ART

AND ARTIFACTS OF
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
YUKIKO TANAKA
OCTOBER 22, 2014

EGYPT- HAIR COMB DECORATED WITH ROWS OF

ANIMALS
Date: 3200-3100 B.C.
This comb was used as part of a
funeral equipment
On both side of the comb, there are
figures of animals.
The choices and the order of the
animals were carved for particular
reasons
Elephants and snakes were thought
as the creator of the universe

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

EGYPT- LIBATION DISH DEPICTING KA-ARMS

PRESENTING AN ANKH-SIGN
Date: 3100- 2900 B.C.
It is linked with hieroglyphics
The two bent arms are read
ka which means spirit
The loop and knot are read
ankh which means life
This dish was used to pour
water
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

MESOPOTAMIA- HEADDRESS WITH LEAF- SHAPED

ORNAMENTS
Date: 2600- 2500 B.C.
Royal tombs were excavated in Ur
Many valuable accessories including
this headdress were found with a
female attendant
Gold, silver, and lapis are all very
valuable in Mesopotamia

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

MESOPOTAMIA- STAMP SEAL AMULET OF A SEATED

WOMAN
Date: 3300- 2900 B.C.
A woman wearing a diadem is
squatting down
It may appear in pottery or it might
have religious meanings or a gesture
of worship
The other side of the amulet is used
as a seal to stamp it in damp clay

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

INDUS- INDUS SEAL

Date: 2600- 1900 B.C.
To make this seal, the patterns were
first carved and then were baked
The design is often about motifs of
humans and animals
Seals could tell us the trading
relations with other ancient cultures
in the world

The British Museum

INDUS- CART
Date: 2500 B.C.
It contained goods and wooden
shafts and transport them to places
Carts were excavated from various
sites suggests the massive use of
carts by the Indus people
They are suited when traveling short
distances

National Museum- New Delhi

CHINESE- RITUAL OBJECT

Date: 2700- 2500 B.C.
An important ceremonial object
of Chinas Neolithic Culture
In 1982, some discs were
excavated near tombs
The function and the meaning are
still unknown
Jade discs help people go to
heaven instead of hell

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

CHINESE- JAR
Date: 2300- 2500 B.C.
Jars, bowls, and beakers are the most
common forms produced in
Majiayao culture (traditional
Chinese culture)
Decorative motifs include patterns,
cross hatching, squares, triangles, or
circles
They might represent natural
creatures of some kind

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

CONCLUSION
What are the similarities and differences among the 8 objects?
Similarities and Differences
l Many of these objects such as jade discs, carts, headdress, and comb were excavated
l Some objects were linked with hieroglyphics
l The medians used in these objects are different. (stone, clay, ivory)
l Time it took for people to make
What conclusions can you make about the beliefs and values of early humans based on these objects?
Based on these objects, people in the past believed that animals created the universe. However, there were people
who believed that gods created the universe and there are more than two opinions about the creation. Also, they
believed that jade discs help people go to heaven instead of going to hell, so they were treated as a ceremonial
object of Chinas Neolithic Culture. In the past, people were ranked from a pharaoh to slaves. Only those limited
number of people in high social classes were able to have rich accessories such as comb or gold headdress.