Sunday, June 10, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Lascaux Cave: Deciphering the Chinese Horse
The species of animal that captured my attention in the Lascaux cave was the Third Chinese Horse. Judging from the anatomical positioning of the limbs and the contours of the mane and thigh region, I am positive that the animal can be contributed to the equine family. However, I do not believe this animal in an ordinary horse, but possibly a wild hybrid or zebra. The problem is that zebras evolved in Africa and they are typically not the type of species roaming around France. Furthermore, the website designates this species as a Chinese Horse. I grew up with horses and my extensive knowledge of the species leads me to believe that this creature did not evolve in China. The Chinese Horse is more of a myth associated with the Samurai than an actual breed. There are Chinese horses like the Mongolian ponies, which have a likeness to the Third Chinese Horse painting at Lascaux cave, but the evolutionary time frame is completely inaccurate.
The Third Chinese Horse is located in the Axial Gallery on the right wall and is included with the Panel of Chinese Horses. The panel is located to the right of the Panel of the Falling Cow and The Red Panel. There are three Chinese Horses in total, one red cow facing left with the First Chinese Horse posterior to its rump, and another red cow appears to be upside down, located overhead the Third and Second Chinese Horses. Oddly, the Black Stag, which appears to be a reindeer, seems out of place with its curling antlers and coloration. There are also eleven dots below the finished stag, which are clearly some type of ideogram. There are twelve months in a year, but on the eleventh month, some type of ceremony or hunt must have taken place.
The Axial Gallery is inaccessible to individuals unless they know exactly where particular panels are located. The people who created the panel on the right wall must have realized this, which indicates that the scene was meant to represent a religious ceremony or a type of hunting magic. The horse is nestled behind another prehistoric equine and they are both facing the right direction. A red cow is facing left and appears to be in stride, as well as the Black Stag, that appears to be trotting. All the animals depicted in this panel have several characteristics in common. They are all quadrupeds, mammals with hooves, vegetarian, and they all require a certain amount of speed to escape predators, with the exception of the cow. The red cow is an interesting addition to this panel. Indians considered the red cow to be sacred and historically used its excrements for ritual purification. This is similar to the Hebrew Bible, which describes the ashes of a “red heifer” being used for purification (Hebrew Bible Num. 19:2). This animal may have been used in the same context during the Paleolithic.
The Third Chinese Horse does exhibit some remarkable contours as far as coloration and muscle exposure. There are thick yellow and black stripes, which reach from the back to the withers. There is also a dark coloration from the loins to the stifle and some spotting on the thighs, rump, and gaskin. This is not typical of the breed standard rumored to exist over 17,000 years ago, however DNA evidence is now suggesting otherwise. Several professors from the University of York have analyzed horse remains from several species originating in Europe and Asia. The gene that codes for the spotted horse was present over 35,000 years ago. Furthermore, the colors we see in Lascaux including the black and bay colors are clearly representative of the prehistoric species that existed during the completion of these paintings (Swift, 2011). The Third Chinese Horse is a realistic portrayal of the spotted equine during the Paleolithic period but there are some proportions on the spotted equine that are represented abstractly, or rather inaccurately, including the barrel. The barrel of a spotted horse tapers off near the elbow of the horse, and in the Lascaux cave depiction the barrel is tapered near the stifle. Every spotted horse is different of course, but anatomically this is how spotted horses appear today, and most likely appeared during the Paleolithic.
Moreover, the tail is decoratively braided high on the croup and there appears to be a tail bandage located posterior to the mid-thigh, leading me to believe this may have been an Arabian or Stallion. These horse breeds typically have tails, which reach higher on the croup, thus allowing for more flexibility in hairstyles and decorations, so the bandage makes sense in that aspect. The Romans, Greeks, and Native Americans applied tail bandages on long trips and during cavalry wars to prevent the tail from snagging on weapons. It also allowed the horse to stay cool on long marches during the hotter months.
The Third Chinese Horse is facing in the right direction. Its ears are pointed in one direction and its tail is down. This is extremely significant behavior. Horse’s ears always point in the direction in which they are paying attention to. It is not unusual for a horse to have one ear facing back and one facing forwards because their eyes allow them to look in two different locals. The Third Chinese Horse in looking forward and appears to be escaping an attack. There are two feathered arrows painted on the wall, only a few inches away from plunging into the animal. Consequently, it could represent a horse being used to trample another animal during a hunting party. We see this with Native Americans during Buffalo hunts, yet the horses do have riders, and they are more so used to coral the buffalo. The Chinese Horse is clearly a representation of power over another species using agility and intelligence.
