The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great Exhibit at Field Museum

The most comprehensive exhibition of Greek art and artifacts ever to tour outside Greece opened at the Field Museum of Chicago on November 25. This highly recommended show will be on view until April 10. From Chicago, it will move to the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. and be on display from May 26 through October 9.

The Greeks were a diverse group of peoples inhabiting mainland Greece and the Greek islands, and, in ancient times, the coast of what is now Turkey. They shared a common language and religion, and many of the same political institutions.

Over the course of the several millennia of their ascendancy, the Greeks passed through a variety of social formations: from early class societies on the basis of the “Neolithic Revolution” in agriculture that began some 10,000 years ago in western Asia to the societies, based to a large degree on slave labor, which provided the material basis for a flowering of Greek culture and politics.

“Classical beauty,” wrote Hegel in his Aesthetics, “with its infinite range of content, material, and form is the gift vouchsafed to the Greek people, and we must honour this people for having produced art in its supreme vitality.”

The Greeks is organized by the Canadian Museum of History and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports in partnership with National Geographic Society and The Field Museum. The exhibition is co-presented in Chicago by The Field Museum and the National Hellenic Museum. The exhibition is developed by the Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Culture and Sports – Directorate General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage (Athens, Greece), The Field Museum (Chicago, USA), the Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau, Canada), the National Geographic Museum (Washington, DC, USA) and Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archeology and History Complex (Montréal, Canada).

The Field Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.

Check out the full story on World Socialist  and the exhibit on the Field Museum website.

Breasts In Mesopotamia

It's not that type of article so stop those dirty minds from churning. It's breast cancer awareness month and AllMesopotamia has not only reminded us of that, but they compiled an excellent article on Mesopotamian sculptures which depict mother's nursing, mother goddesses, love, evil, and some other pieces of note.

As expected, Mesopotamians associated the female form with fertility. Many statues believed to be those depicting fertility have been unearthed throughout Mesopotamia. They usually feature mother goddesses with prominent breasts held up suggestively with folded arms underneath (see below), while some statues feature only one of the breasts being held up as if it were an offering.

A statue from Samarra, ca. 6000 BC, believed to be of a mother goddess, with exaggerated breasts being held up for prominence. (Source)

Read the Entire Article: Breasts in Mesopotamia

The Etruscan Mystery

The Etruscan's civilization was based on the celebration of art and ceramics, sexuality, and pure knowledge of all things that make one unique.  It would take centuries to explain the influence of their lives upon modern civilizations, but PastHorizons has completed an exceptional background on the Etruscans.

Using new scientific analysis and documentation as well as several projects, including the Marsiliana D’Albegna Project, which has so far uncovered a residential area of Marsiliana comprising of Poggio del Castello, Uliveto di Banditella and Poggio di Macchiabuia, Pasthorizons sheds light on a completely new aspect of Etruscan living.

At the beginning of the Iron Age, the Villanovan culture was an organic element of Etruscan society with no well-defined hierarchical structure, government or political borders. Distinct from Greek culture from which it drew profound influences, the Etruscan civilisation sprung to importance in the 8th century BCE at the end of which rich aristocracies began to emerge. Deriving influences from the eastern Mediterranean, this Orientalising period was marked by the importation of ceramics and metals.

Read the entire story: Life and Death of an Etruscan Settlement By Pasthorizons

“The Sounds of Prehistory”

“The Sounds of Prehistory” is a performance that took place at the XXIV Valcamonica Symposium, using Paleolithic musical instruments.

 

The Valcamonica Symposia brings out the most skilled specialists in prehistoric and tribal art, but it’s also a platform to share skills and knowledge in an interdisciplinary context, which often includes prehistory, archeology, anthropology, ethnology, story of the art, story of the religions, psychology, philosophy and linguistics. 

The video is in Italian, but the samples of prehistoric music are relatable to all art and music lovers. Enjoy!

Jim O'Donnell Photographs The Nazca Lines

© Jim O'Donnell

Jim O'Donnell from Around the World in Eighty Years tells an amusing and delightful tail of his flight over the Nazca lines. It does, however, involve a cocktail called Pisco Sours and a young, drunken archaeologist, so please keep an open mind. Let's face it, sometimes it takes a little liquid courage to face some of our fears. Jim may have had a tad too much considering his foggy memory, however his story telling keep me captivated and cracking up til the very end.

The Nazca lines as most of you know, are giant geoglyphs spread across the arid Nazca plateau between Nazca and Palpa. The lines themselves were created sometime between 400 and 650AD and are comprised of everything from straight lines to geometric shapes to stylized depictions of spiders, monkeys, orcas, lizards and, of course, the famous hummingbirds. The largest of the figures are nearly 700 feet across. Some of the lines stretch for tens of miles. ~Jim O'Donnell

Read Jim O'Donnell's full story entitled "This Don’t Take No Skill – Photographing Peru’s Nazca Lines"

German archaeologists recover Nazi-era ‘degenerate art’

Subway workers and archaeologists in Berlin have discovered a trove of early 20th-century art that was thought to be destroyed by the Nazi regime.

