ANCIENT ART
"It is scarcely strange that prehistoric men, although unable to appreciate those functional values which alone give the spiral its unique place in Nature, in engineering, or in architecture, should have dimly perceived not only its importance, but also that element of beauty in it which must inevitably be associated with fitness and with power." -Theodore Andrea Cook ("The Curves of Life:" Cook 266)
The works of ancient art included in this room were chosen to demonstrate the wide range spiral art in the ancient world. Examples have been gathered from disparate regions and historical periods. In ancient times, the spiral was a prominent symbol. Although many other examples may have been lost to time, these well preserved instances the spiral motif reveal how widespread and common this powerful symbol has been from the beginning of recorded history.
Name: Reconstructed Wall Decoration from the Temple of Amun at Malqata
Date: c. 1390-1352 B.C. Ancient Egypt Artist: Unknown Current Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Name: Ceiling Painting from the Palace of Amenhotep III
Date: c. 1390-1353 B.C. Ancient Egypt Artist: Unknown Current Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |