Ancient Art: Paleolithic, Mesopotamian, and Megalithic

Art in its Origins: Paleolithic Period

The earliest artistic expressions date back to the Upper Paleolithic period (15000-10000 BC). These expressions include sculptures, prints, parietal paintings, and megaliths.

Portable Art

These are objects or small utensils with some form of decoration, including small sculptures, weapons, utensils, and small female figures (Venus figurines).

Parietal Art

This refers to art created on rocky surfaces.

Franco-Cantabrian Area

In 1879, Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola discovered the Altamira caves, which contain polychrome paintings. These large animal figures are believed to have been created to foster successful hunts, with colors obtained from natural pigments.

Levantine Area

This area features monochrome art representing human figures and animals in hunting or war scenes. It developed during the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Metal Ages (5000-2000 BC).

Megalithic Architecture

This stonework served magical, religious, and funerary purposes.

Typologies

• Menhir: A vertical stone stuck in the ground.
• Alignment: Several menhirs arranged in a line.
• Cromlech: A circle of several menhirs.
• Dolmen: Stones supporting a horizontal slab.

Mesopotamian Art

Early civilizations emerged around 4000 years ago in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. City-states arose as centers of power, controlling empires. These civilizations were innovative in their use of arches and vaults in construction.

Important Buildings

• Ziggurat: Stepped towers built over several platforms, with a temple at the highest point.
• The Persian Palace: The palace at Persepolis (built by Xerxes) featured a spectacular entrance: the Gate of All Nations. Large columns supported the Apadana (hall of hearings) and the Hall of 100 Columns, reserved for the army. Materials included brick, cedar beams, timber, gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, silver, ebony, and ivory. Architectural innovations included capitals, semicircular vaults, and the Iwama, an arch leading from the courtyard to the palace.

Sculpture

Materials

Materials used included diorite (very hard), alabaster, terracotta, black stone, and faience.

Periods

• First Sumerian Era: Religious character, large expressive eyes, and disproportionate heads.
• Akkadian Period: Propaganda emphasizing royal victories.
• Second Sumerian Era: Sculpture in the round.
• Babylonian and Assyrian Periods: Political art.