Paleolithic

Woman of Willendorf

The Woman of Willendorf also known as The Venus of Willendorf was created around 28,000 to 25,000BCE in Austria. It is thought that this stone carving was created to show fertility among women and used as a fertility doll. The carving is 11 cms high and shows the figure of a large woman. The head portion on the carving is thought to show hair that is braided around the head. The body of the woman shows enlarged breasts, buttocks, stomach and also shows the female genital area. The genital region seems to be empathized more so than the rest of the body. The Woman of Willendorf does not have a face, so it is not thought that this was a replica of a certain person. Fertility during the Paleolithic area would have been a necessity and something that was often needed to help the other members in the community.

References: http://arthistoryresources.net/willendorf/willendorfwoman.html http://learnartfree.blogspot.com/2011/03/venus-of-willendorf-analysis.html

Neolithic

Stonehenge

Built between 3100-1100 BCE on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is a magnificent place that draws curiosity from all who see it. Scientists believe that Stonehenge was built as an astronomical observatory and for ritualistic purposes. It is not known who built Stonehenge; however do to the lack of trash and litter at the site, it is believed to have been considered a sacred place. There were once 30 stones that stood forming a circle in the outer ring. Today, 17 of those stones still stand. On the summer solstice, the sun will align with the heel stone (the stone that leans). There are also blue stones that were used in the construction of Stonehenge. The larger stones also known as the Sarsen stones came from Marlborough Downs, a distance of 20 miles away. The blue stones came from the Preseli Hills in western Wales, a distance of 156 miles away. The larger of the stones weigh up to 25 tons, whereas the smaller blue stones weigh up to 4 tons.

References: http://www.livescience.com/22427-stonehenge-facts.html http://www.unmuseum.org/stonehen.htm

Mesopotamian

Tell Asmar Statuettes
The Tell Asmar Statuettes were created around 2900-2350 BCE and were found at the Mesopotamian site of Tell Asmar in Iraq. There are a total of 12 figures and average around 42 cms. The marble figures are a combination of men and women, all showing exaggerated eyes, with their hands clasped together near the middle of their chest. The figures are seen wearing skirts that depict what would have been worn during the Early Dynastic period of Mesopotamia. It is believed that the statutes represent gods and goddesses of this time because of the clothing that is worn. There is a hierarchy based on the size of the status. The largest of the figures is thought to be the god Abu because of the carvings that are on the base of the statue. There is a hierarchy based on the size of the status. The next largest is the mother goddess, then priests, and then the smallest of the statues represent worshippers.
References:
http://archaeology.about.com/od/apthroughasterms/g/asmar_hoard.htm http://www.dl.ket.org/humanities/connections/class/ancient/mesopart.htm Egyptian

The Weighing of the Heart and Judgment

In the Book of the Dead, the Weighing of the Heart and Judgment shows the picture of where the judgment of the dead was performed. Here is where the heart was weighed compared to the weight of the feather of Maat. This weighing of the heart will determine if the person is able to move on to the Fields of Peace where it is believed that they will spend the rest of eternity with their loved ones who also passed the test of the weighing of the heart. The Egyptians believed that the first night after death, that the soul would travel of the afterlife where the soul would then face a multitude of challenges. It would take a total of 72 days for the human body of the