Saturday, December 4, 2010

FAR back in the twilight of the pictured history of the past, the cross is found on the borders of the river Nile. A horizontal piece of wood fastened to an upright beam indicated the hight of the water in flood. This formed a cross, the Nileometer. If the stream failed to rise a certain hight in its proper season, no crops and no bread was the result. From famine on the one hand to plenty on the other, the cross came to be worshiped as a symbol of life and regeneration, or feared. as an image. of decay and death. This is one, so called, origin of the Cross.
The cross was a symbol of life and regeneration in India long before this usage on the Nile, and for another reason. The most learned antiquarians agree in holding it unquestionable that Egypt was colonized from India, and crosses migrated with the inhabitants. "Proofs in adequate confirmation of this point are found," says the learned Dr. G. L. Ditson, "in waifs brought to light in ancient lore. Waif originally signified goods a thief, when pursued, threw away to avoid detection. Many of the facts to be brought forth in our inquiry were doubtless intentionally scattered and put out of sight to prevent apprehension of the proper subject to which they belong."
The cross bespeaks evolution in religion. It is the product of time, and the relic of the revered past. It begins with one thing and ends with another.


Jesus was referred to as the chief cornerstone (i.e., capstone) - a reference to an Egyptian pyramid. The chief cornerstone of the pyramid is same symbol for Horus, the Egyptian god and savior. Like the Egyptian pharoah, Jesus was called a shepherd who rules the nations with a staff. Horus was a popular Egyptian god who was the son of Osiris and Isis. Osiris and Horus were both solar deities. Osiris was the setting sun, Horus the rising sun. Jesus is the rising Son and the morning star. The pharoah was considered to be an incarnation of Horus (also known as "Amen-Ra," the sun god). In the same way, Jesus is considered to be the incarnation of his heavenly Father. Horus was the lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. Horus had an adversary named "Set". Jesus' adversary was "Satan".
The story of Horus can be found in "The Egyptian Book of the Dead (also known as the "Papyrus of Ani") written over 3,000 years before the birth of Christ.

Recently, a woman I know, stated that 'The Secret,' (the popularized name for the Law of Attraction), was passé. Her statement surprised me as I perceived she understood and was in tune with the Universal Laws.
Western society pays little attention to Universal Laws a.k.a. Metaphysics. Asian society and traditional Native Americans base all aspects of life and living on the Universal Laws.
The twelve Universal Laws are guidelines for behaviors that enhance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth. The Universal Laws and Sub-Laws describe ways in which cause and effect are interrelated.
There are twenty-one sub-laws that govern the Higher Self. These sub-laws are the human characteristics that facilitate connecting with and support the Universal Laws. These characteristics include: Aspiration to A Higher Power, Charity, Compassion, Courage, Dedication, Faith, Foregiveness, Generosity, Grace, Honesty, Hope, Joy, Kindness, Leadership, Noninterference, Patience, Praise, Responsibility, Self-love, Thankfulness and Unconditional love.
The Law of Attraction means you create the things, events, and draw in people, who come into your life. Your thoughts, feelings, words and actions produce energy which, then, attracts like energy. Negative energy attracts negative energy and positive energy attracts positive energy. The axiom, 'Birds of a feather flock together' is a metaphor for the Law of Attraction in action.
It has long ago been known by researchers that, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." This is the Law of Divine Oneness. The Law of Divine Oneness reminds us that everything is connected to everything else. Everything you do, say, think and believe affects others and the universe around you.
Marcel Proust is attributed with saying, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
Thus, when you are looking at your 'problems, you see more problems. When you are looking at every situation with gratitude, you see solutions and, therefore, you are grateful for the experience. As Proust stated, '...discovery consists, not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
You can choose the way you look at things. When you change how you look at things it changes, because you are seeing them with a different perspective and therefore, things are different.
Existence has no inherent meaning until someone puts a label on it. This is the reason we all have differing opinions about nearly everything. The meaning something has to you is the meaning you ascribe to it, based on your likes, dislikes, experiences, prejudices, values, and level of knowledge.
When you assign a meaning to something you end your relationship with that thing/person/issue; and begin to relate to and interact with your beliefs. You become blind to the fact that you no longer 'see' what is before you. You only see what you think.
"We experience what we believe. If we don't believe that we experience what we believe, then we don't, which still means the first statement is true." -Harry Palmer
Thus, the woman I know, who, believes that, "The Secret" (Law of Attraction) is passé will experience what she believes. She will attract stagnation. It is more difficult to attract what one desires if one is holding energy that is out of sync with the Universal Laws.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