The Upper Paleolithic peoples who painted in the Lascaux cave had a common ideology about hunting magic or religion. The culture was engrossed in ritual symbolism, and by creating some of these symbolic images, they believed that what they drew on the walls was the result of their endeavors, and not what they hoped would happen. It was a prediction in a sense, made true by writing it down and drawing it out. At Altamira in Spain, the bulls are strategically painted on the contours of the wall, making it seem like the bulls are alive. We see these parallels in artistic expression in The Great Hall of Bulls at Lascaux. The idea behind this, and the reason why only some Upper Paleolithic peoples painted on cave walls, is because there was a shared culture between them. This act of expression may not have permeated to other cultures, and if it did, their shared knowledge allowed them to produce artwork using different materials. This artwork may or may not have survived, which explains why we do not have archaeological evidence to prove geographical diffusion of particular styles of art.
It is clear to me, after viewing the cave art in Lascaux that people during the Upper Paleolithic moved about and spread out over the geographical landscape in caves, outside shelters, as well as open-air camps. The environment was exploited in various ways during the Upper Paleolithic because the amount of resources available to some cultures was vast. We find many examples of cave paintings in both France and Spain because the Upper Paleolithic people who made them chose to go underground, possibly to make them inaccessible to others. In China, Europe, and Africa, the paintings may have just disappeared, especially if they were susceptible to earth’s elements. Moreover, other cultures may have been invested more time in portable art, which has yet to be discovered.
Take a virtual tour of Lascaux cave
The Axial Gallery is inaccessible to individuals unless they know exactly where particular panels are located. The people who created the panel on the right wall must have realized this, which indicates that the scene was meant to represent a religious ceremony or a type of hunting magic. The horse is nestled behind another prehistoric equine and they are both facing the right direction. A red cow is facing left and appears to be in stride, as well as the Black Stag, that appears to be trotting. All the animals depicted in this panel have several characteristics in common. They are all quadrupeds, mammals with hooves, vegetarian, and they all require a certain amount of speed to escape predators, with the exception of the cow. The red cow is an interesting addition to this panel. Indians considered the red cow to be sacred and historically used its excrements for ritual purification. This is similar to the Hebrew Bible, which describes the ashes of a “red heifer” being used for purification (Hebrew Bible Num. 19:2). This animal may have been used in the same context during the Paleolithic.
The Third Chinese Horse does exhibit some remarkable contours as far as coloration and muscle exposure. There are thick yellow and black stripes, which reach from the back to the withers. There is also a dark coloration from the loins to the stifle and some spotting on the thighs, rump, and gaskin. This is not typical of the breed standard rumored to exist over 17,000 years ago, however DNA evidence is now suggesting otherwise. Several professors from the University of York have analyzed horse remains from several species originating in Europe and Asia. The gene that codes for the spotted horse was present over 35,000 years ago. Furthermore, the colors we see in Lascaux including the black and bay colors are clearly representative of the prehistoric species that existed during the completion of these paintings (Swift, 2011). The Third Chinese Horse is a realistic portrayal of the spotted equine during the Paleolithic period but there are some proportions on the spotted equine that are represented abstractly, or rather inaccurately, including the barrel. The barrel of a spotted horse tapers off near the elbow of the horse, and in the Lascaux cave depiction the barrel is tapered near the stifle. Every spotted horse is different of course, but anatomically this is how spotted horses appear today, and most likely appeared during the Paleolithic.
Moreover, the tail is decoratively braided high on the croup and there appears to be a tail bandage located posterior to the mid-thigh, leading me to believe this may have been an Arabian or Stallion. These horse breeds typically have tails, which reach higher on the croup, thus allowing for more flexibility in hairstyles and decorations, so the bandage makes sense in that aspect. The Romans, Greeks, and Native Americans applied tail bandages on long trips and during cavalry wars to prevent the tail from snagging on weapons. It also allowed the horse to stay cool on long marches during the hotter months.
