Observable characteristics:
Dimensions: H. 46 cm
Materials / Medium / Method of fabrication: papyrus paper
Decorative motifs, imagery: Drawings that explain the writing
Inscriptions:
Personal observations:
I never expected the papyrus paper have such a long “life span” because its material seems very
fragile to touch. They had a lot of drawings, symbols and texts written.
Known Cultural / historical context:
Usage: It was used for a person to go into their afterlife, people usually wrote down spells and
some magic on it.
Role in cultural practices: Was very useful to keep spells on so that for the dead person the
journey to the outer world would be easier.
Associated concepts:
Writting
Deduction / Speculation:
This book made out of papyrus had some clear instructions, spells to help the person that
passed away to travel to the next world. These were mainly used my higher class people, but as
the tyme passed, it became more common in the middle and lower class.
Then reflect on where the object sits on one or more of these spectrums:
The writing on the papyrus took a long time to complete, because it was very fragile and usually
was individually crafted. It was considered a sacred object.
1.
----Artifact date: ​ 1290-1190 BCE
Basic Identification:
Artifact title: ​Sarcophagi of Lady Tamutneferet
Current Location: Louvre
Associated culture / historical epoch: ​ early Ramessid period, 19th Dynasty
Place of origin: Egypt
Picture or sketch:
Observable characteristics:
Dimensions: ​1,92 x H. 0,59 m.
Materials / Medium / Method of fabrication: wood
Decorative motifs, imagery: decorative designson coffins, such as symbols and images
Inscriptions:
Personal observations:
Many different coffins, which you could see were all individually crafted and decorated with
many symbols and small images.
Known Cultural / historical context:
Usage: These were used to “store” the dead inside and the decor on the outside symbolized the
importance of the person inside the coffin. They were all crafted individually.
Role in cultural practices: These were important because they were funerary objects and they
were also important because they took a lot of time to be produced and helped the dead to
achieve a better after life.
Associated concepts:
Funerary objects
Deduction / Speculation:
These coffins were originally made to not only store the dead inside, but to also be able to
portray the dead person inside it.
Then reflect on where the object sits on one or more of these spectrums:
I think that these although were all individually crafter, they seemed that they were mass
produced, especially for people in high class. They had spiritual value and were considered a
sacred object.
3.
----Artifact date: ​2600 - 2350 BCE
Basic Identification:
Artifact title: ​The Seated Scribe
Current Location: Louvre
Associated culture / historical epoch: ​Ancient Egyptian - Late Middle Kingdom
Place of origin: Egypt
Picture or sketch:
Observable characteristics:
Dimensions: 53,70 cm. ; L. : 44 cm. ; Pr. : 35 cm
Materials / Medium / Method of fabrication: ​Limestone, eyes of rock crystal set - copper
Decorative motifs, imagery: A man sitting down, holding papyrus scroll, wearing a white kilt
Inscriptions: N/A
Personal observations:
Although this sculpture may seem very big by looking at it at a photo, it actually appears quite
small in real life. The actual sculpture is very simple, almost matte, not counting the eyes of the
man, that were very shiny.
Known Cultural / historical context:
Usage: This sculpture was created to tell the viewer a story - maybe about that particular man’s
emotions and feelings?
Role in cultural practices: A good representation of the Egyptian sculpture
Associated concepts:
Writing
Deduction / Speculation:
This sculpture is a man who is sitting very focused and he is writing something. This indicated
that he was probably from the higher class, because not many egyptians could read or write
during that time. He also looks very disciplined and suggests that he is educated.
Then reflect on where the object sits on one or more of these spectrums:
These sculptures were individually crafted because they signified decor, or art. They didnt really
have any purpose beside being a decoration.
1. Individually crafted – Mass produced
2. Ephemeral – Enduring
3. Mundane (everyday) – Sacred
4. Unique – Commonplace
5. Utilitarian – Elaborately formed or decorated
4.
----Artifact date: ​ 447 - 440 BC
Basic Identification:
Artifact title: ​Metope from the Doric Frieze of the Parthenon
Current Location: Louvre
Associated culture / historical epoch: Ancient Greek
Place of origin: Parthenon, Athens, Greece
Picture or sketch:
Observable characteristics:
Dimensions: H. : 1.35 m. ; l. : 1.41 m. ; Pr. : 0.28 m.
Materials / Medium / Method of fabrication: ​marble
Decorative motifs, imagery: Centaurs, Humans riding horses carved
Inscriptions: N/A
Personal observations:
This sculpture was very well crafted and you could see a headless man with a horse on it.
Known Cultural / historical context:
Usage: architectural ornament
Role in cultural practices: They were spiritual and sacred.
Associated concepts:
Status Symbol or Object
Deduction / Speculation:
The Parthenon is a temple in the acropolis in Athens, Greece to honour Athena.
These scenes carved into stones/sculptures usually represented heroic events
Then reflect on where the object sits on one or more of these spectrums:
These sculptures were ​individually​ crafted because each of them was representing a certain
event that took place. They also counted as sacred objects because they were found in the
place where people used to worship.
5.
----Artifact date: ​305 - 202 BC
Basic Identification:
Artifact title: ​Coin with Head of Alexander
Current Location: Louvre
Associated culture / historical epoch: Ancient Greek
Place of origin: Greece, Egypt, Persia
Picture or sketch:
Observable characteristics:
Dimensions: 5cm x 5cm x 1cm W
Materials / Medium / Method of fabrication: Silver
Decorative motifs, imagery: It has the portrait of Alexander
Inscriptions: N.A
Personal observations:
These coins looked similar to our modern day ones, because they were very small and had a lot
of small details going on.
Known Cultural / historical context:
Usage: As currency
Role in cultural practices: These were very important to the economy because they helped to
trade better.
Associated concepts:
Currency
Deduction / Speculation:
Then reflect on where the object sits on one or more of these spectrums:
These objects were ​mass produced​ because these coins were used for trading and exchange.
commonplace​. These are ​enduring​ because they were made out of metal that therefore lasted
longer than any other material. It was also an utilitarian object.