kims blog

Roman Art

2009-02-28T23:11:00.001-08:00

Roman art usually showed images of emperors, gods, and goddesses, and familiar people. The Romans did not have perfect human shapes in their art. In some of their sculptures, they would have people with long noses. The Greeks, who only sculpted perfect human bodies, would never have done that. Romans had four styles paintings that sort of tricked the eye. The first style was when they painted walls to look like they were made of marble or copies of Greek styles of decoration. A second style was when they painted realistic. That looked like views through the window. The third method of tricking the eye was of combining styles. The Romans made paint brushes, and paint out of many natural materials.
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Romans had a couple forms of art. They had murals, large wall paintings, friezes, and portraits. Many emperors had murals on their walls of their palace. Another type of art that the Romans loved was architecture. In many buildings they would put friezes or decorated the columns that the building had. The Triumphal Arch of Tibias had arches and columns of different shapes and sizes. The statues were looked life as if they were real life like and of gods, goddesses, emperors, and important people. Portraits were usually statues that are just the head of the emperor’s shoulders. They also had other types of form such as paintings, poetry, tombstones, domes, and vaults.
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Roman art as a type of its own. Around 500 BC is when it started with the beginning of the Roman Republic. Romans were particularly interested in portraits. Making statues that really looked like one person, most commonly a famous person. Greek people were more interested in ideals. Not like the Greeks with perfect bodies. But the Romans were more interested the more real person.
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Another type of art that Romans focused on was architecture and mosaics. Even though the roman mosaics were very beautiful, if you compare them to Italian ones the Romans ones were still were still simpler and the technique was not as good. And the roman mosaics were also usually gods or goddesses. The Romans also developed a style in the 6th centenary. The round arch and the basilica characterize it.
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Paint brushes were made from twigs, wood, reeds, or rushes. Shaped wood or ivory was used for writing. Paints were made from ground rocks and powdered plants. Red and yellow came from ochre. White came from chalk. Green came from green soil, and black was from soot. Blue was a mixture of copper and glass. But purple was made from a special seashell.
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Glancey, Jonathan. Architecture. DK publishing inc: 2006

Dr. Paul,C. Roberts. Ancient Rome. Fog City Press: 2003

Greek architecture

2008-12-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

Greek architecture was very important an interesting. The ancient Greeks were very talented people . Greek architects of the Archaic and Classical periods use these materials to develop a limited range of building types, each of which served a fixed a purpose for religious, civic domestic funerary, or recreational. The earliest buildings that were built in Greece, in the New Stone Age, are small houses or huts, and wooden walls around them for protection. Later there are bigger houses, and stone walls around the villages. By the Early Bronze Age, we find one bigger house in the middle of the village, and fancier, bigger stone walls.In the Late Bronze Age, under the influence of Western Asia, and the Minoans on Crete, there are palaces and big stone tombs, as well as paved roads and bridges, and dams. The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders. The Greek orders are was Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
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These earliest temples are built in the Doric style. The Doric was the simplest and the sturdiest of the three orders. It also had no base. The Doric style is rather sturdy and its top is plain. This style was used in mainland Greece and the colonies in southern Italy and Sicily.
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The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a scroll-like design which is a volute. This style was found in eastern Greece and the islands. The Ionic looks like the Doric by its column and freize. The Ionic column has an curving base curving base rather than directly on the stylobate.
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The Corinthian style is mostly used in the Greek world, but sometimes seen on Roman temples. Its capital is very decorated with acanthus leaves. The first Corinthian column stood alone inside the cella of the temple of Apollo Apicurius a Bassae. The Corinthian order was at first used only for columns inside buildings.
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All the Greek architecture was very detailed. They would take hours or even days making the simplest pieces of art work. In modern days not many people can do this type of art work. We usually use special types of lasers. This is why Greek Architecture is an was so important.