Workers building a new subway line in the German capital stumbled onto the remains of sculptures that were part of a list of ‘degenerate art’ the Nazi regime deemed too Jewish or un-German.

No one is entirely sure how the sculptures survived Nazi propagandists and the Second World War, although there is speculation that an anti-Nazi Berliner saved the works  from destruction. Der Spiegel also has a photo gallery of the works which are now housed in Berlin’s Neues Museum.

Read the entire story about  German archaeologists recover Nazi-era ‘degenerate art’

A Week With Photographer Landon Walker and 1149 Productions in Scotland Continues

Ancient Digger has had an amazing response to Landon Walker's black and white photography. I plan to share his work throughout the week, as it's a glorious breath of fresh air, and a break for me as I have several exams this week. *smile*

Landon is also the drummer for 1149 productions, a band I met maybe close to a year ago on Twitter. I have to confess, every time I'm studying for a test, I usually slip in their CD "Infinite Garden", featuring my favorite song At the Gates of Rossyln. It's just another reason why I have such a fascination with Scotland and its history.

Courtyard in Iona Abbey

Inside Iona Abbey

Inside Kilmore Church

Altar Inside Kilmore

Stain Glassed Window in Kilmore Church Depicting Christ and Mary Magdalene

This picture, of course, creates a lot of controversy. Christ is depicted in a loving embrace with his wife, Mary Magdalene. Many, however, believe this to be his mother. Although the woman is already pregnant in the panel. Open to interpretation I suppose.

Castle on an island on route to Mull

Druid Stone Circle more than 3000 yrs old

Who is Landon Walker?

My name is Landon Walker and I have lived in the U.S. Pacific Northwest my whole life with dreams of moving to Scotland someday. I first picked up photography in my late teens and simply ran with it. Through school courses, ample amounts of reading and online research, I have developed (and still am developing) a skill and passion that I will pursue my whole life.

My dream is to travel the world with my camera and to capture life in the many different lifestyles that God has blessed our diverse world with.

I seek God in all areas of my life and my love of photography and traveling comes nowhere near the love I have for the Father. I am blessed that He has given me an eye for photography and I thank Him for allowing me to pursue my passion for spirituality and art. I am a God fearing artist who loves life and will continue to capture its beauty not only through my lens, but through my very being as well.

---

Meet 1149 Productions

My hope is to see 1149 become multi-faceted to promote all the sacred arts and use such giftings to bless others. ~Mary Gunderson

Vocals/Composition: Mary Gunderson
Composition/Piano: Shaun Poore
Vocals: Nicole Walker
Drums/Photography: Landon Walker
Bass Guitar: Colin Walker
Video/Graphics: Rachael Gunderson

These inspiring individuals are the Worship team for "The Oneness Foundation" in NW Washington. Their beliefs are all-encompassing of all truths found in all religions.

Also check out

Monday Ground Up: The Brilliance Of Scotland Captured By Photographer Landon Walker

Resources:

All images © Landon Walker

Ancient Digger secured copyright privileges from the photographer prior to publishing.

Copyright : Images are subject to copyright and may not be used without consent of the photographer. Images copied off Ancient Digger are monitored and can be traced, so please keep this in mind.

Monday Ground Up: The Brilliance Of Scotland Captured By Photographer Landon Walker

I have the honor and esteemed pleasure of introducing Photographer Landon Walker to Ancient Digger.  This is the first time Landon's work has been featured on the web, so I am truly humbled he has allowed me to share his art with all of you.

I found out about Landon Walker, the drummer for 1149 productions, from Mary Gunderson, the gifted and inspiring lead singer of the band. Mary, Landon, Shaun, Nicole, Colin, and Rachael just spent a few weeks in Scotland marveling at the landscapes unrivaled by so many in the world. I can't say I wasn't jealous of their trip. In fact, I can only imagine gazing upon a place with so much history and I hope I get to experience it firsthand one day.

It's hard to capture this kind of perfection on film, but Landon has managed to do so in his shots of Scotland. The imagery is perfection. The historical significance is present. I was awe struck and enamored, and just couldn't tear myself away from these shots. One can only imagine seeing Scotland through the eyes of an artist. Welcome Landon Walker.

Who is Landon Walker?

My name is Landon Walker and I have lived in the U.S. Pacific Northwest my whole life with dreams of moving to Scotland someday . I first picked up photography in my late teens and simply ran with it. Through school courses, ample amounts of reading and online research, I have developed (and still am developing) a skill and passion that I will pursue my whole life.

My dream is to travel the world with my camera and to capture life in the many different lifestyles that God has blessed our diverse world with.

I seek God in all areas of my life and my love of photography and traveling comes nowhere near the love I have for the Father. I am blessed that He has given me an eye for photography and I thank Him for allowing me to pursue my passion for spirituality and art.
I am a God fearing artist who loves life and will continue to capture its beauty not only through my lens, but through my very being as well.