The Third Chinese Horse is facing in the right direction. Its ears are pointed in one direction and its tail is down. This is extremely significant behavior. Horse’s ears always point in the direction in which they are paying attention to. It is not unusual for a horse to have one ear facing back and one facing forwards because their eyes allow them to look in two different locals. The Third Chinese Horse in looking forward and appears to be escaping an attack. There are two feathered arrows painted on the wall, only a few inches away from plunging into the animal. Consequently, it could represent a horse being used to trample another animal during a hunting party. We see this with Native Americans during Buffalo hunts, yet the horses do have riders, and they are more so used to coral the buffalo. The Chinese Horse is clearly a representation of power over another species using agility and intelligence.
The Upper Paleolithic peoples who painted in the Lascaux cave had a common ideology about hunting magic or religion. The culture was engrossed in ritual symbolism, and by creating some of these symbolic images, they believed that what they drew on the walls was the result of their endeavors, and not what they hoped would happen. It was a prediction in a sense, made true by writing it down and drawing it out. At Altamira in Spain, the bulls are strategically painted on the contours of the wall, making it seem like the bulls are alive. We see these parallels in artistic expression in The Great Hall of Bulls at Lascaux. The idea behind this, and the reason why only some Upper Paleolithic peoples painted on cave walls, is because there was a shared culture between them. This act of expression may not have permeated to other cultures, and if it did, their shared knowledge allowed them to produce artwork using different materials. This artwork may or may not have survived, which explains why we do not have archaeological evidence to prove geographical diffusion of particular styles of art.
It is clear to me, after viewing the cave art in Lascaux that people during the Upper Paleolithic moved about and spread out over the geographical landscape in caves, outside shelters, as well as open-air camps. The environment was exploited in various ways during the Upper Paleolithic because the amount of resources available to some cultures was vast. We find many examples of cave paintings in both France and Spain because the Upper Paleolithic people who made them chose to go underground, possibly to make them inaccessible to others. In China, Europe, and Africa, the paintings may have just disappeared, especially if they were susceptible to earth’s elements. Moreover, other cultures may have been invested more time in portable art, which has yet to be discovered.
Take a virtual tour of Lascaux cave
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Gothic Cathedral of Sainte Cecile in Albi, France
During the fourth century a structure existed, not a proven house of worship, but nonetheless burned down in 666AD. In 920, a building by the name of Saint Celicila, patroness of musicians, found its home upon the foundations of Albi. The last recorded structure before the Cathedral of Sainte Cecile was a Romanesque cathedral in stone.
Read More: Gothic Cathedral of Sainte Cecile in Albi, France
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Medieval Castle Guedelon Rises in France
are being used, which explains why the building process has taken so long. There is no electricity on site, therefore no power tools are being used by the 50 artisans working on the project. Situated near the quiet French town of Treigny in the historic region of Burgundy, this is not an archaeological site although it appears to be by tourists.Read: Medieval Castle Guedelon Rises in France Via Kuriositas
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday Ground Up: Liberalism During the 19th Century
Liberalism, such as parliaments and constitutions, during the 19th century was making great strides in the western European states. Mass politics, due to the emergence of a mass society during the Second Industrial Revolution, paved the way for ordinary citizens to be involved in the everyday operations of political life. Therefore, while reforms encouraged expansion of political democracy through voting rights for men, one Liberal leader was hindering the political and ideological movement towards modernization, and later on the spread of liberalism would be affected by the creation of new political parties.
New reforms in Great Britain, including the right to vote, were extended during the second ministry of William Gladstone with the Reform Act of 1884. All men that paid regular rents and taxes were able to vote and agricultural workers, previously excluded, added another 2 million voters to the electorate.
New reforms in Great Britain, including the right to vote, were extended during the second ministry of William Gladstone with the Reform Act of 1884. All men that paid regular rents and taxes were able to vote and agricultural workers, previously excluded, added another 2 million voters to the electorate.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday Ground Up: Otto Von Bismarck: How he Used War to Justify German Unification
Otto von Bismarck was not moved by national unity, although he felt compelled to manipulate it instead of using it for a guide in political affairs. His quest was to obtain internal stability for the Hohenzollern monarchy and more external power for Prussia. However, Austria refused to accept dual supremacy over Germany on a foundation more favorable to Prussia.Furthermore, had Prussia been more involved with foreign policy, he would have taken a more conservative route. Thus, he would have joined with Austria and Russia against the popular forces in Germany in Europe. He would have simply appealed to the middle classes using a more socialist approach, therefore outflanking liberal opposition. The issue was, however, that Bismarck’s revolutionary and volcanic temperament overshadowed his initial willingness to take the conservative route. Of course, there were greater gains to be had if involved with Germans in an alliance, therefore providing him the means to expand Prussia, and ultimately providing him with a stream of potential power.