Haffner,A. W. Lawrence, R. A. Tomlinson. Greek architecture. Yale University Press: August 1996

Haffner,Luca Mozzati, Marina Belozerskaya, Kenneth Lapatin. Ancient Greece: Art, Architecture, and History. Getty Publications: March 2004

ancient Geek art

2008-11-23T09:22:00.000-08:00

The ancient Greeks created an art that is now known as classical art. Many of the American governmental buildings are designed from the Greek structures. The Greeks are know for three major items. They are know for sculptures, temples, and their vase paintings.
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The statues created by ancient Greeks in classical and Hellenistic ages also not only provided only the Roman sculpture, but also for the western sculpture as we know today. The ancient Greek sculpture has developed over 100 years. The fist period of Greek sculptures influenced the ancient Egyptians. There was an emphasis on creating the human form perfect.
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Most religious buildings today are used for worship and where groups, of people gather to celebrate their gods and receive a spiritual comfort. Ancient Greek temples were really use this way. In ancient Greek they were meant to swerve as homes for the individual god or goddess who protect and supported the community. Gods were very important in ancient Greek.
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In the 8th century BC large-scale ceramic vessels were produces as grave makers. They were originally decorated with angular patterns, this brace know as Geometric art. The technique of the Archaic vase-painting is know as black-figured vase-painting technique. It came from the Geometric style. The Archaic periods of Greek art was for about 200 years, from 700 to 500 BC.
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Many of the ancient Greek art had a lot to do with their everyday life. They frequently made sculptures or vase paintings of people. The Greeks wanted to be know perfect for everything. This is why all their paintings had perfect bodies. The ancient Greeks influenced a lot of cites from ancient to history to modern days.

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2008-11-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

Alexander the Great is a very interesting man. Its seems like everything about him is great. From his birth to death. But in my prospective I would say that Alexander the great was the best noteworthy on the battlefield.
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In my opinion I believe Alexander’s’ parents were one of the major reasons why Alexander was so Great. Alexander’s parents were also important. His mother was Olympias. His father was Macedonian. His mother Olympias once told Alexander that he was the son of a Greek god, from then on he seemed to think of himself as a divine. His father Macedonian once told him “ You must find a new kingdom worthy of you my son Macedon is to small for you, later on Alexander built a city named after his horses called Bucephala.
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It has been said that Alexander was know to be one of the best military commanders who had united the Macedonian empire and created one of the most powerful armies. For three year Alexander studied under Aristotle. Alexander studied the best techniques he also studied education in warfare and politics. At age 12 Alexander wanted a horse, him an his dad made a deal. The deal was if Alexander could ride it his dad would pay for the horse but, if Alexander could not ride it Alexander would have to pay it himself.
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Alexander is still alive till this day in a way. Many schools study Alexander the great. In many museums they also have many statues of Alexander the Great.

2008-10-21T21:03:00.001-07:00

Ancient Egypt is a big part of history. Ancient Egyptians were very interesting. The most interesting topic of the ancient Egyptians were the pharaohs. The Ancient Egyptians were very interesting in the pyramids they built, their mummies, and their afterlife.

The pyramids in Ancient Egypt were very important to the Egyptians. The reason for this was because, they used the pyramids for their Pharaohs’ tombs or to show them of. The most important pyramid was called The Great Pyramid. The reason why it was the most important was because it was the biggest. Its was mad in Giza around 2550B.C. It was it was 756 square in plain an it was 481 ft. high.
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The Pharaohs’ mummy was also very interesting. Since to the pharaohs’ their afterlife was very important they had to be mummified in a special way. The whole process took 17 days. The first step is to remove all the organs that might decay rapidly. Then they dry out the body an wrap it the body. Lastly the priest prepare the body for its afterlife an put in there tombs. The Egyptians would put their bodies in tombs to protect it from wild animals an the desert.
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The afterlife was very important for Egyptian Pharaohs. The Egyptians believed lived two life’s. You would die an then go to another life called the afterlife. If fact the afterlife was so important the pharaohs’ would put things such as gold to take to their afterlife.
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Ancient Egyptian history was very important. In many museums you will find plenty of history about the Ancient Egyptians. Millions of people also go visit the great pyramids that Egyptians made.

