Mesopotamia. Egypt. Indus Valley.

Strength and Power

LastweekwelookedatveryearlyfemalefiguresmadeinthePrehistoricperiod.The<meperiodswearelookingatthisweekrepresentveryearlyciviliza<ons.Humansarenolongernomadicbutratherse@lingdownandcrea<ngci<es.Theyarefarmingandraisinganimals.Wri@enlanguageemergesalongwithlargeandsmallscaleimagesthatsupportbeliefs.Evidenceexiststosuggestthefirstwarsofconquestbeganatthis<me. TheVenusofWillendorf,

28,000-22,000BCE,limestone.4.4”tall.NaturalHistoryMuseum,Vienna.

Thisweekwearelookingatthreedifferentrivervalleyciviliza<onsthatgrewupataboutthesame<meindifferentplaces.TheAncientNearEast(AnatoliaandMesopotamia)–intheTigrisandEuphratesRiverValleysinwhatispresentdayIran,IraqandSyria.Egypt–intheNileRiverValley,Egypt.IndusValley–IndusRiver,NorthernIndia,about2600-1900BCE.WehaverecordofotherearlyRiverValleyCiviliza<onsinotherareasoftheworld,butthesearetheonesthatmighthavemeaningforWesternthought.

SeatedmothergoddessCatalHoyuk,Turkey,7500BCto5700BCandreconstructedinaPolishMuseum

Thefirstciviliza<onwewillexploreistheAncientNearEast(AnatoliaandMesopotamia)Twoareas,Anatolia(presentdayTurkey)andMesopotamia(presentdayIraq,Kuwait,partsofSyriaandTurkey)Someofthemostimportantdevelopmentsinhumanhistoryarea@ributedtotheseareasfromabout4,500BCEtothe7thcenturyCE.Importantdevelopmentsinclude:Inven<onofthewheelPlan<ngcropsWri@enscript–asopposedtopicturesMathema<csAstronomyAgricultureLiteratureandLibraries

Cuneiformwri<ng—from3100BCEThisoneshowsbothpictographsalongwithdifferentshapedimpressions.Thesearethefirstevidenceofwri@enlanguage.Stampedintowetclay,theywereoriginallyusedtokeeptrackofthingslike,ra<ons,grain,etc.

Anatolia and Mesopotamia

The Ancient Near East

Wearefollowingthedevelopmentoffemaleimageryintotheseareastoseewhatwasimportanttopeopleofthis<meLet’sstartwiththisimagethatwasfoundinagrainbininTurkey.Theblackandwhiteversionbelowishowshewasfound;theheadbrokenoff.Thefiguretotherighthasbeenreconstructedtowhatarchaeologistsbelievewasmoreliketheoriginalstatue.

SeatedmothergoddessCatalHoyuk,Turkey,7500BCto5700BCandreconstructedinaPolishMuseum

Descrip<on:ÇatalhöyükSeatedMotherGoddess1.  Femalefigureseatedonathrone2.  Twolionessesflankoneitherside3.  Femalehaslargebreastsandbelly4.  Armsandlegsarealsolargewithdeep

incisionsatbellyandknees5.  Aheadcanbeseenemergingfrom

betweenherlegs

Wehavenowamorerepresenta<onalreasontobelievethisfigureisaboutchildbirth;thebaby’sheadisemergingfrombetweenthelegs. SeatedmothergoddessCatalHoyuk,

Turkey,7500BCto5700BCandreconstructedinaPolishMuseum

Wealsohaveareasontobelievethestatueismorethanatalismantohelpwithchildbirth;thethrone.Itisbelievedthatnow,thefemalehasbeengivengoddessstatusasshesitsonathronesurroundedbytwolionessfigures;symbolsofstrengthandpower.Inaddi<on,havingbeenfoundinagrainbinleadsarchaeologiststobelievetheconceptoffer<lityhasnowbeenexpandedtootherthingsbesideshumans.Thefemalegivingbirthisnowseenasametaphorforgenera<onofotherthings,includingthecrops.

SeatedmothergoddessCatalHoyuk,Turkey,7500BCto5700BCandreconstructedinaPolishMuseum

Manyotherfemalefigureshavebeenfoundinthisarea.Someareconsideredtobegoddessfiguresandothersarenotasclear.Theonebelowisatransi<onalfigureforus.

Thisisacupwithahornedfemaledeity.Ca.2600-2350BCEMesopotamia.Rememberhowhumanshavethemselvesrepresentedwithanimalpartstoshowhowtheyalsohavethatanimalpower.