High Empire thru Late Empire-for exam 3-post 5


Terms:
Apotheosis-becomes a god
Plebeian Style-unrealistic proportions, readable
Iconography-visual attributes that make them recognizable as them-self
Damnatio memoriae-Damnation of the memory of, must wipe them off the face of the earth, every picture, carved name etc.
Porphyry-rare purple stone, expensive

Hadrian

Mausoleum of Hadrian
Rome
Modern Name-Castel Sant'Angelo
Mimics Augustus's Tomb
Augustus's mimics the Etruscans









High Empire: Antonines

Antoninus Pius

looks like Hadrian














Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and Faustina
base of Antoninus Pius
Rome
Apotheosis-becomes a god
Combo-amazon/Athena
She-wolf on her shield-she represents Roma
drapery, idealized, classical greek manner


death of the classical style :(





Decursio
base of Antoninus Pius
Rome
Plebeian Style-unrealistic proportions, readable
First time style is used on an official monument










Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
Rome
3
curlier hair
longer beard
deeply carved eyes
all equestrians shown with one hoof up
shown older and weary-against war

Portrait of Commodus as Herakles
Iconography-visual attributes that make them recognizable as them-self
image
wearing lion skin and a club, holding an apple like Herakles

Late Empire: Severans

Painted Portrait of Septimius Severus and his family (wife Julia Domna, Sons Gata and Caracalla, Gata is erased)
Egypt
tempera on wood
1
Damnatio memoriae-Damnation of the memory of, must wipe them off the face of the earth, every picture, carved name etc.

Portrait of Caracalla
2
angry, fierce
short beard carved out
short hair like a real military man
deep carved eye


Late Empire: Soldier Emperors

Much revolt and instability
very little architecture and art
Lots of portraits and sarcophagus's

Trajan Decius
4
all Emperors shown with short hair and beard
sad

Late Empire: The Tetrarchy

rule by 4
2 in the east, 2 in the west-older ruler and younger ruler
each ruler had their own capital


Portrait of the tetrarchs
from Constantinople 
Porphyry-rare purple stone, expensive
5
shown identical
two older, two younger
worried lines
hugging=united
swords=defense
Plebeian Style

Late Empire: Constantine

312 Battle of the Milivian Bridge
313 Edict of Milan

Missing pictures...will try to upload them soon.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Flavian through High Empire-Trajan for exam 3- post 4

TERMS:
Plebeian Art-readablility, pack in information, coexists with more official art
Basilica Ulpia-covered area by a roof
Rotunda-round base of the building
Oculus-hole on the top of a dome
Portico-covered porch with columns


Funerary Relief of a circus official
Ostia, Italy
Plebeian Art







Funerary Relief
from Amiternum
Augustan-same as circus relief
unrealistic
unconcerned with sizes
trying to show depth





Tomb of the Haterii
Rome
Mrs. Hateriis
She is shown biggest-most important
Plebeian style












High Empire: Trajan

Trajan: 3 locks of hair, similar to Augustus-the new Augustus

Apollodorus of Damascus, Forum and Markets of Trajan
Rome
Uses money from a successful Dacian campaign
ties himself to Augustus
Column of Trajan, 2 Libraries, Basilica Ulpia-covered area-2 football fields
















