Snaptun Stone (editing)

This rock carving, made from soapstone, was found in 1950 on a Danish beach, Horsens Fjord, dating back to 1000 CE. The character that is being depicted here is Loki. Loki, the Norse god of fire and mischief, a character from Norse mythology, or Scandinavian mythology. Here, the figure is identified as Loki because of his mouth. Because he was such a liar and a trickster, Loki's mouth is sewn shut. The process in which this piece was created; the rock is considered a hearth stone, the hole in the front was used for an entrance way for bellows, the bellows pushed the flame upward out of the top hole, the process was said to represent Loki as god of the flame. This particular piece can be found in the Moesgård Museum, Højberg, Denmark. I like this piece because the red (cut out part) really stands out. I like how it is based from the myths of Loki.

Moesgård Museum's website
(you may have to open this in Google Chrome so that you can translate the webpage)    http://www.moesmus.dk/da/udstillinger/vikingemuseet/

bronze boar zun

Measuring a height of 40 centimeters and a length of 72 cm (15.75 inches by 28.35 inches), this Chinese boar shaped bronze zun was found in 1981, in the Chuanxingshan Mountain, in Jiuhua Village, in Hunan Provenance, Xiangtan County, in China. During the Shang Dynasty (ca.1600-ca.1050 B.C.) this zun (wine vessel) may have been used in religious ceremonies such as an offering to the dead, or to keep the wine warm. This piece was able to hold a whopping 13 liters (3.43 gallons)

The bird standing on the boar's back could have been used as the handle for the zun's lid. The bird reminds me of the iconic oxpecker that stands on a rhino's back. Here's a picture of an oxpecker on a boar, this may have been the artists inspiration for making this piece.

I chose this piece because it has a some what animated look to it, it reminds me of Disney's, Timon and Pumba, except, it'd be Zazu and Pumba. The Asian culture has always been very fascinating to me. Asia is so diverse, and it's always interesting to find something new that they do differently, as compared to things we do here.

Isis

This Roman sculpture of Isis is from the first half of the 2nd century AD, but has been modeled after the Greek Isis from the 4th century BC. Made from both black and white marble this sculpture is very eye catching. Isis the worshiped as the goddess of  motherhood, magic, and fertility, also known as the ideal mother, protector of the dead and goddess of children. (Roman Isis, 2nd century AD to the left)

As well as being known in Rome, Isis was     

known in Egypt, but she was referred to

as Aset, wife of Osiris (god of the dead)

and mother of Horus (lord of the sky). On 

her Egyptian headdress there is a throne,

making the pharaoh that sat upon the

throne her child. She has also been

associated with cow horns and a sun disk,

very similar to Hathor's headdress. (Egyptian painting of Isis to the right) 

                                                                                                                         

Emperor Caligula (ruler of Rome) was more willing to accept eastern religions, compared to previous rulers. Caligula created Navigium Isidis, an annual festival in honor of Isis. On the Arch of Trajan, there is a relief of Caligula is giving an offering to Isis and Horus. The belief of Isis spread everywhere, and Iseums (temples) were quite relevant. Pompeii being one of the places, a temple was built in honor of Isis. Paintings and other things were kept safe under the ash from Mt. Vesuvius. (The Temple of Isis in Pompeii, Italy to the right)                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                         

In her left hand she holds an oinochoe (a pot) filled with sacred water from the Nile River, and in her right hand she holds a sistrum, only the handle still remains. The sistrum is a noise maker that represents eternal life. (Greek Isis holding a sistrum, 4th Century BC to the left)

                                                                                                                                          I chose this sculpture of the goddess Isis because it is made from both, black and white marble. I think that it would have been harder to make the Roman sculpture, compared to the Greek sculpture. I feel like the story of Isis could go on forever because she has been apart of so many cultures for so long. The Roman sculpture is currently located in Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria, (the link below shows her in a pan of the museum).
                                                                                                         
http://www.khm.at/en/visit/collections/collection-of-greek-and-roman-antiquities/

Ra vs. Apep

Egyptians kept cats around as pets because they were good for ridding their owners of rats, mice, and snakes. The wall art (painting to the right) [from the NewKingdom, c. 1550 BC-c. 1069] of a cat cutting a snake depicts the ongoing battle between Ra and Apep. Ra or Re was the sun god, to whom was represented as a cat, as well as the sycamore tree. Apep, Apepi, or Apophis (the snake) was the god of evil, darkness, and destruction. Apep was also associated with Seth (the god of chaos). It was said that those who were eaten by Apep would be put into non existence because inside the belly of the snake, there was a black hole.

Ra would travel through the underworld (the sky) during the night. Every morning before Ra's solar barque (boat) could come into daylight, Apep would try to strand Ra's barque by gorging the water of the underworld with his coils, acting as sand banks. But in all of Apep's efforts, Ra always prevailed, allowing the sun to rise again at dawn.

The cat (Ra) cuts open the belly of Apep, although after being cut open, diced, and bones being smashed,  Apep would be revived at every nightfall. There were multiple paintings of cats cutting snakes found in Egypt, some of which, the eyes of the cat would have been gilded.

 I picked the painting of the cat vs the snake because it has a side story of two gods, as well, it tells one of  the reasons why cats were so fascinated. Egypt has always brought such a fascination to me because of it's many untold stories, mysteries, and because of their architectural achievements.

The Khufu Pyramid

Standing at 481 feet tall, the largest pyramid in Giza is the Khufu pyramid.  Khufu the son of Sneferu, was also known as Cheops (the statue to the right, which is 7.5 cm tall). Not much is known about Khufu because of grave robbers. Around 2550 B.C. Pharaoh Khufu sent out his men (slaves) to build this great pyramid during his reign as the second pharaoh during the 4th dynasty, making it the oldest pyramid. Having 3 burial chambers, one underground (created to trick grave robbers), one above ground level (thought to house a sacred statue of Khufu), and the third, making it the highest (where Khufu was placed).

                                                    When the pyramids were first built, they were covered in Tura limestone, making the appearance white, rather than tan. At the top of the pyramids there would have been a golden cap. Because of the casing stones, rather than having steps, the pyramids would have been smooth and reflective.

I picked the Khufu pyramid because it's the largest and oldest pyramid, also, because Egypt has always brought such a fascination to me because of it's many untold stories, mysteries, and because of their architectural achievements.

                                                                  

The Police Box

Police often used the "police box" as a drop off, sort of a mini jail, until they could locate the criminal to a proper jail cell. They were also used for telephone calls before the creation of the cell phone.  The police box, wasn't just a box for the police, it was also made for the public's use. Originally red, these tall structures are now commonly known to be blue.

(A plate I painted to depict the Tardis [from Doctor Who] flying in space)