Neolithic

Thisonewasmadeabout1000yearslaterthanourpreviousfigure.ShewasfoundinSyria.Lookattheimagesonthenextslide.No<cethesimilari<es.FemalefigurefromnorthernSyria,ca.6400BCE

ThesearetwoimagesofIshtar(orInana)fromMesopotamia.Theyweremadeover4000yearsa;ertheoneonthepreviousslide.Theyarebothshownholdingtheirbreastsinsymbolicoffering.Thegoddesswasknownatthis<meas:MotheroftheFruikulBreastQueenofHeavenCreatorofPeopleMotherofDei<esThebreast-offeringposesymbolizesherprovidingallnourishmentandfer<lity.InanaishowshewasknownbytheSumeriansandIstarorIshtarbytheAkkadians(twoMesopotamiancultures).SheisoneofthemostimportantoftheMesopotamiandei<esandthemostimportantgoddess.

Ishtarofferingherbreasts.(lem)Susaca.1300-1100BCE(right)Babylonca.2000BCE

Agoddessofcontras<ngtraits,Ishtar(orInannainSumerian)wasprojectedasthefemaledivineen<tyofbeauty,sexanddesire,whileatthesame<mebeingthesymbolicpurveyorofwarandcombat.Descrip<on:1.  Anudefemalefigurewithtapering

featheredwingsandtalons2.  standingwithherlegstogether3.  shownfullfrontal,wearingaheaddress

consis<ngoffourpairsofhornstoppedbyadisc

4.  wearinganelaboratenecklaceandbraceletsoneachwrist

5.  holdingherhandstothelevelofhershoulderswitharodandringineach

6.  figuresupportedbyapairoflionsaboveascale-pa@ernrepresen<ngmountainsorhillyground,andflankedbyapairofstandingowls

Significantamountofredochrepaintfoundonthebodyofthefemalefigure.

Whydoyouthinkthisfigurelooksthewayshedoes?Whydoesshehaveanimalparts?Whatdoalltheanimalsmeannow?

WhatI’mmen<oninghereissomewhatofasidenote:Lookcarefullyatmanyoftheimagesoffemalefigures,especiallytheonesstanding.Inmanyofthemyouwillno<ceaninvertedtriangleshapeattheirvaginalarea.Thisshapecametobeassociatedwithfemales.Itisanancientsymbolthatdevelopedintoarepresenta<onofthegenitaliaofagoddess.Seeifyouno<ceitaswemoveforward.

Inanna,aprominentMesopotamianfemaledeityinscribedontheIshtarvase.

Herearetwoimagesoffemalefigureswithchildren.TheonebelowfromAnatoliawasmade3000yearslaterthantheonetotheright.Thesnakeheadedgoddess,Nammu,(goddessofthesea),inSumerianmythgavebirthtotheearthandsky.

MothergoddessNammu—SnakeHeadGoddessfigurinefeedingherbaby.Terraco@a4thMBCE,Iraq

Seatedgoddesswithachild,ca.1400BCE,madefromgold,Thediscbehindherheadismostlikelythesun.

IfthiswereanordinaryArtHistoryclasswewouldbediscussingtheartworkandideasoftheseciviliza<onsdifferently.Manydifferentciviliza<onsdevelopedhereandtherewasmuchfigh<ngincludingwarsofconquest.Powerfulrulerswereworshipasgodsandmanymythsandstorieswerewri@enabouttheirconquestsandartworksmadetovisuallytes<fytotheirpower.

Wealreadylookedatthisonemadearound880BCEinwhatwenowcallIraq.ThisoneisfromthecitadelofSargonII,areallypowerfulking.

HeadofanAkkadianruler,fromNineveh(modernKuyunjik),Iraq,ca.2250–2200BCE.Copper,1’23/8”high.IraqMuseum,Baghdad.

Ournextexplora<onwillbeintoEgypt.TheAncientEgyp<anEmpire,similarlytoMesopotamia,lastedalong<me.WeusuallybeginlearningaboutEgyp<anhistoryinthePharaonicPeriod,fromabout3200BCEto330BCE(whenthecountryfellunderMacedonian,Greek,rule)DividedintoKingdoms–theEarly,MiddleandNewKingdoms,indicatesrela<velyconsistentwaysofvisuallyrepresen<ngpharos,queens,godsandgoddessesthroughoutthethousandsofyears.

MostofyouprobablyknowsomethingsaboutEgypt.ItgrewuparoundtheNileRiverinnorthEasternAfrica.

Egyp<anartworkisgenerallyverys<ffandwhatwecall‘stylized.’Thismeansratherthana@emp<ngtocreateaportraitofthepharaohandhisqueen,theyaremadeaccordingtoaconven<on.Thiswayallpharaohswilllookthesame,wearthesameclothesandheaddress,havethesamebeard,standwithonefootforward,handsclenched,etc.Ordinarily,itisquitehierarchical,meaningthemostimportantperson(inthiscasethepharaoh)iseitherlargerorplacedinahigherposi<on.

