Oldest Painting

link

link

link

SULAWESI- Indonesia, is the island in which a discovery of hand paintings on the cave walls were found within the Maros (district) cave sites. Initially, the Leang Petta Kare cave's rock art was first discovered by Dutch archaeologist, Heeren-Palm in the 1950s. However, it wasn't studied and many archaeologists believed it to date up to 10,000 years old, in the times before the New Stone Age.

In this age of modern science and technology, discoveries of the painting's astonishing age has been determined through the latest phase of research and excavations by a team of Australian and Indonesian researchers in 2011. A report on their studies and finds have been published in October 8, 2014, detailing on their method in exacting the age of the rock paintings.

Present, on the cave wall is a hog-like animal named the babirusa (pig-deer) which is hand painted about 35,400 years ago, and accompanying it are hand stencils that has an age estimate of 39,000 years old, resulting it to be among the oldest known cave paintings in the world. The oldest is known to be in Spain, El Castillo cave, which dates to 40.000 years of age.

Looking at these images above gives off a surreal and chilling aura. The random placements of hands with a copper red halo surrounding them emanates a horror scene, one that truly belongs to a Shakespeare play. Much more with the fact that few of these hands has a thumb missing.......according to traditional practices, when one is in mourning, they would cut off their finger.....
Well, thanks to that, we get a much more interesting and horrifying painting for our eyes to see!

On the other 'hand', is this amazingly oldest figurative animal that's a pig-deer. Personally, I love this part of the rock painting....the animal isn't painted like many other animal figures found in Africa etc. There sure is a huge comparison between those figure paintings.
This animal is painted with strokes to portray the animal's coat...and is that shading that i see?
It is a known fact that Indonesia is a country which produces one of the finest arts and artists...so it shouldn't be surprising that the oldest known figure painting (and beautiful too) is located in Indonesia. These cave paint of Sulawesi sure does enhance the already rich culture of Indonesia. I do believe that excavating and studying these archaeological finds are really important in order to establish valuable rich cultures and knowledge.


Sources:
& For more details and information of Sulawesi cave paintings:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141008-cave-art-sulawesi-hand-science/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journey-oldest-cave-paintings-world-180957685/
http://www.dw.com/en/indonesian-cave-paintings-revolutionized-our-idea-of-human-art/a-17984021
http://jakartaglobe.id/features/exploring-leang-leang-caves-maros/

Museum Artifact P2.3 (Bastet)

Artifact 9007-03

03. Seated figure of the goddess Bastet

Late period, 664- 302 BC
Egypt 
Bronze

This bronze cat probably represents the goddess Bastet, whose main temple was at Bubastis in north-eastern Egypt. It was probably bought by a pilgrim at the temple and dedicated to the goddess in hope of ensuring a long life and a good burial. Bastet could be a terrifying and powerful lioness goddess, or a benevolent and calm one, incarnated as an elegant cat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apologies for the unclear pictures, it was due to the lighting..

Anyways, the figure of Bastet is rather small and to me it looks like any ordinary sleek cat. I thought there would have been something really eye-catching for the goddess Bastet's figures.

Though it does look a tad bit different from any ordinary cat figure..probably because of the bronze that it was made out off.


To me Bastet has always been an interesting goddess in the Egyptian mythologies and so it was nice to see a figure of her.
After all, I've always been one to love cats too!!

Carved relief

As was mentioned, cats are a symbol of Bastet and she is also shown with the appearance of a cat.
This is why cats hold importance in Egypt. They are assosciated to gods and goddesses, especially that to Bastet. One may even be confused between Bastet and the goddess Sekhmet, which I have covered briefly in my previous post.

