TICE ART 1010 Ancient Near Eastern and Ancient Egyptian Art

Ancient Near Eastern Art:
The art of the Ancient Near East refers to the artistic achievements of early civilizations that thrived in the region encompassing modern-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, Anatolia, and the Levant. Some key civilizations in this area include the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians.

Art from the Ancient Near East often includes monumental architecture, such as ziggurats (stepped pyramids) and palaces. Cylinder seals were a common form of artistic expression, often used for administrative and ceremonial purposes. These seals were intricately carved and used for imprinting cuneiform inscriptions onto clay.

Ancient Egyptian Art:
Ancient Egyptian art is renowned for its longevity and iconic symbolism. The art of ancient Egypt spans over three millennia, with distinct periods like the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and later periods. Notable artistic achievements include the construction of pyramids, temples, and colossal statues.

Egyptian art often served religious and funerary purposes, with a focus on depicting the afterlife and the journey of the deceased. Hieroglyphs, the system of writing using pictorial symbols, were frequently used in conjunction with artistic representations.

Common themes in Ancient Egyptian art include depictions of pharaohs, gods and goddesses, the afterlife, and scenes from everyday life. The use of symmetry, hieratic scale (where the size of figures is determined by their social status or importance), and a distinctive profile view are characteristics of Egyptian artistic conventions.