Haffner, Coulter Leech, Bonnie.Pyramids. The Rosen Publishing Group: New York, 2006

Haffner, Hart George.Ancient Egypt. Barnes & Noble: December 2003

2008-10-01T15:54:00.001-07:00

Nefertiti was pharaoh Tutankhameun’s mother-in-law. At age 15 Nefertiti married Amenophis IV. Nefertiti and her husband worshiped the god called Aten. Aten was the god of light.
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At around 1353 B.C. Akhenaton changed his name. Since Nefertiti followed her husbands belifes she also changed her name. She changed her name from Neferneferuaten to Nefertiti. Nefertiti means the beautiful woman who has come.
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Nefertiti and Akhenaton raised 6 daughters at Amarna. They did not rise any sons. There 6 daughters names were Meritaten , Meketaten , Ankhenspaaten, Neferneferuaten , Neferneferure and Setepenre. In 1336 B.C. their daughter Mekataten died.
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After the death of Mekataten in 1335 Nefertiti disappeared from the court. Twelve years into the Amarna period she disappeared. Also Nefertiti disappeared when it was Akhenaton’s 14 reign. Akhenaton and Nefertiti moved the capital of Egypt to Thebes.
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Little is known about her disappearance. One of her daughters took over her place as Akhenaton’s queen after Nefertiti’s disappearance Her body was never found.
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Haffner,Moran Michelle.Nefertiti.Random house inc:July 2007

Haffner,Drake Nick. Nefertiti: The Book Of The Dead.Harpercollins Publisher:April 2007

Tutankhamun

2008-09-26T15:21:00.001-07:00

Tutankamuns birth name was Tutankhaten. Tutankhaten means the living image of the Aten. Tutankhaten and his queen changed their names to Tutankhamun and Ankhsenamun, by his second year. We believe that Tutankhaten had two daughters but no sons.
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They believe when Tutankhaten was younger he would go hunting, swimming, and studying. They say his tomb revealed he enjoyed board games. They also believe he was an ill child. They say this because, they found many walking canes in his tomb.
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They say he probably liked leisurely activities and disliked politics. They say he had an ignorant view of his dad teachings and politics, because he was a child. Tutankhaten married Ankhsenpaaten near the time that Tutankhatens father died. His father believed in one god. To the Egyptians religion was more then just a belief system it was a way of life and permeating every aspect of existence.
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Tutankhaten ascended the throne of Egypt when he was ten-years-old. He was the ruler of the 18th dynasty. He ruled from 1336-1327 B.C. When Akhentaon died Tutankhaten made the court move back to Thebes.
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Tutankhaten died around his 9th regnal year. Forensic analysts say he died around 17 to 19 years of age. Howard Csrters in 1992 discovered his tomb.
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Haffner,Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt. Tutankhamen. Doubleday & company, inc:New York, 1965

Haffner,Marston Elsa. The Ancient Egyptians. Marshall Cavendish Corporation: New York,1996

Ramses the Great

2008-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ramses II was born on 1303 BC. Ramses II was also known as Ramses the great . Ramses II ruled for a total of 67 years. Ramses ruled from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. Ramses lived for over 90 years.
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Ramses the Great had many wives. People believe he had from 100 to 1200 kids. Ramses II favorite wife was Nefertari. Nerfertari was earlier the queen of Amenhotep IV. Ramses dedicated the two smaller pyramids to Nerfertari. There was a total of four statues. Two were Ramses and the rest were Nerfertari’s.
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Ramses II ruled in the 19th Egyptian dynasty. During his fourth year of ruling his army invaded Syria. He went to war against the Hittites. Several years later after Kadesh he went to war again. He went war against the hated Hitties.
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During Ramses 5th year of ruling he went battle with Qadesh. Ramses leftf the war, leaving the Pharaohs to fight alone. The war went on for 15 more years after that. Then they decided to sign a peace treaty on a silver tablet.
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They say that the best-preserd mummy ever found is Ramses the great mummy. Even though they found his tomb empty, they still found his mummy. In the valley of the Kings the tomb of Ramses the Great is located and empty remains.
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Haffner, Christiane DesRoches Noblecourt.Ramses II: an Illustrated Biography.Flammarion,February 2008.