Image

There are various other reasons to why cats were loved in Egypt which you could learn more at the click of the link below.
                        http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk

For better information about the goddess Bastet, you could learn more with just a click below.....
                      http://egyptian-gods.org/egyptian-gods-bastet/
                      http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/bast.html

Museum Artifact P2.2 Amulets

Artifact 9007-01 & 02

01. Chest Ornament with heart-scarab

Around 1275 BC
Probably from Memphis, Egypt
Blue, Red, Green and Yellow glazed composition


Heart-scarabs were a type of amulet in the form of a dung beetle. The beetle was associated with the sun god and symbolised the renewal of life. This scarab is set within an ornate chest-ornament in the shape of a shrine. It shows the goddess Isis and her sister Nephthys worshipping the scarab.
~ British Museum

----------------------------------------------------

Seeing this described as an amulet was rather astonishing for me. Plainly, I thought all amulets were small and comes in types of jewelry, not big 'blocks'. Though I have to say it was an interesting piece of amulet. It isn't all decorative and yet it still stands out.

Apparently, the heart scarab were normally used as amulets, jewelry or even funeral goods. Though it is said to be used mostly for the dead where the heart scarab would be placed over the heart, and under the bandage itself.

But what confused me at first was why the sun god, Khepri, is being associated with these amulets which are mostly used for the dead.
Shouldn't the Sun be representing life and light etc?

Khepri

I did my little research and came to an understanding that the Egyptians believed that these scarab beetles held powers which ensures rebirth in the afterlife.
And the assosciation it holds with Khepri, the sun god? It was believed that the Sun dies each night and reborns each morning as a scarab beetle. This is how death and rebirth are heavily assosciated with the said Sun god.

Moving on, of you were to look closely at the detailings at either side of the blue beetle, you'd notice two females with their hands raised, with symbols at the sides. To be precise, they are important deities in the Egyptian mythology. Isis and Nephthys. 


Both are sisters and were described as twins due to their very similar appearance. Some view Isis as the light of both sisters, and Nephthys as the darker one. Probably due to their positions and roles in Egyptian Mythology. 

Isis and Nephthys

Together, they represents day and night; Life and death; Growth and decay. This must be why they are carved into the scarab.


02. Wedjat- eye Amulet

Around 664-525 BC
Egypt
Blue, Black and Yellow glazed composition

The wedjat-eye represents the eye of the falcon-god Horus, which was believed to have been injured and subsequently healed. It signified “wholeness” and gave magical protection to the owner. Wedjat amulets were worn in life but also included in burials.
~British Museum

----------------------------------------
Amulets as are known in the Egyptian mythology, holds an important role for the people. They are especially used for protection. Though it narrows down to which deity is used and represented on an amulet.

For this amulet, its the eye of Horus, one of the most used type of amulets in life and death.

For further information:
9007-01
Scarab Amulets
Khepri
nephthys
9007-02
Eye of Horus

5,000 yrs old Woven Garment. Fashionable Indeed..

The world has labeled this very dress as the Oldest Woven Garment found up til today and this fashionable garment is at the age of 5,000 years old!

Originated from Egypt, this linen garment is considered to be rather fashionable. I mean..look at the knife pleated details at the top part of the dress, accompanied by a 'v' neckline! Its certainly what some of us would wear now!

Back to the pleatings, the horizontal way of pleating, seen around the shoulder leans more to the style of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.

But well, pleats has always been a huge factor in the Ancient Egypt fashion. Just look at all those relics and such..you'll recognize pleats everywhere.

This garment is known as the ' Tarkhan Dress' though the original length is unknown. To my guessing, I'd say that it would be a full length dress. After all, it is the most common for them Ancient Egyptian women to wear long dresses.

I have to say that it is very impressive as to how the garment was being constructed. Ancient Egyptians do try to have less sewing as possible in a garment and seeing that the pleats are still visible, though the garment is torn and damaged, it certainly is a wonder....

For more...
oldest garment ( about the 5000 yrs old)

Museum Artifact P2.1- Sekhmet

Ancient Egypt

The civilisation of Ancient Egypt emerged around 5,000 years ago when a number of independent city-states united under the rule of one king. For much of the next 3,000 years, Egypt was the leading power in the Mediterranean. The annual flooding of the River Nile created fertile earth for farming, a key factor in the civilisation’s prosperity and endurance. The pharaoh (ruler) was both high priest and military leader, responsible for the well-being of the state and the Egyptian people.