MenkaureandKhamerernebty(?),fromGizeh,Egypt,DynastyIV,ca.2490–2472BCE.Graywacke,approx.4’61/2”high.

Thequeentoohasherownconven<onalwayofbeingrepresented.(no<cetheinvertedtrianglevisiblethroughherdress.)Styliza<onwasdonewiththeartworktobesureeveryonewouldknowexactlywhothesepeoplewere.Sincefeweverreallysawthepharaoh,thestatuewouldnotbemistakenforanordinaryperson.ItcanonlybeaPharaoh.

MenkaureandKhamerernebty(?),fromGizeh,Egypt,DynastyIV,ca.2490–2472BCE.Graywacke,approx.4’61/2”high.

Someotherconven<onsinEgyp<anArthavetodowithskincolor.Omenthemaleisdepictedwithbrownskintoneandthefemalewithwhite.Thesetwostatuestotherightofaprinceandprincesswerefoundintheirtombs.Inthetombpain<ngbelowthemale(pharaoh)ismuchlargerthanthetwofemales,eventhoughtheyallhavedarkerskin.

PrinceRahotepandPrincessNofret,fromDashur,c.2580BCE(OldKingdom,Dynasty4)

OneofthemostimportantEgyp<angoddesseswasNut.Nutisthepersonifica<onoftheskyandheavens.Personifica<onhappensinartalot.Itiswhenanideaispresentedinhumanform.Theideaoftheskyisrepresentedbyafemale.

OnthisscrollsheisdepictedwithGeb.Togethertheyaretheskyandearth.She’sarchingaboveashereclinesbelow.Theirunioncreatesallthings.Thisisfromabookofthedead.

InonemythshegivesbirthtotheSungodeverydayanditpassesoverherbodyun<lswallowedatnight,toberebornthenextday.

ThegoddessAusetwasthedaughterofNutandGebshewasworshipedastheidealwifeandmother.AusetwasthoughttobeavirginmotherhavinghadspiritualintercoursetoproduceHeru.Sheisalsosymbolicofregenera<onandthepromiseofeternallife.Heresheisthedivinemothersisngonalionthrone(missing).Herwigiscoveredwithavultureheaddress,surmountedbythecobracrown,withcowshornsandsolardisc.SheisofferingherbreasttohersonHeru,whowasbornaKing,seatedonherlap.Hereisanotherversionofthistheme.

StatueofAusetSucklingHeru,664-332BCE,Egyp<anMuseum,Cairo

ManygodsandgoddessesinEgyptarerepresentedasparthumanandpartanimal.ThisreliefsceneshowsKingTaharqoasachildbeingnursedbythegoddessBastet.Showingkingsthiswayimpliedtheirdivinestatus.Wewillseethisomeninart.Placingasecularrulerincloseproximitytoadeityemphasizedtheirgod-likestatus.Thegoddessofwarfarebeforetheunifica<onofEgypt,Bastetwasworshipedasearlyas2890BCE.Originallyalionesswarriorgoddessofthesunshewaslaterrepresentedasacat.Defenderofthepharaoh,sheisalsoadivinemotherwhohadaspectsofIsis,anothergoddessweseelater.

MenatofTaharqo:TheKingbeingNursedbytheLionheadedGoddessBastet 690-664BCE

ManygodsandgoddessesinEgyptarerepresentedasparthumanandpartanimal.ThegoddessSekhmetmeansthePowerfulOne.Anotherwarriorgoddesssheisalsoworshipedforhealing.Depictedasalionessbecausethelionesswasthoughttobethemostfiercehunter.Shewearsthesundisc

BustoftheGoddessSakhmet,ca.1390-1352BCE,BrooklynMuseum

becauseshe’salsoasolardeity,calledthedaughterofRa.ThisstatueoftheGoddessSakhmetisfromca.1390-1352.It’sintheMetMuseum.

Taweretisaprotec<veancientEgyp<angoddessofchildbirthandfer<lity.Sheisusuallydepictedasahumanfemale,withtwolegsandlongbreasts,withfelineheadandcrocodileback.VeryearlyversionsincludedaspectsoftheHippopotamus.

Tawaret,Nubia,c.623-595BCE,BostonMuseum.

Herfierceimagewasthoughttofrightenawaydemons.ThisstatueoftheGoddessTaweretisfromca.332-30BCE.It’sintheMetMuseum.Itoncehadasundisconthehead.

