looking at the three periods, it can be noticed that for the Egyptians, art should be
something religious and spiritual. There may have been differences in the techniques used and style
emphasized, but there are common denominators among the artworks created during their respective time
periods.

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. But the tombs were not just for keeping the dead bodies of
important people, particularly the pharaohs; they also served as a shelter for the next journey, which is the
afterlife. They decorated the tombs with everyday objects that would reflect day-to-day activities as if the
afterlife is just a continuation of what transpired on earth. The human figures seen in the tombs were
represented in such a way that the profile for the head was evident, while the pelvis, legs and upper torso
were prominent and the eyes are in frontal view. Inside the tombs were also decorated and carved in very
low relief and incised detail. It can be noticed that the use of color was evident but may have not been
widely utilized because of its relative impermanence.

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. The
stones used for the pyramids were quarried from a nearby plateau. The construction of the pyramids
highlighted the ingenuity an advancement of the Egyptians for their time. Workers painstakingly moved
the stones from the plateau going to the construction site using wooden rollers Stonecutters on the site
carved the blocks in a fine way before stacking them. The stacking process also showed the advancement
of the Egyptians since they already used a system of ropes and pulleys. They finished it off by applying
the surface with limestone for a more refined and flawless finish. The construction of the pyramids did
not only show the brilliance of the Early Egyptians but it also highlighted the reverence of the people to
their pharaoh at the expense of their citizens. A lot of workers died or punished for not reaching the quota
in the process of constructing these massive architectural structures. However, they did not stop ensuring
the excellent quality of the outsides. The Egyptians also ensured that the insides of the pyramids would
celebrate the life of their pyramids would celebrate the life of their pharaoh by lavishly decorating them.
However, it posted as a problem since thieves usually plundered the valuable objects used to decorate the
insides of the pyramids.
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. Because of the
internal struggle between these two influential sides, art has taken a back seat 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 eventually got back on track. 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. To solve the problem of thieves that plunder the tombs,
the Egyptians were still filled with chamber and the hallways were lavishly decorated to celebrate the life
of the deceased.

Egypt was not immune 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. Consequently, with the expansion came an increase in wealth leading not only to
econo mic but also political stability.

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 is made out of solid gold. The body
of the young king was covered with linen and a gold face mask covered his face.
People of the early civilizations may not have the
capability to document their ways of life but thanks to
their artworks (intentional or not), people of today are
given a chance to take a glimpse and given ideas of how
life was during those times.

As early as the Stone Age to the Neolithic period, it is

evident that their artworks center more on religion, nature
and everyday activities.

Going back to human history, humans were nomads

which means they live a mobile way of life. Most would live through hunting and gathering. It was during
the Stone Age when lives of humans became more stable and constructed permanent homes. During this
time, humans have already started painting and sculpting which depicts natural elements.

In the Paleolithic era, caves have become a safe haven for humans during the cold weather. One of the
noted evidence of this is the “Hall of Bulls” found in Lascaux. Among the 36 animals on the wall are four
huge black bulls, known as aurochs. One auroch is 17 feet long. The bulls appear to be moving.
Accordingly, the paintings evoked naturalism through the contours of their body as well as their dark
colors. In art history, the term ‘naturalism’ is commonly used to define the mode of representation
seeking to imitate nature as faithfully and truthfully as possible. This ‘naturalistic’ ideal influenced
traditional interpretations of cave images in a number of fundamental ways.

During this time, though aesthetic, it is believed that these paintings are not for ornaments or display. It is
believed that religious rituals were held inside the caves. Moreover, it is believed that they reflect human
activities such as hunting.

In addition, some of the works found reflected some of the early beliefs of
humans especially with life and fertility. One of other works that reflected
such beliefs would be a sculpture called the “Venus of Willendorf.” This
figure is highly abstracted woman from highlighted body parts with
fertility.

The woman has oversized breasts, enlarged hips and round abdomen. The
representation may show the importance of taking care of these body parts
for procreation and consequently he survival of species.
The Neolithic period - which heralded the beginning of civilization - witnessed a massive change in
lifestyle across the world. From the time that the Ice Age finished (about 10,000 BCE), the old
Palaeolithic, hunter-gatherer existence started to disappeared. Cave art disappeared as people began to
adopt a more settled existence, based on agriculture, the rearing of domesticated animals and the use of
polished rather than chipped stone tools. People during this era are also more organized and began system
of belief in supernatural deities.

