Roman

 East Facade of the Ara Pacis 

Female Personification

Rome, Italy 13-9 BCE 

Panel from the East (Back) Facade of the Altar

The Ara Pacis Augustae, translated to mean "Altar of Augustan Peace" was commissioned by the Roman senate to be build in honor the established peace in the empire that came from Caesar Augustus's victories. The altar was meant to be a vision to civil Roman religion, envisioned as a Roman Goddess. 

Augustus was an advocate of the family life, and ultimate growth in his empire and kingdom. Children and the divine role of the family unit was brought into view a little more with Caesar Augustus's reign in the Roman Period. 

The Goddess in the paneled marble is Tellus/Italia, she being the goddess equivalent to "Mother Earth". Pax, the goddess of Peace, Ceres (goddess of grain), and even Venus have also been suggested to be the woman in the facade. Tellus/Italia is the popular choice from art historians and has the most identifiable symbols and surroundings. The seated Matron has two babes in her lap (Romulus & Remus- twins) epitomizing the fruits of the Pax Augusta. All around her the beautiful earth is in bloom, a setting so ideal and heavenly. On her left the fowls of the air are represented, on the right the animals of the sea, and near her feat the beasts of the earth- all different animal species living peacefully side by side. With the three Roman elements of Earth, Sky, and Water present it was to show her established peace over the whole world. 

The rear panel of a Roman altar dedicated to the divinity of this Goddess of Femininity said a lot about the culture of the Romans, it being very different from the usual male figures. The white marble softens the scene adding to the curvature of the lines. The drapery gives personifications of a refreshing breeze upon their bodies. The Roman detail of hair  and classical ideal beauty comes out within Tellus and the babes themselves. How wonderful it is to see such art work that establishes motherhood and procreation as a godly attainment. 

Ara Pacis Augustae
(Altar of Augustan Peace)

Ancient Greece

Peplos Kore

Acropolis (Athens, Greece)

530 BCE 

Unlike the Egyptian and Mesopotamia deities, the Greek gods and goddesses differed from human beings only in that they were immortal. It has been said that Greeks made their Gods into humans and their humans into Gods. Interesting how they found a relating connection between the two. I liked how they thought one could transcend into the other. 

After reading about this statue, I was drawn more to it. The sixth century BCE sculpture renders a soft female form that is much more natural than the other masculine, defined sculptures of men during the same time period. 

The woman of whom the statue was made was formally known as Peplos Kore. Recently scholars thought that she wore a "peplos"- simple, long, woolen belted garment. After careful examination of the statue, it was realized that she wears four different garments, one of which only goddesses wore. I liked the connection the Greek people made to sacred garments and their Gods, it's interesting to think if the garments had certain symbolism for them. The missing left hand of the goddess would have identified her by the attribute she held. I kind of like the missing identification because then anyone could have fit into her position. 

If there was one Goddess that I'd assume this was it would be either Hera (Juno) or Aphrodite (Venus). Hera was the wife of Zeus, the almighty God whom may have administered the purpose of the garment. Hera was also known as the goddess of marriage. The other fitting Goddess, Aphrodite was the daughter to the almighty Zeus. She was the goddess of love and beauty, of which the garments would only add to. 

Egyptian

Great Pyramids, Gizah

Architectural Wonders Built for the Divine

2490-2472 BCE

 

The Egyptians had a much different view of Deity and the nature of God and his creation of earth than their neighbors near the Mediterranean/Eastern worlds. They envision that at the time of creation, God brought light into the world on a large mound. Later the mound was formalized into a pyramid structure and form. The pyramid stone, called the benben supported one of the Gods the Egyptians idolized; the God being the Supreme God- even the God of the Sun. The architectural structures of pyramids were constructed as a place for the transition to the afterlife and in ascension to the heavens.  The larger pyramids being the tombs, temples, and sanctuaries for the men and some had smaller ones near as a place of tomb, temple, and sanctuary for their wife/wives. 75 years was consumed in the building of the Great Pyramids in Gizah. They believed that the supreme God also created the first of the other Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. This particular God and creator also brought into the world the primary male and female forces in the universe. Talk about Deity- Egypt worshipped those on earth 

Hatshepsut

Woman Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty

1492-1479 BCE

Among the Goddesses created by the Sun God, may have been Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was a mortal woman that was made King on earth and then glorified by the people as a God in the afterlife. Her husband, the 4th Pharoah, passed away and she being the highly esteemed wife proclaimed herself Pharaoh. Hatshepsut is one of the first great female monarchs whose name has been recorded. For two decades of her rule it was said to be the most powerful and prosperous empire in the world. This head statue of Hatshepsut resides at the Luxor in Egypt. 

Ancient Near Eastern

Hummurabi and Shamash 

Susa, Iran 

1780 BCE 

The Near Eastern region gave birth to three of the world's greatest modern faiths- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Sumerians and their successors in the ancient Near East worshipped numerous deities, mostly nature Gods. The Mesopotamian God depicted in this Babylonian stele was that of Shamash, the Sun God. Shamash, the Sun God, is depicted with flames radiating from his shoulders. The Sumerian idea that the Gods reside above the world of humans is central to most of the world's religions. This Babylonian stele is unique because it shows a man in the presence of a God.  

Hammurabi was the king of Babylon in the early 18th Century. He was Babylon's most powerful king that reestablished a centralized government and is widely known for his specific law code. The Sumerian rulers were esteemed as the gods' representatives on earth and the stewards of their earthly treasures. 

The Babylonian stele shows the direct relationship between King and God. The Sun God, Shamash, is extending to Hammurabi the symbols of his authority to govern and enact laws. The symbols were a ring and a rod, both derive from builder's tools- measuring rods and coiled rope- the ruler's capacity to build the social order and to measure people's lives, that is, to render judgements and enforce the laws spelled out on the stele. 
The focus on the unique relationship between Deity and Kingship of this time period is fascinating. What I like most about this tablet is the condescension of God down to man- it showing the sacred relationship between the two. I couldn't help but to relate Hummurabi to Moses, both given laws from God to give unto the people.