Bismarck, seeking a constitutional government, resubmitted the army appropriations bills that was once submitted by William I. The bill sought compulsory military service, therefore if would not only strengthen the military in Prussia, but it was simply encourage obedience to the monarchy. The bill was once again ignored, yet Bismarck chose to collect taxes and reorganized the army. He had not considered war, since he wasn’t naturally a political gambler in any sense, however he did recognize that if all diplomatic alternatives were exhausted and all advantages were on his side, he would choose to wage war.
Since Bismarck's goal was to form a powerful German state, he intelligently recognized that Prussia would only fight one opponent, thus isolating them tactfully. Since the German Parliament was dominated by the Austrians, and he sought to exclude them completely from all German affairs, he persuaded them to wage war on Denmark.
Bismarck realized that if Prussia was to expand to the north, Austria would have to be excluded from affairs in the German Parliament. He conveniently worked on negotiations with Austria, while laying the ground work for their isolation. He forged an alliance with the new Italian state, promising it Venetia in the event that Austria was defeated. He also sought agreements from Russia and France to stay neutral, even promising more territory in the event of defeat.
To the surprise of Europeans, Austria was swiftly defeated, and in turn, was excluded from foreign affairs. Prussia gained the German states north of the Main River, and the southern states were forced to sign military agreements with Prussia, while maintaining their independence. His victory over Austria using military power proved that nationalism and an authoritative government could be combined.
Although France had remained neutral during the Austro-Prussian War, Napoleon III and the French were not happy with the turn of events in Germany. Napoleon sought to humiliate the Prussians, however a hurdle was once again set when Prince Leopold was offered the throne of Spain by William I. The Hohenzollern dynasty would ultimately encircle France, however the French objected to Leopold’s candidacy and forced the king to withdrawal his offer for the throne.
The French considered this a diplomatic victory and forced William I to make a formal apology to France. William I explained the situation to Bismarck in a telegram; however Bismarck edited the letter in an attempt to prod France into a war they couldn’t possibly win. Prussia, along with its military alliances crushed the French forces, and in exchange, France lost the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to the new German state.
German unity was reached by way of the powerful Prussian monarchy and the army. Liberals rejoiced, even though German unification was possible by way of strong military alliances and an authoritative rule. Germany was now the strongest power in Europe due to the national unification under the strict eye of Otto von Bismarck.
Source
Bismarck Photo
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Cro Magnon Religion and People
The Cro Magnon people left no written records about themselves, however they replaced the Neanderthals over 30,000 years ago. So what do we know about this prehistoric forerunner to the Homo- sapiens?Similar to the Neanderthals, they buried tools, weapons, and ornaments with their dead. This is all according to finds documented by the research of archaeologists. Consequently, the graves also furnished some bizarre, yet interesting artifacts including bones painted red. This was, of course, interpreted as a concern for the afterlife. Read more about the Cro Magnon on Factoidz.
This article was previously published by myself. On occasion, some of my short snippet posts will be of this nature since I work with other writing sites.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday Ground Up: The Congress of Vienna
After the defeat of Napoleon, there was a desire to convert back to the old order to contain revolution and revolutionary forces. This was attempted by a peace settlement in 1814 including four major enemies that used several approaches to eliminate the infighting within the global powers.
In 1814, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria met to ensure peace after the war. The Bourbon monarchy was restored in the way of Louis XVIII and all agreed to meet at the Congress of Vienna in September 14, 1814 to sign the peace settlement.
Prince Klemens von Metternich was the leader of the Congress of Vienna, however he was both arrogant and self assured. He was guided by the principle of legitimacy, which simply preserved the traditional institution by restoring legitimate monarchs. This had been done in France with the Bourbons, however it was ignored else ware. The congress treated Poland in that fashion, in that Prussia and Austria could lay claim to Polish territories. A Polish kingdom was established with the Romanov Dynasty as monarchs. Poland was granted independence and foreign policy was under Russian control. Prussia and Austria also received compensation for their losses.
