There isn't a single known nation that hasn't developed some form of art or philosophy of beauty. The “undisputedly” oldest art piece is the Venus of Hohle Fels, discovered in 2008 in The Hohle Fels cave in Germany. It is 2.4 inches tall, sculpted from a wooly mammoth tusk, and is believed to possibly have been worn as an amulet.
Discovered in 1908 in a pleolithic site near the village of Willendorf in Austria, The Venus of Willendorf is made of limestone not from or near the area it was found, and colored with red ochre (clay). Standing 4 3/8 inches tall, it is assumed to be a fertility goddess that could have been worshipped. Very little is known about its origin or cultural importance. The “Venus” nicknames of both figurines (and the other Venus figurines) is because of a perceived nature similar to Venus (Greek mythology: Aphrodite); who was the goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, fertility, prosperity, and victory.
Located in France, and discovered in 1940 by four teenagers,
the Lascaux caves are the earliest known cave paintings, est. to be 17,300
years old. It has been discovered that the artists who painted the caves did so
by blowing paint through bones (tubes) and onto the cave walls. There is also
evidence of scaffolding. The cave has almost 2,000 figures including animals,
humans, and signs – bulls painted were 16 ft. long.
Although it was opened to the public from 1948-1963, it was
closed down due to visible damage done to the paintings by the thousands of
visitors’ breathed out cardon dioxide.
Since 1988, the cave has been possessed by a fungus, and in 2008, a black
mold developed which exists still today. Scientists are puzzled at how to stop
it, and sadly the caves remain closed to the public, with only very few
scientists allowed entrance to conduct preservation efforts for a few days in
each month. Despite what has become of them now, the Lascaux caves are a
stunning example of paleolithic art, and there are several replica paintings,
and even a nearby replica cave.(more info)
STONEHENGE!
Stonehenge has been altered/added to seven times over a period of about 1,500 years; between 3100-1600 B.C.E in England. It has previously held religious and ceremonial purposes. QUICK FACTS: - Around 3000 BCE: Barrows contained graves - Aubrey Holes: 56 pits filled with cremated human bones and rubble - Bluestones: brought from Wales, 100 miles away, in 2500 B.C.E. - Outer Circle: Post and Lintel construction; 13 ft. tall posts - Inner U-Shape: final stages, built around 2100 B.C.E. Larger monoliths brought from Marlborough Downs 20 miles away - Avenue is a ditch a mile long - Heel stone is a 16ft tall piece of sandstone
Ziggurats (or step-pyramids) were often built as a form of worship, being built for gods and rulers. They are seen as an attempt to reach the heavens, and the hanging gardens of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) may have been a ziggurat.
What you have is awesome! You are very thorough, but at the cost of some missing information and pictures...Stonehenge, etc.
ReplyDeleteNice blog you have started here :)
ReplyDeleteGood to see you are having in interest in Prehistoric art. Good luck with your course and keep up blogging :)