Molded Plaque With a King or a God Carrying a Mace, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The period of ancient art covers the time between 30,000 BCE and 500 CE. At that time, the development of art was closely associated with the development and establishment of states, ancient cultures, religions, and beliefs. Although a whole range of works belongs to that period, it is more than interesting to explore Near Eastern Art and Ancient Egyptian Art in more detail. In this context, the two works of Mesopotamian and Egyptian artists will shed the light on the way art reflected the realities of the ancient life in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Introduction

The period of ancient art covers the time between 30,000 BCE and 500 CE. At that time, the development of art was closely associated with the development and establishment of states, ancient cultures, religions, and beliefs. Although a whole range of works belongs to that period, it is more than interesting to explore Near Eastern Art and Ancient Egyptian Art in more detail. In this context, the two works of Mesopotamian and Egyptian artists will shed the light on the way art reflected the realities of the ancient life in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

The history of Mesopotamian civilization covers more than 3,000 years, during which the formation of early cities was accompanied by the rapid development of arts. The history of Mesopotamian ruling dates back to the time of legendary Gilgamesh and ends at the point, when Darius III became the final ruler of the United Mesopotamia between 336 and 330 B.C. (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 2008b). Molded Plaque with a King or God Carrying a Mace is the bright example of ancient Mesopotamian art: this piece of art belongs to southern region Ceramic and was created between 2000-1700 B.C. (Ancient Near Eastern Art, 2008). That professionals do not know, whether the plaque carries a god or a king, reflects the symbolic meaning of Mesopotamian life, in which the figures of deities were closely connected with the figures of kings. Such plaques, produced from molds, were widely spread in Mesopotamia. They were found in large numbers in Mesopotamian households during excavations. The figure on the plaque is straight and commanding: it is the symbol of authority. The mace, which the figure carries, is symbolic, too. “While some scholars have suggested that this figure is a god, it is likely that he is a kind in warrior dress” (Ancient Near Eastern Art, 2008). Because Mesopotamia had rich history and numerous rulers, it is difficult to determine which ruler it shows, but it is obvious that in Mesopotamian art such molded plaques were a convenient and cheap means of artistic expression.

In distinction from Mesopotamia, the period of Middle Kingdom in Egypt is relatively small: the years between 2030 and 1640 B.C. were rich in artistic inventions (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 2008a). However, and similar to Mesopotamian art, the themes of reality in Ancient Egypt were closely linked to the themes of religion. Stela of Montuwoser is a rectangular stone slab, which shows Montuwoser at his own funeral banquet; this implies the continuity of life and underlines the significance of life after death (Egyptian Art, 2008). Notably, the dishes on the table are arranged vertically, as if the sculptor wanted to emphasize the importance of food servings in afterlife (Egyptian Art, 2008). The overall figure of Montuwoser is modeled to show his male attractiveness. His muscles, hands, cheeks, and even legs are designed to praise his body and appearance. History shows this stela as something that was created to praise Montuwoser’s deeds during his life and to guarantee him secure existence and rebirth after death. In this context, this work is dramatically different from the one found in Mesopotamia: the latter has no “afterlife” meaning, but still has subtle religious implications.

Conclusion

Ancient art is interesting in that it reflects the realities of ancient life. Ancient works of art use a variety of themes, from authority to religion. Mesopotamian and Ancient Egyptian art are unique. These works are as similar as they are also different, but it is obvious that understanding ancient life is impossible without understanding ancient arts.

References

Ancient Near Eastern Art. (2008). Molded plaque with a king or a god carrying a mace. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved September 3, 2009 from http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/ancient_near_eastern_art/molded_plaque_with_a_king_or_a_god_carrying_a_mace/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=3&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=3&OID=30001252&vT=1

Egyptian Art. (2008). Stela of Montuwoser. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved September 3, 2009 from http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/egyptian_art/stela_of_montuwoser/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=10&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=10&OID=100000558&vT=1

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. (2008a). Egypt in the Middle Kingdom. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved September 3, 2009 from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mking/hd_mking.htm

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. (2008b). List of rulers: Mesopotamia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved September 3, 2009 from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/meru/hd_meru.htm