Initially, these territorial agreements were meant to create a balance of power so that to prevent one country from dominating Europe. However, according to Metternich Austria and Prussia were defining their military forces, therefore if they united they would present an unconquerable barrier against any prince that may take the throne once again in Russia or France.
On the other hand, the Congress of Vienna didn’t recognize at first the strength of France, as it continued to not be weakened. They proceeded to put up barriers in order to delay any further expansions, thus attempting to weaken France’s ability to disrupt the peace. Additionally, a new kingdom in the Netherlands was established under King William I of the house of Orange, Piedmont was enlarged, and Prussia was given control of the east bank of the Rhine. Also, to replace the previous Napoleonic Confederation, the Congress of Vienna created the Germanic Confederation.
When Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France, it delayed the negotiations of the Congress of Vienna, however it did not change the agreement overall. Although the Congress of Vienna was able to avoid conflict for almost a century in Europe, their attempt to maintain the status quo met with partial success in the short term, but was bound to fail in the long term because it opposed the irresistible forces of historical change resulting from modernization. Those irresistible forces took the form of the dual revolutions of liberalism and nationalism.
As a result of the Congress of Vienna, the Quadruple Alliance and the Holy Alliance initiated a step towards European collaboration. Furthermore, the Concert of Europe , may be credited to the Congress of Vienna, although it did operate less than perfectly at times. In addition, the Congress was able to establish standard rules of diplomacy; however this disregarded any growing social changes that sparked revolution in 1848.
More interesting Articles:
Despite being one of the victors of the Napoleonic Wars the imperial power still faced a number of challenges, the main one being how to balance all the interests of the European powers who were growing in confidence daily. Read more about Castlereagh and Canning - British Foreign Policy 1815-1830
Sources
Picture Vienna
Picture Castlereagh
In 1814, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria met to ensure peace after the war. The Bourbon monarchy was restored in the way of Louis XVIII and all agreed to meet at the Congress of Vienna in September 14, 1814 to sign the peace settlement.Prince Klemens von Metternich was the leader of the Congress of Vienna, however he was both arrogant and self assured. He was guided by the principle of legitimacy, which simply preserved the traditional institution by restoring legitimate monarchs. This had been done in France with the Bourbons, however it was ignored else ware. The congress treated Poland in that fashion, in that Prussia and Austria could lay claim to Polish territories. A Polish kingdom was established with the Romanov Dynasty as monarchs. Poland was granted independence and foreign policy was under Russian control. Prussia and Austria also received compensation for their losses.
Initially, these territorial agreements were meant to create a balance of power so that to prevent one country from dominating Europe. However, according to Metternich Austria and Prussia were defining their military forces, therefore if they united they would present an unconquerable barrier against any prince that may take the throne once again in Russia or France.
On the other hand, the Congress of Vienna didn’t recognize at first the strength of France, as it continued to not be weakened. They proceeded to put up barriers in order to delay any further expansions, thus attempting to weaken France’s ability to disrupt the peace. Additionally, a new kingdom in the Netherlands was established under King William I of the house of Orange, Piedmont was enlarged, and Prussia was given control of the east bank of the Rhine. Also, to replace the previous Napoleonic Confederation, the Congress of Vienna created the Germanic Confederation.
When Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France, it delayed the negotiations of the Congress of Vienna, however it did not change the agreement overall. Although the Congress of Vienna was able to avoid conflict for almost a century in Europe, their attempt to maintain the status quo met with partial success in the short term, but was bound to fail in the long term because it opposed the irresistible forces of historical change resulting from modernization. Those irresistible forces took the form of the dual revolutions of liberalism and nationalism.
As a result of the Congress of Vienna, the Quadruple Alliance and the Holy Alliance initiated a step towards European collaboration. Furthermore, the Concert of Europe , may be credited to the Congress of Vienna, although it did operate less than perfectly at times. In addition, the Congress was able to establish standard rules of diplomacy; however this disregarded any growing social changes that sparked revolution in 1848.
More interesting Articles:
Despite being one of the victors of the Napoleonic Wars the imperial power still faced a number of challenges, the main one being how to balance all the interests of the European powers who were growing in confidence daily. Read more about Castlereagh and Canning - British Foreign Policy 1815-1830Sources
Picture Vienna
Picture Castlereagh
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Mysterious Green Flash at Strasbourg Cathedral
My personal writing friend is a translator and art historian; a passion that shows through his historical travels in Europe. He has written an interesting and intriguing piece about a mysterious green flash at Strasbourg Cathedral on two specific times during the year.