haffner, E.A. Budge.Egypt under Rameses the Great.Kissinger Publishing Company,May 2006.

Akhenaten

2008-09-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Akhenaten was birn to Amenhotep III and his Chief Queen Tiye , he was their youngest child. Until the untimely death of his older brother, Thutmose he was originally designated as the successor to the throne. Many people belive that Akhenatens regin is from 1353-1336 BC or from 1352-1334 BC. There was tendency for the artist to make Akhenatens family members to look like clones of him, during the early years.
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Akhenaten was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned about 3,500 years ago. He ruled in the eighteenth dynasty. He was known as Amenhotep but changed his name to Akhenaten in his fifth regnal year. Also in the fifth regnal year h began to build a new capital called akhetaten in Middle Egypt.
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In the late 1800s is when historians first began to study Akhenaten. Akhenaten overthrew Egyptians polytheism of a single god. His religon did not center on one god, his major empasis was on Atens visibility, tangibility, and undeniable realness. He therefore placed no emphasis on faith,
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At around the eighteenth year of his rulling he died. When he died everything was destroyed and demolished. His mummy was never to be found. Everything was ravished and destroyed upon his death.
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Akhnaten was a very interesting person. His mom would train him at age 10.It all stared with the death of his father and ended in the death of Akhnaten.

Haffner, Hornung Erik and Lorton David. Akhenaten and the religon of light. Cornell University Press: February 2001.

Haffner, Festus Oqunbitan. Pharoah Akhenaten Turns Egypt To The Sun God. Xlibris Corporatinon: March 2008.

Pyramid Of Giza

2008-08-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

The pyramids of Giza were a really important part of Egypt and history. In the pyramids of Egypt they would store Pharaohs and Queens. The pyramids of Giza are one of the last Seven Wonders to remain. The pyramids of Egypt educate us a lot about Egyptians and there way of life.

The pyramids of Giza were the largest pyramids ever built. It was neraly 4,500 years ago and stand 481 feet high. It was located in the northern Egypt near the city of Cairo. People are still unsure how they created the pyramids. The pyramids show great mastery of math. For example, all four sides of Kheops were all the same length which was 58 mm. We know their stones came from quarry located near the Great Pyramids, and the pyramids were made by workmen, not slaves. There could be several tons of stone blocks, they were placed on sleds most likely using high brick ramps. The pyramid of Khufu which is around a nine acre area.
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The purpose of the pyramids of Egypt were used for a monument of Kings and Queens. In other words, they were tombs for Kings and Queen. The Pyramid tomb was also an exclusive privilege. As an honor for Khufu the pyramid included two mortuary temples, one was close to the pyramid and the other was near the Nile River.
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It is often said that the Great Pyramids of Khufu coantains 2.3 million stone blocks. The base sides were 230 meters long and the pyramids originall hight was 146 meters. Many people belive that the casing and capstone robbed it. Superhuman had to protect the reamins of their Kings.
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Many people find these pyramids interesting. Many people also go vist these pyramids till this day. Since these pyramids are so old they can fall down very quickly. This is one reason why people have to stop a mile away to look at these pyramids.

Haffner, Craig and Donna E. Lusitana.Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt. A&E Television Network: New York, 1996.

Haffner, Coulter Leech, Bonnie.Pyramids. The Rosen Publishing Group: New York, 2006