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Why Did Ancient Art Man Use Animals To Depict Their Deities

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I have a few theories as to why ancient man used animals to depict their deities. First I’ll start with Prehistoric Art. As far back as 30,000 B.C.E. man created pictures of nature. From paintings on cave walls to sculptures carved of rock from within the cave, prehistoric man paid tribute by creating art in the form of animals such as bulls, bison, horses, bears, and even felines. To these people these animals were a life source. Not only as food but for warmth, weapons and tools. By worshipping these creatures with art man believed they were showing gratitude therefore ensuring more animals would come. As seen with the Wounded Bison at the Cave of Altamira in Northern Spain, these bison were painted on the cave ceiling. Man noticed the bulges in the rock and chose to paint the creature it resembles most even though it may have been difficult to reach. As though it was a calling of a higher power, man would build scaffoldings against the walls to allow themselves better access to their canvas. With the Egyptians their …show more content…

With these visual representations for their gods and Pharaohs it’s easy to believe that the people of Egypt lived in fear. For breaking Pharaohs laws would enact the wrath of the gods bringing famine, floods, or drought. In this picture of the Palette of King Narmer, the Pharaoh is depicted as larger than the other people in the relief. This size difference was to establish the authority and power of the king. “On one side of the Palette, King Narmer holds a fallen enemy by the hair, as he raises his mace -an emblem of kingship- with the other hand. On the other side of the Palette, Narmer appears in the highest register now wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt.” (Janson’s

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