Francois Hagnere is a gem at sharing some of the inner workings of some of the most spectacular churches and cathedrals in the world.
Francois Hagnere is a gem at sharing some of the inner workings of some of the most spectacular churches and cathedrals in the world.
Twice a year, for the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, crowds throng into the Strasbourg cathedral. A mysterious light phenomenon appears at 11:38 on March 20, and September 21, it lasts several days. The patriarch Judah, an ancestor of the Christ, is featured in one of the South triforium windows and will be our guide. He looks towards the sun above his right shoulder whilst his index shows his left foot, thus indicating the sun goes through his green foot at a determined moment and from a certain angle. This stained glass window dates back to 1876 and the sun crosses the nave of the cathedral via this beautiful window on every sunny day and particularly on these dates.
Read more about the mysterious green light in Strasbourg Cathedral
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Romanesque Art and Symbolism: The Church of La Gripperie Saint-symphorien
Once again Francoise Hagnere stirs my curiosity with an amazing tale of La Gripperie in France. Whats interesting about this Church is the placement of the carvings. There are some over the arched doorways and in places you don't suspect.
Driving through the marshes, we suddenly reached the skirt of a wood. Here in the meadow was erected a gem of the Romanesque Art in Saintonge. A miraculous fountain where pilgrims used to come on August, 22, gave the church of La Gripperie Saint-Symphorien its reputation. The XIIth century parts and décor really are noteworthy.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Seaside Strongholds in Charente Maritime
The fort was built at the end of the XVIIIth century in order to ensure the protection of the mouth of the Charente, as well as the Royal Fountain. This fountain was erected in 1671 to supply the King’s ships in potable water from a source underneath the river. With those of Brest and Belle-Ile, the Fontaine Lupin remains one of the last three ships watering places of France. The ships built in the Rochefort arsenal all stopped here. The frigate L’Hermione, on which LaFayette set sail to America to help the Insurgents, was also fed here. The fort was built from 1683 to 1686 by the great engineer Vauban (1633-1707)and was listed in 1950. By Francoise Hagnere
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Picturesque Villages of Comminges
Francois Hagnere takes us on an incredible tour to the South of Toulouse, France, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
This little village of Saint-Bertrand de Comminges lies at the foot of the Pyrenees and was once famous on the Roman road from Toulouse to Luchon. Rising sheer from the hill, the true acropolis soon became a capital-city with the Roman Empire. In 72 BC, Pompey enabled the place to progress by leaps and bounds. Excavations provided valuable information about the ancient city, its forums, theatre and thermae.Read More about the Picturesque Villages of Comminges
More pieces by Francois Hagnere
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lascaux Cave
In Southwestern France, there lies a cave system that depicts some of the earliest Paleolithic Cave art, dating back about 17,000 years. Lascaux Cave was discovered in France’s Dordogne River Valley in September 1940 by teenagers, who were frolicking in the woods when their dog disappeared down a hole.
Image Source
Source
The Lascaux Cave has over 2000 figures depicted on the walls, 900 of those being various breeds of animals. The most famous section of the animal paintings is the “Great Hall of Bulls”, where stags, equines, and bulls are depicted. One of the bulls is 18 feet long, making it the largest cave art representation of an animal.
Due to the high levels of CO2 deteriorating the paintings caused by foot traffic and the humidity from the visitor’s breath, the cave was closed for visitors. Lascaux II was opened to the public in 1983 and rivaled the popularity of the original cave.
The debate over the ideology and reasoning for the cave painting continues, as many of these famous paintings were found at sites not meant to be seen by wanderers or tourists.
Image Source
Source
The Unicorn
The Lascaux Cave has over 2000 figures depicted on the walls, 900 of those being various breeds of animals. The most famous section of the animal paintings is the “Great Hall of Bulls”, where stags, equines, and bulls are depicted. One of the bulls is 18 feet long, making it the largest cave art representation of an animal.
Due to the high levels of CO2 deteriorating the paintings caused by foot traffic and the humidity from the visitor’s breath, the cave was closed for visitors. Lascaux II was opened to the public in 1983 and rivaled the popularity of the original cave.
The debate over the ideology and reasoning for the cave painting continues, as many of these famous paintings were found at sites not meant to be seen by wanderers or tourists.
