Humanities Unit 1

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3WHY STUDYHUMANITIES? Students can learn to understand themselves better by studying the nature of humankind in disciplines within the humanities such as music, poetry, and art. If they take the time to look at great art and listen to enlightening music, they can learn to appreciate things around them that they might ordinarily miss. In the fast- paced life of today, events go by so rapidly that people often miss out on wonderful glimpses that artists see. If only they took the time to notice, then they too could grasp the deeper meanings of the many works that are out there just waiting for them to celebrate.

The humanities invite all people, no matter who they are, to become part of a world of seeing and feeling that brings them closer to living a life that helps them to fi nd themselves. The humanities facilitate our ability to feel and to realize that to be human is to be a person fi lled with emotions.

People will go through times when they feel happy and when they feel sad. It is alright to be expressive. It is a plus to be able to express feelings and emotions. The humanities offer hope to those who are emotional and to those who are different. They are subjects that embrace peoples’ differences and accept people for who they are.

Studying humanities helps students fi nd greater depth of meaning when they look at great art, read fi ne literature and poetry, listen to great music, and watch great fi lms, dance, and theater. Learning to appreciate masterpieces of art, enjoying symphony music, and understanding classic fi lms become enjoyable.

Of course, this appreciation of the humanities depends upon where people live or have lived, because all of their opinions and ideas make up who they are, what they are interested in, and how they view the world. The way they are now is a refl ection of what they have been interested in before taking a humanities course. Some students have already been involved in the theater, played in a symphony or band, or taken piano lessons, while other students were not exposed to these activi- ties during their childhood. For this reason, it is assumed that most students are reading about information that they have not studied before, and it may take some historical and symbolic background research to fully benefi t from the entire experi- ence. However, with a little time and study, the experience can become extremely valuable and, eventually, enjoyable.

According to Doris Van de Bogart, professor and author of Introduction to the Humanities, if a student goes to college and studies humanities he or she will have the understanding and background to live a life wherein they will never be bored. Why is that the case? According to Dr. Van de Bogart, there are so many areas to discover and there are so many new fi ndings every year in the humanities fi eld that students who are interested in the humanities will always fi nd new areas of study.

12 What Are the Humanities?

In a region south of Cairo and north of Aswan, Egypt, there are many sites where the ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs. This area is referred to as the “Valley of the Kings.” The tombs of many pharaohs are here, including that of Tutankhamun, who was only a boy when he became king. His tomb was found in 1922 by archeologist Howard Carter, and it is considered significant because the mummy was intact. South of the Valley of the Kings is a temple built by a famous pharaoh named Ramses II to represent his power and might. The temple’s exterior has four large sculptures bear- ing the pharaoh’s likeness. The temple and the sculptures had to be moved when the Aswan Dam was built. Construction of the dam caused that area of Egypt to flood. The temple, called “Abu Simbel,” and the sculptures were relocated to higher ground. Next to Abu Simbel is a temple erected to Nefertari, a favorite wife of Ramses II.

Ancient Egypt There are new finds in Humanities in many areas of the world. In the areas of ancient Egypt, there have been new tombs that have been found in the last twenty years which have not been completely opened or excavated. Over the past few years, there have been more theories about the building of the pyramids discussed by professional archeolo- gists. Students who like to travel and who like to study about the past and how the past influences the way people live today find that studying people from other areas of the world becomes very fascinating. Students find that using the computer to look up sites and find maps and geographical and archeological sites will learn a lot about interesting artifacts and important people. I challenge you to do more than just read the book.

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Why Study Humanities? 13

In ancient Mesopotamia, there are new discoveries about the ziggurats and other developments that are being uncovered which have come to light by archeologists in the past fifteen years. There is much exciting research to be done, which will be dis- cussed later in the course. New research is being discovered and in Humanities, new developments constantly occur, making the study of Humanities a vibrant experience for any student.

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The Boy King—a Pharaoh from ANCIENT EGYPT Found by Howard Carter, benefactor name Lord Carnarvon from Great Britain

At age nine, the boy king became King Tut when he was made the pharaoh (king). It is said by most historians that he was only nineteen when he died accidently. The cause of his death is not known. There was an autopsy done a few years ago on his mummy and it was perceived that he died from a blow to his skull. This is not proven. He may have been on a chariot. The treasures in his tomb were made of wood and painted gold. His helmet was on his body. His body as a mummy was preserved.

The reason his tomb was so significant was that his body was still intact and had not been stolen by grave robbers. Often in ancient times other graves had been inside tombs and thieves stole the bodies with their gold helmets and rings and precious gold jewelry. That is why when the archeologist Howard Carter in 1922 found the tomb of King Tut, it was fantastic. To be able to locate the tomb and have the many treasures still in the tomb plus the body in the tomb intact was amazing. To think that the body was still mummified and the sarcophagus (containers: which there were three all together) was there with the gold around the body was truly an amazing find. Also, Carter decided to leave the treasures found in the tomb in the country of Egypt so today the pieces are housed in the Cairo Museum.

14 What Are the Humanities?

ABU SIMBEL The temple which had to be moved to higher ground when the Aswan Dam was built in the late 1960s once sat on what is now Lake Nasir. To think that a temple could actually be moved block by block was unbelievable but true. Several countries were able to send funds and workers to the area south of the Aswan Dam to the place where Ramses II’s temple Abu Simbel was built. I am sure that if you look at the film about this operation you will be absolutely amazed. Flying over it, you can see the imitation mountain that was built to raise the place that the workers had to lift and move piece by piece. Each of the blocks they cut, marked, numbered, and then put back to make the temple look just like it did at the time of Ramses II.

This temple is phenomenal. It sits next to the water just down from the other tem- ple to his favorite wife Nefertari. (Do not mix this name with the person named Nefer- titi, a famous and beautiful queen. There is a sculpture in the Neues Museum in Berlin of her that is exquisite.)

The temple to his wife was also moved block by block and pieced back together. Visitors can go inside to see the columns that are in the likeness of Ramses II.

There are marvelous wall paintings of frescos on the wall outlining the accomplish- ments of Ramses II which reflect his travels and his power. On the walls of the temple of Abu Simbel it shows in hieroglyphics that he won a war of Kadesh with the Hittites.