PrehistoricPrehistoricbefore recorded history: before recorded history: relating relating to the period before history was first to the period before history was first

recorded in writing.recorded in writing.

PaleolithicPaleolithic

Art, art produced from about 32,000 Art, art produced from about 32,000 to 11,000 years ago, during the to 11,000 years ago, during the Stone Age. It falls into two main Stone Age. It falls into two main categories: portable pieces, such as categories: portable pieces, such as small figurines or decorated objects, small figurines or decorated objects, and cave art.and cave art.

PaleolithicPaleolithic This so-called Venus figurine This so-called Venus figurine

from the area of Willendorf, from the area of Willendorf, Austria, is one of the earliest Austria, is one of the earliest known examples of known examples of sculpture, dating from about sculpture, dating from about 23,000 bc. The figure, which 23,000 bc. The figure, which is carved out of limestone, is is carved out of limestone, is only 11.25 cm (4.5 in) high, only 11.25 cm (4.5 in) high, and was probably designed and was probably designed to be held in the hand. It is to be held in the hand. It is believed the Venus may be believed the Venus may be a fertility symbol, which a fertility symbol, which would explain the would explain the exaggerated female exaggerated female anatomy.anatomy.

PaleolithicPaleolithic Cave Painting, Lascaux, France Cave Painting, Lascaux, France Paleolithic artists painted scenes in caves Paleolithic artists painted scenes in caves

more than 15,000 years ago, such as the more than 15,000 years ago, such as the one here found in Lascaux, France. The one here found in Lascaux, France. The leaping cow and group of small horses leaping cow and group of small horses were painted with red and yellow ochre were painted with red and yellow ochre that was either blown through reeds onto that was either blown through reeds onto the wall or mixed with animal fat and the wall or mixed with animal fat and applied with reeds or thistles. It is believed applied with reeds or thistles. It is believed that prehistoric hunters made these that prehistoric hunters made these paintings to gain magical powers that paintings to gain magical powers that would ensure a successful hunt.would ensure a successful hunt.

PaleothicPaleothic

NeolithicNeolithic

NeolithicNeolithic

Pottery was the prime medium of Pottery was the prime medium of Neolithic art; other important artistic Neolithic art; other important artistic expressions were statuary of the expressions were statuary of the universally worshiped Mother universally worshiped Mother Goddess and megalithic stone Goddess and megalithic stone monuments devoted to religion or monuments devoted to religion or cults of the dead.cults of the dead.

NeolithicNeolithic

Stonehenge, prehistoric monument on Stonehenge, prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, north of Salisbury, in Salisbury Plain, north of Salisbury, in southwestern England, that dates from the southwestern England, that dates from the late Stone and early Bronze ages (about late Stone and early Bronze ages (about 3000-1000 bc). The monument, now in 3000-1000 bc). The monument, now in ruins, consists of a circular group of large ruins, consists of a circular group of large upright stones surrounded by a circular upright stones surrounded by a circular earthwork. Stonehenge is the best earthwork. Stonehenge is the best preserved and most celebrated of the preserved and most celebrated of the megalithic monuments of Europe.megalithic monuments of Europe.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art    The buildings, sculpture, painting, The buildings, sculpture, painting,

and decorative arts of ancient Egypt and decorative arts of ancient Egypt from about 5000 bc to the conquest from about 5000 bc to the conquest of Egypt by Rome in 30 bc.of Egypt by Rome in 30 bc.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art Much is known of the Egyptians because of Much is known of the Egyptians because of

hieroglyphics, picture writing.hieroglyphics, picture writing.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art

Most Egyptians never saw the art Most Egyptians never saw the art that is now displayed in museums, that is now displayed in museums, because only kings and members of because only kings and members of the ruling elite were allowed to enter the ruling elite were allowed to enter temples, tombs, and palaces. But the temples, tombs, and palaces. But the Egyptians had in mind another Egyptians had in mind another audience for their art: the gods and, audience for their art: the gods and, for the art in tombs, the spirits of for the art in tombs, the spirits of people who had died.people who had died.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art Death Mask of Death Mask of

Tutankhamun Tutankhamun The death mask of The death mask of

Egyptian pharaoh Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun is made Tutankhamun is made of gold inlaid with of gold inlaid with colored glass and colored glass and semiprecious stone. semiprecious stone. The mask comes from The mask comes from the innermost mummy the innermost mummy case in the pharaoh’s case in the pharaoh’s tomb, and stands 54 tomb, and stands 54 cm (21 in) high.cm (21 in) high.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art Nefertiti Nefertiti This painted limestone This painted limestone

bust of the ancient bust of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti Egyptian queen Nefertiti dates from about 1350 bc dates from about 1350 bc (Staatliche Museen, (Staatliche Museen, Berlin). Wife of Akhenaton, Berlin). Wife of Akhenaton, Nefertiti supported and Nefertiti supported and assisted her husband in assisted her husband in implementing new implementing new religious ceremonies religious ceremonies during the mid-14th during the mid-14th century bc.century bc.

Egyptian ArtEgyptian Art Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt reigned in the Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt reigned in the

1400s bc. Her funerary temple is near the 1400s bc. Her funerary temple is near the Valley of the Kings, in present-day Luxor.Valley of the Kings, in present-day Luxor.

This bronze This bronze figure with figure with inlaid blue-inlaid blue-glass eyes glass eyes dates from dates from Egypt’s Egypt’s Late Period Late Period (712-332 (712-332 bc). It bc). It shows the shows the ancient ancient goddess goddess Bast in the Bast in the form of a form of a cat.cat.