Writing assingment about Figure of Isis-Aphrodite and Bronze mirror support in the form of a nude gir
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artz.docxZulal Sapoglu
Art of Western World I
Figure of Isis-Aphrodite
Alexandria is one of the most important and centred place of Greek Culture on the Mediterranean. It connets the Roman trade rotues to the deserts in Afrika and the East. Alexandria transforms one of the most important "intellectual centers" of the Christian Church in the mid-second century. In 392 A.D., most of the Egyptian temples are closed by Byzantine emperor's command. Also,it is known that the oldest hieroglyphic inscriptions from Philae dates to 394 A.D. Egypt has a dry climate and the humudity level is so low and accordding their culture, Egyptian people burry their deads with their clothes (covering them with shawls and hangings). It supports and helps them to protect a lot of textiles. Isis-Aphrodite is the form of the great goddess Isis that indicates the fertility. She has a very important connection with marriage, childbirth, and also rebirth. She has a 'calathos' in her head which is the crown of Egyptian Greco-Roman divinities detailed with a tiny disk and horns of Isis. All of these details and accessories support and indicate her nudity. Because it is compressed, frontal and upright pose and also founded in burials, it can be said that it is an Egyptian work.These features relate to pharaonic prototypes which has a connection with the afterlife.
Bronze mirror support in the form of a nude gir
During the Archaic period, Greek art became more naturalistic and paintings evolved
from geometric designs to representations of human figures. In sculpture, faces were animated with the characteristic “Archaic smile,” and the bodies were represented with a growing attention to human proportion and anatomy.The nude girl remains on a frog, and the hints of feline feet at her shoulders probably had a place with creatures that aided in the help of the mirror disk. She wears a band enhanced with a ring and special necklaces and grasps cymbals. This figure was presumably made by a Laconian craftsman. She might be connected with Artemis Orthia, whose cult (religious figure) was important at the Laconian city of Sparta. The parts of her body are well- integrated and proportioned.
Similarities and Differences
If we look at the similarities and differences of these two works, it can be said that both are a naked female figure and sculptures. Nudity to the ladies is a common feature of these two cultures (Greek and Egypt) , as well as it indicates the perspective on women's beauty of the two different periods. At the same time, two sculptures symbolize feminine characteristics such as fertility, rebirth and marriage. The accessories (Ring, necklace and crescent.-shaped amulet) found in two works may indicate that these women are symbolized by an elderly and important person in their own culture. At the same time, the materials used in their construction are expensive, and this may prove that they may be a wedding gift or a work dedicated to an important person of the period. The accessories found in the two works can be said that they have a same purpose which is indicating the power and importance. The Nude Girl is made by bronze and the Isis-Aphrodite's material is Terracotta painted brown, black, red, and pink on white engobe. At the same time, their dimensions are different. The nude girl is 21.9 cm when the Isis-Aphrodite is 12.5 cm. It can be said that the Nude girl is almost twice as big. The periods and cultures they belong are different. The Nude girl is from Archaic Period and Greek, Laconian culture when Isis- Aphrodite is from Roman Period and Egyptian culture. As the Nude girl stands on a frog, it can be seen that Isis- Aphrodite is standing on her feet alone. Also, it can be said that both body shapes and proportions are very different from each other, despite both are naked and emphasis the women's beauty point of view of that time. Men and women are generally very althletic, muscular, well-built and has a fit body shape in the Greek art, so it can be a proof that the importance of sports in their culture. That is why it can be seen that the Nude girl has a more athletic and more fit body, comparing to Isis-Aphrodite's slightly overweight and non-athletic body shape. This proves the beauty perception of women between Egypt and Greek cultures. To mention the last difference, the Nude Girl is made of only bronze and no additional coloring is found. But when it is looked at Isis-Aphrodite it can seen that red tones are used on her cheeks and calathos in her head.
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