At different times in its history, Egypt extended its empire over neighbouring areas and itself endured long periods of foreign domination. But Egypt was also linked to other countries through trade, and many foreigners were integrated into Egyptian society. Egyptian culture nonetheless remained distinctive and aspects of its architecture, art and religion spread across the ancient world.

(The British Museum)

Artifact code 9006

Seated statue of the goddess Sekhmet
18th Dynasty, around 1350 B.C.
Probably from Thebes, Egypt
Granodiorite

The Egyptian goddess, Sekhmet was associated with destruction. Her name means "she who is powerful", and she is represented as a lion-headed woman. It is thought that over 700 statues of the goddess were set up at the mortuary temple of the pharaoh  Amenthotep
III (ruled 1390- 1352 BC) in western Thebes. Many were later moved to the temple of Mut at Karnak, where this example have been found.
(The British Museum)
------------------------------------------------------------------ As I first came in, the statue strucked me as Regal and Majestic. Though it made me felt rather....afraid!

Extra information:

   Sekhmet is known for being one of the oldest Egyptian deities. She is the Solar deity, the Warrior goddess, the goddess of healing etc.

   She is represented as a lion-headed goddess since the female lioness is the true hunter, as observed by the Egyptians.
 Most of her statues shows her holding the ankh of life.
 At times, it is also with the addition of a sun disc on her head as she is represented by the intensifying head of the sun.

The picture below is her supposed full form.
Unfortunately, the statue I saw in the museum, had no sceptre or sun disc.

Sekhmet

Image link

Sekhmet was eapecially idolized by King 

Amenhotep III. He had about 730 statues of 

her in his mortuary temple located at the      west of Thebe.

King Amenhotep

(1390- 1352 BC)

King Amenhotep Mortuary Temple

Four statues dug out of the 

Mortuary Temple.

Seated and standing.

Links for more information:

Sekhmet

http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/sekhmet.html

http://www.landofpyramids.org/sekhmet.htm

King Amenhotep III

http://www.ancient.eu/Amenhotep_III/

Statues of Sekhmet found, Br Museum

http://culturalinstitute.britishmuseum.org/asset-viewer/black-granite-statues-of-sekhmet/RQFdNRe9Vluofw?hl=en

Museum Artifact Part I

A month ago, I visited the Treasures of the Museum which was where the British Museum loaned us few of its amazing artifacts. It was a brilliant showcase of artifacts from all around the world and from different time periods. Every artifact looks stunning in their own ways and i was amazed by the history behind them. So here I am sharing the pictures and historical facts about most of the artifacts I've seen.

Stone Handaxe
Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania/ Lower Palaeolithic
About 800,000 years old/ Quartzite

This handaxe is a masterpiece of the stone toolmaker's art. It is made from quartz with amethyst banding, a difficult material from which to fashion tools because of its extreme hardness.

First made in Africa, the use of handaxes spread to South Asia, the Middle East and Europe about 1 million years ago. They were used to skin animals and to work wood.

Pandora

How did people kept up with trends in past centuries if there were no fashion magazines?
How did they manage to dress up in latest style throughout countries?

Well, that is where Pandora is the answer.
Pandoras was, during the 18th century, the only available update on fashion. They were fashion dolls, dressed in the latest of fashion, from the hairstyles down to the makeup, and passed throughout the European countries. Seemingly, they were more accurate than the words of mouth.

Pandoras came in various sizes and designs. Grande pandore were life-sized dolls, frequently dressed in Court attire, and Petit Pandore, miniature dolls, usually dressed in Informal attire.

These dolls were mostly made in France, which was the capital of Fashion, what not with Marie Antoinette as icon. Rose Bertin, Antoinette's seamstress was the one who brought back these wax dolls after they ceased in the 17th century. With the dolls making an appearance again, dressed with such outrageous dresses, they bacame popular. So popular til they were given safe passages throughout Europe, during Napoleon's blockade.

Pandoras were first gifted by Antoinette to her sisters and mother. From there, they were passed to the other Royalty and to the wealthier people, down to the seamstress who later passed it on to the poor New York who were always a trend behind.
Once advertisements and magazines came out, Pandoras were rarely used. They are nowadays either made as decorations or are placed in museums as historical pieces.
Old or new, I think they look stunning.