Sculpture and Statue in the Ancient World

GROUP 10:

1. Imelda Ulau Bilong (66162)

2. Jessiria Phillipus (68546)

3. Juliana Anak Minggu (66323)

4. Pui Siao Wei (68821)

PHRASIKLEIA

Phrasikleia's sculpture gives us an unusually complete impression of a mid-sixth century BC archaic female funerary figure. In 1972 it was excavated at Merenda, Attica in 1972 (Brinkmann, Primavesi & Hollein, 2010). The perservation of this marble sculpture is in good state. It was exposed to environmental conditions for only a short period of time at its original site in the burial complex. She holds a closed lotus flower in her right hand before her breast, while she holds the skirt, a charming gesture of her robe with her left hand. Her jewelry consists of earrings, a seven-pendent necklace and two bracelets.She stands without the base at 1.79 meters (5.87 feet and 2.115 meters-6.93 feet with the base. In ancient times this figure of a girl was buried with a sculpture in the ground. This grave marker has a Parian marble statue and a calcareous base with front and right inscription. This statue and base inscription were not found in the same place. In advanced day (Merenda) excavation, the former was found and the base inscription was found in Merenda church. However, the inscription was tough to interpret because there was disruption to a large proportion of the letters. Once the letters were removed from the church they can be rebuilt.The manuscript mentions that Phrasikleia was died before getting marriage and the name of a father or brother is unusually not mentioned, having to leave her name as the only identification for burial site.Therefore the Gods gave her the name which is “kore” which mean daughter (Brinkman et al., 2010). Currently, though, we know not only the girl's name but also that on the right side of the base, of the sculptor who executed and signed the work "Aristion from Paros Island." This stature had reflected the Greek art. With the development of technology such as X-ray fluorescence, UV-visual fluorescene absorption spectrometry, E. Mastrokostas ana Nikolaos Kaltsas identified trace of colurs, cravings and decorated pattern to reconstruct what is the Phrasikleia Kore looked like before her burial in sixth century BC.

GREAT SPHINX OF GIZA

The Great Sphinx of Giza commonly referred to as the Sphinx of Giza or just the Sphinx, is a limestone of a reclining Sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Facing directly from West to East, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt that likely dates from the reign of King Khafre (c.257c - c.2465BCE) and depicts his face. It is one of Egypt’s most famous landmarks and is arguably the best- known example of sphinx art. The Great Sphinx is among the world’s largest sculptures, measuring some 240 feet (73 metres) long and 66 feet (20 metres) high (Tikkanen, 2017). The statue was carved from a single piece of limestone and pigment residue suggests that the entire Great Sphinx was painted. According to some estimates, it would have taken about three years for 100 workers, using stone hammers and copper chisels, to finish the statue. Most scholars date the Great Sphinx to the 4^th dynasty and affix ownership to Khafre. However, some believe that it was built by Khafre’s older brother Redjedef (Djedefre) to commemorate their father, Khufu, whose pyramid at Giza is known as the Great Pyramid. These theorists claim that the face of the Great Sphinx bears more resemblance to Khufu than Khafre, and that observation also led to speculation that Khufu himself built the statue. The Great Sphinx has greatly deteriorated over the years, and since ancient time – possibly beginning in the reign of Thutmose IV (1400-1390BCE) – various efforts have been undertaken to preserve the statue. Whereas the body has suffered the most erosion, the face has also been damaged, and its nose is notably missing.

In conclusion, artefacts are very important because they involve primary information that can help academics fully realize what had happened in the past. Artefacts are also important because they provide us with a glimpse into the lifestyles and customs ancient civilizations, but also the most importantly they are seminal tools in our quest to known what Prehistory was looked like. There is no written literature from that period of human civilization because at that time writing didn’t exist yet, only with the artefact that remains we learn about the Prehistoric civilizations period. However, artefacts were not only important in the past but also play a crucial role in the present. We create and use artefacts as part of our everyday lives today as in the past. For instance, the clothes we dress, the fork and knives we use, and the house which we live in are all artefacts. Once, we thrown animals bone such as fish or chicken bones into the trash, we create artefacts too. The protection of the artefacts is so important because we want them to be around a hundred years from now and the younger generation can see and touch these artefacts. Proper steps must be taken to protect the artefacts from damage so that they are preserved at all times. The authorities need to make sure that the artefact is properly protected.