Landon Walker's Brilliant Scotland Photography

Blair Castle

Cemetary outside of The Church of the Holy Rood

The Streets of Stirling

Cannons along the Outer Wall of Stirling Castle

The Ferry at the Isle of Mull

Lighthouse along the Ferry Route to the Isle of Mull

Iona Abby on the Isle of Iona

Cave Entrance to Ancient Site of Meditation

Pathway to Mt. Schiehallion

Altar made of Crystal Quartz upon Mt. Schiehallion

Highland Sheep

Panoramic View from atop Mt. Schiehallion

Meet 1149 Productions

My hope is to see 1149 become multi-faceted to promote all the sacred arts and use such giftings to bless others. ~Mary Gunderson

Vocals/Composition: Mary Gunderson
Composition/Piano: Shaun Poore
Vocals: Nicole Walker
Drums/Photography: Landon Walker
Bass Guitar: Colin Walker
Video/Graphics: Rachael Gunderson


These inspiring individuals are the Worship team for "The Oneness Foundation" in NW Washington. Their beliefs are all-encompassing of all truths found in all religions.

Final Thoughts:

I find it incredible that everyone of these individuals has a very special gift to share with all of us. Whether through photography, music, or the arts, I think 1149 will change the world. How often can you say that?

Resources:

All images © Landon Walker

Ancient Digger secured copyright privileges from the photographer prior to publishing.

Copyright : Images are subject to copyright and may not be used without consent of the photographer. Images copied off Ancient Digger are monitored and can be traced, so please keep this in mind.

Monday Ground Up: Distinctive Characteristics of Renaissance Art And Artists

Renaissance art has been characterized as an individualistic approach to humanism, where an eye of an artist interprets what they see everyday. The interpretations may have been realistically based and the emphasis on naturalism was used to persuade onlookers that an object was real-both living and breathing in the eyes of the artist. The standards reflected a focus of the human form and the social, political, and religious aspects of the time.

The Tribute Money, fresco in the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence.

Giotto originally began the imitation of nature, however Massacio frescoes in Brancacci Chapel are the first masterpieces of Early Renaissance art. The use of realism to reflect perspective and a relationship between a figure and the landscape, bore a new type of painting and sculpture of dimensions. Other painters, such as Paulo Uccello used mathematical equations to determine space and light. However, this experimentation was more often opportunistic to showcase his mastery of perspective.

Part of the court in Florence was a circle of artists that were interested in Greek and Roman mythology. Sandro Botticelli's famous work, "Primavera" was a removal from realism. The emphasis was on the female form in a naturalistic way, with somewhat of an unworldly quality.

Donatello constructed "David", which first stood in the courtyard of the Medici Palace. The statue was heroic, simple and humanistic.

Architectural art was of great importance, especially since 1296 when the Duomo had just started being built. Brunelleschi drew his inspiration for the completion of the Duomo from Roman antiquity, so he devised a dome to finish the Duomo, which would span over a 140-foot opening.

Federico III da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. Portrait

by Piero della Francesca, 1492.

One of the most influential  movements was that of human individuality in their present political or social state. Patrons and aristocrats found themselves painted into the corners of sacred pictures and depicted in statues. Piero della Francesca started capturing a new sense of political power and social standing of his subjects. Of course, this carried over to the High Renaissance where Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo re-focused a humanistic and individual aspect of painting and sculpture towards their commissioned works for the papacy, aristocrats, and political figures.

Leonardo's "Last Supper" depicted an idealism of dismay and a profound psychological dimension. Movement of the figures embodied a living story, brought to live with the stroke of a brush.

Raphael, under commission from the church, painted frescoes in the Vatican, his most famous being the "School of Athens". His art was a classical depiction of social meetings in Greece and Rome.

Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was said that the two were constantly arguing over Michelangelo's need to keep each section covered. Pope Julius was very impatient, however when his eyes were finally able to view the splendor of the masterpiece, he had tears in his eyes. Michelangelo depicted the Creation of Adam, as well as the scenes from the book of Genesis. He believed the more perfect the body, the more God-like the figure.

Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

A copy of the statue standing in the original location of David, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

This would explain his depiction of David, which is far more heroic and masculine looking than Donatellos. The statue had originally been placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the Florentine government, thereby representing resolve and human power.

The Renaissance is deemed as being the age of enlightenment. There was a new vision of humanism and experimentation with new forms of artistic expression. It's one of those most admired times in history, at least, that's what I believe. How about you?

More Articles By the Author on Factoidz:

• Numbers Theory
• Cachtice Castle, Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and the Murders of Vienna
• The Versailles of Spain
• Rene Descartes: I Think, Therefore I Am
• Leonardo Da Vinci: The Artist That Solved The Riddle of Earthshine
• The Scientific Revolution Changed the Way Europe Viewed the Universe Medicine and Thinking
• The Causes of the Great Schism
• The Renaissance Papacy at the End of the Great Schism

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Bongos for Peace By Richard Thripp from Daytona State College

I met Richard Thripp two years ago at Daytona State College where he proceeded to give me a well thought out and inspiring philosophical discussion about religion in this country. He's a genuine person and wonderful photographer.