The Stonehenge is one of the greatest architecture in the Neolithic Period. Aside from its purpose, how
the people built it still remains a mystery until now. The Merlin Hypothesis suggests that King Arthur’s
pet wizard had Stonehenge constructed with the help of a local giant, the Devil or his own mysterious
magic. This is of course just a hypothesis.

As the Neolithic period drew to a close, it was evident that different elements of civilization flourished in
various parts of the world. It is also notable that most early civilizations emerged and flourished in river
valleys: the Nile in Egypt, Indus in India, Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, and Huang Ho River in
China.

Being the cradle of civilization, Egypt has its fair share of records in ancient arts. The Nile River has
contributed much to this civilization that the people consider it as a god. Nile River’s annual flooding
ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops. Through Nile River, Egypt’s trade networks extended to the
Red Sea and in the Near East.

Egypt’s three periods, Old, Middle and New centers its arts in religion and spirituality though their
techniques have changed overtime.

The Old Kingdom, which focused on the afterlife, as seen in their overly decorated tombs, especially for
pharaos. These tombs are not only used to store the dead but are believed to be their shelter in the
afterlife. This explains the everyday tools that are present in the tombs.

Human figures were also integral in their decoration especially on the walls. These human figures include
detailed human body parts.

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.
At the back of the palette, King Narmer can be seen wearing the crown of Upper Egypt looking victorious
over a slain enemy. In addition, two more dead warriors can be seen beneath him. To his right is a falcon,
the god Horus perched 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 very prominent is the king’s size in comparison with the objects in the palette. Narmer, being the
subject, is evidently larger than people around him. This is a clear indication and assertion of his royal
status. The front pallete, on the other hand 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 he is shown reviewing
the captured enemies. In this portrait, he is seen wearing the crown of Lower Egypt and holding some
objects that denote power. The Narmer Palette is one of the artifacts that emphasize the king’s supreme
and absolute authority. In most cases, the king is not just an authority figure but and be depicted and
revered as a deity. This common notion among Egyptians is seen in Egyptian tomb sculptures, which are
basically large in dimensions and proportions and made out of hard materials. The choice of materials is
deliberate since they want the sculptures to endure and withstand any condition. Permanence was
important because these sculptures would serve as the house of the ka or soul once the remains of the
mummy disintegrate. One striking features highlight the prime life of the deceased.

One of the greatest artworks of the Egyptians, the Pyramids was also constructed during the Old
Kingdom. It was painstakingly completed. It was where the remains and wealth of the pharaohs were
kept.

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 precious 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 this period, Egypt has established itself as a more
advanced and powerful civilization, with this newly found strength and power comes an inflated ego.
Their high regard for their people can be seen through their sculptures built on massive and monumental
scales.

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. This changing of names also signified the shift in religion.
During this period, the only god to be revered was Aton. Egypt became monotheistic and Akhenaton
ordered all to rear down all monuments of other gods. He then fervently ordered the creation and erection
of new monuments in reverence to Aton. Most sculptures during this period had curving lines and bull-
bodied forms. There is emphasis to life-like features of the face like an elongate jaw and thick-lidded
eyes. Most artists created artworks that are natural and seemingly real, highlighting the features of their
subjects. Naturalism was not only used to depict the pharaoh but also was used for 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.

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.

During the prehistoric period, the early humans had transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to that of a
more permanent one, which led to early civilizations. Some of the works discovered from this period
would give modern society a glimpse of what was life like during that period. One of the early
civilizations where art flourished was the Egyptian civilization. Throughout the three kingdoms all the
way to the Amarna Revolution, art has been directly used particularly in religious and spiritual activities.
Through these unearthed and discovered artworks, the modern world could have a better understanding of
the past and how it can affect the present.
During the early Egyptian civilization, in what ways were art and religion
interconnected?

Assessment

Create a papier-mache of pot or vase of any shape. Design the pot/vase’s surface in a way that reflects
your spiritual belief or faith. Your papier-mache can be of any size as long as you can take clear photo for
it. Send your assignment via google classroom. Please follow the format:
1. Artwork ( frontal view of the whole artwork, a photo of the detail (design) and you with your
artwork)
2. A short explanation of your artwork
3. 3 Photos of you while working on your assignment.

Have these attached on your google docs. (They should be in the same document.) Write your name on
the upper most left side of the document. Also, use your name as the file name.

Be guided by the criteria below:

Technique and creativity – 10 pts.

Relevance – 10 pts.
Timeliness of Passing – 5 pts.