Isis—OneofthemostimportantDei<esinAncientEgypt.ShewaslaterworshipedintheGreco-RomanEmpireaswell.Worshipedastheidealmotherandwifeaswellaspatronessofnatureandmagic.Sheisalsoknownastheprotectorofthedeadandgoddessofchildren.ShemarriedherbrotherOsiris,whichledtoanimportantmyth.NefertariwasthemainwifeofthepharaohRamsesII.Thegoddessisontheright.Thisimageindicatesthequeen’shighstatusassheis‘allowed’tointeractwithdei<eswithouthim.ThisimagedepictsthegoddessIsisleadingtheQueenNefertaribythehand.

NefertariledbyIsis,watercolorofawallpain<ngfromthetombofQueenNefertari,1270-1213BCE.AlsointheMetMuseum

Isiswasoriginallypicturedasawomanwithacrowninthehieroglyphicsignforathrone.Latershesitsonathronewithaheaddressthatlookslikeasolardisc.Herearlierassocia<onwiththecowgoddesshasherretainingthehorns.Some<messheisalsodepictedwithacowhead.Sheisomenseenholdingtheankh(thesignforlife).Inthisimagetotheright,sheplacestheankhinthekingsmouth.

ThegoddessIsisBlessingandgivingAnkh(life)toKingSePI,AbdosTemple.

TherearemanymorefemaleEgyp<angoddesses.Theseareafewthatcon<nuesomeofthethemeswesawearlierandoneswewillseecon<nuinglater.

ThisisanIsis/Aphroditeimage.AswemoveintotheClassicalperiodnextweek,somegoddessesjusttakeonnewforms.

IndusValley–IndusRiver,NorthernIndia,about2600-1900BCE.Oneoftheworld’searliesturbanciviliza<ons.Therootsofourownciviliza<oncanbeseenintheseearlyones,especiallyMesopotamiaandIndusValley.Weseeevidencetheseciviliza<onsinteractedwitheachotherallowingforcross-culturalconnec<ons.

MainlylocatedinwhatisnowpartsofIndia,AfghanistanandIran.TothelemisasealfromHarappa.OnthelemsideistheoriginalStampsealandontherightistheimpressionmadeinclay.

Asyoucansee,thedates2600-1900BCEforthisciviliza<onareshorterthantheotherswe’velookedatthusfar.Generally,atthis<meperiodweseefemalefigures,knownasgoddessfiguresandsealsthatpredatethedevelopmentoftheHinduReligion.

IndusValleypeoplealso worshipedaMotheror Fer<litygoddess.

Proto-Hindumothergoddesses,MohenjoDaro,3000BCE

Proto-Hindumothergoddesses,MohenjoDaro,2000BCE

TheIndusValleyCiviliza<onseemstohavehadahighregardfornatureandtheenvironment.Manyanimalsareseeninthesealsexcavatedfromthis<me.Sealswerepiecesofclaywithtextandimagestampedintothem.

DancingGirl,MohenjoDaro,2500BCE

ThisoneiscalledPashupa<nath(orLordoftheAnimals)from2500BCE.ThefigurehereisthoughttobetheearlyprototypeforthelaterHindugodShiva.

Thisearlyciviliza<onprovidesuswiththeseedsofimageandideathatlaterformtheHindupantheonofgodsandgoddesses.Similarlytootherciviliza<onswe’velookedat,acoreneedofhumanlifeisfer<lity.

GendercouldalsobeflexibleasseeninthismuchlaterversionofthegodShiva.Inthisformheishalfmaleandhalffemale.PartShivaandpartgoddessShak<.Note:notdatesfrommuchlater.

Lotus Headed Fertility Goddess such as these were first found in Indus Valley Seals. But the ones here are from much later, 1-3rd Century.

Thisweekwelookedatthreeciviliza<onsthatformedthebasisofideasandimagesthatwillcon<nuetodevelopinWesternCiviliza<on.Perhapsyoucanalreadyseesomethathavecon<nuedun<lnow.Vocabularywords.Knowthesewordsfromthisweek’slecture:VisualHierarchyPersonifica<onStyliza<on(orstylized)Deity

SeatedGoddess,Greece,400BCE

Foryourannota<onofthislecture:1.  Readcarefully.2.  Bewillingtoscrollbackandforth.3.  Noteimportantpointsaboutthe

imagesandideasofeachciviliza<on.4.  Answerques<onsasyougo.5.  No<cedatesofstatuesandimages.

Whatdothedatestellus?6.  Readthetextandtake<metoread

theimage.

NextweekwelookatartworkfromGreeceandRome.Theseclassicalciviliza<onshadmanygodsandgoddessestoo.

SeatedGoddess,Greece,400BCE