Basilica Ulpia












Column of Trajan
Forum of Trajan
Rome
used as funerary
originally shows the victory against the Dacian's
Trajan was at the top until replaced by St. Peter













High Empire-Hadrian

Hadrian-shown with a beard, linking himself to the Greeks
Hadrian or later-eyes carved out

Hadrian's Wall
England
Fort at Housesteads
 
Typical Roman fort-basis for medieval castles

Pantheon of Hadrian
Rome
 







Temple to all the Gods
Obelisk from Egypt

Rotunda
Oculus

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Nero and The Flavian Dynasty - for Exam 3 - Post 3

Nero, last Julio-Claudian
Idealized
Individualized
Thick neck
Tyrant-hated
Famous for standing on the
walls of Rome playing fiddle while
Rome burns down. He blames the
Christians.





Golden Palace of Nero
Domus Aurea
100 acres
lake and gardens











Severus and Celer
octagonal hall of the Domus Aurea of Nero
Rome

First Dome
Still standing









The Early Empire: The Flavian Dynasty
(Vespasian, Tow sons: Titus and Domitian)


Portrait of Vespasian
shows himself with wrinkles
old
nicer
disassociates himself with the neoclaudians










Coloseum (Flavian Amphitheater)
Rome
Filled in Nero's lake
Nero's statue left outside
Free Events for the people
Built quickly-5-10 years
50,000-60,000 people
Cut Stone
76 Entrances
Arches
Decorated
Ionic Order
Corinthian Order
Doric Order

Gladiators:
Murmillo
Retiarius
Samnite
Thracian

Readings:
Seneca, On the Games
Pliny the Younger, On Christian


Arch of Titus
Rome
Triumphal Arch
Parade
More entertainment
Party











Spoils of Jerusalem
Relief Panel from the Arch of Titus
Rome
naturalism














Monday, October 25, 2010

Early Empire - for exam 3 - post 2

Roman Chronology

Republican Period 510-27 BC
Civil Wars
Julius Caesar assassinated
Octavian(grand nephew) defeats Anthony and Cleopatra at Actium
Octavian adopts the title of Augustus

Imperial Period 27 BCE-330 AD
Early Empire: Julio Claudians, Flavians
High Empire: Trajan, Hadrian, Antonines
Late Empire: Severans, Tetarchy, Constantine

Early Empire: The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Seven Hills of Rome

*Capitoline-religious area, she wolf, sacrifices
Quirinal
Viminal
Esquiline
Caelian
Aventine
*Palatine



















Forum Romanum, Basillca Aemilla


















Augustus

Portrait of Augustus as General
from Primaporta
copy?
never shown aged
three locks of hair on forehead
somewhat idealized
cupid at his feet-reference to aphrodite (cupids mom)
this links him to being a direct descendant of a God
classic greek elements: controppasto pose, drapery,
resembles the spear bearer
Italic elements: hand gesture, recognizable features
Combination of Italic and classic Greek Sculpture










Sphinx on shoulder-reference to Cleopatra
references to many Gods
reference to peace
Sky God















Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace
Rome
Ara=Altar
Pacis=Peace
Fertility
Lamb






















-Tellus
Classical Greek Manner
Fertility of Roma










-Aeneas
Lares and Pinates-small statues that protect the house
Show that he is establishing his home in Rome









-Procession
Children included to show fertility
shows many generations of peaceful procession









Tomb of Augustus
Rome
Similar to an Etruscan Tomb
Obelisk like in Egypt

Friday, October 22, 2010

For the next Exam!

Terms:
Domus-Roman House
Atriuim-front room with skylight where ancestor portraits and masks were displayed, impluvium is in it
Impluvium-room with pool, catch water
Tablinum-meeting room for the head of the family
Peristyle garden-private area with garden
Lararium for lares and penates- gods of households, small shrine for those gods, leave them treats, first thing people took when they were fleeing the house
Faiyum Portrait-portrait painted of mummified people
Encaustic-wax painting











Houses had painting working fountains, people had pet dogs, pools with fish or eels, many wild dogs

Roman Painting: Republic-Imperial Periods
Frescos from the Houses

Roman Painting Styles

1st Masonry Style 200-80 BC Photo treatment to the wall to make it look like stone, but its plaster (Republican)
2nd Pictorial Style, 80-15 BC Figures begin showing up, scenes, animals... (Republican)
3rd Decorative Style, 15BC-45AD Shapes, small images (Imperial)
4th Combination Style 45-100AD Combines all three styles (Imperial)

Masonry Style Wall painting in the Samnite House
Herculaneum Italy
late second century BC
PICTURE

Masonry Style
House of Sallust
Pompeii















Pictorial Style
trompe l'oeil wall painting
Villa at Boscoreale




Pictorial Style
Villa of the Mysteries























Painting in room, gives us the idea of their secret initiation and cults

One male boy, the rest or weird male creatures with tales and such (sadors)
Startled woman looking at something
Woman with wings holding a whip, leather boots, short skirt

Woman about to be whipped, initiation?

Pictorial Style
Garden Scape
Villa of Livia, Primaporta
leads to 3rd style

Decorative Style
Villa at Boscotrecase
Combination Style
House of the Vettii
Pompeii

Subject Matter in Roman Painting

Historical Scenes and Sculptures
Scenes and Sculptures of Myths
Scenes from Dramatic Productions
Atmospheric Perspectives (fading into the mist)
Still Life
Portraits
Encaustic (portraits of mummified people, Faiyum Portraits)-become more generic later


Friday, October 15, 2010

The Art of the Etruscans

The Etruscans
Italy
Untranslated language
Influenced by Greek culture

Etruria 
Between Arno and the Tiber rivers

Typical Etruscan Temple of the 6th Century
(as described by Vitruvius)
One or more cella's pushed back on the platform, 
columns in the front, raised up on a platform,
sculpture on the roofline

Portonaccio Temple
Veii, Italy
Etruscan
End of Archaic period-Archaic smile

buggy eyes, archaic smile, similar hair, Hermes, terra-cotta 

Apulu(Aplollo)
Roof of the PortonaccioTemple
hair reacts to the shoulder, movement in the statue, 
clothed-as opposed to nude as gods usually are

Porta Augusta, Perugia
decorating the arch with greek architecture-very influential later
key stone, stronger than post and lintel, 
distributes the weight better-like a relieving triangle
groin vault-extrememly strong

Porta Marzia (Gate of Mars)
Perugia
Second century BC

Cerveteri, necropolis
hollow out rock, leave doorway, has roads almost like a city

Interior of the Tomb of the Reliefs
Cerveteri, Italy
3rd century BC
bed in the walls with stone pillows, carved reliefs

Tomb of the Leopards
Tarquinia, Italy
480-470 BC
scenes of banqueting, sitting on beds, lively, servants are nude,
darker and lighter figures(female vs. male)
abnormal for woman and men to be lying down together during a banquet,
greeks assume that all Etruscan woman are prostitutes

Etruscan woman are more equal:
shown loving
shown eating together
buried with their husbands

Tomb of Hunting and Fishing
Tarquinua, Italy
530-520 BC

young boys hunting and fishing, very unusual tomb for the time period
real landscape elements-unlike greeks

Sarcophagus
Cerveteri
terra-cata
loving embrace
reading-theopompus

Capitoline She Wolf with Romulus(founder of Rome) and Remus(son of a mortal man-mars- and Goddess Aphrodite)
From Rome, Italy
traditional date is 753 BC
500-480 BC
common symbol for Rome, even though its Etruscan based
naturalistic kids-a later edition, were there originally and then put back

Brutus 300 BC
509 BC-expulsion of the Etruscans from Rome
(because of the rape of Brutus's wife)

Becomes the Roman Empire....