Benin Kingdom

Improved Essays
History of the Benin shrines and altars go back to the thirteenth century located in the Africa’s beautiful tropical forest region of South – Central, Nigeria Edo Estate. The Benin kingdom consist of not only the Edo people, they also include the peoples of Igbo, Ijaw, Yoruba, and Itsekiri that live along the Edo state boarders. The Benin kingdom is one of the many places in Africa known for its sophisticated and beautiful art made of ivory, brass, and wood. “The Edo artist consist of brass casters (Igun Eronmwon), who are the highest order in the Benin hierarchal structure in the Iwebo society (Royal Arts of West Africa Kingdom, Kathleen Berzock, pg. 5)”. Followed by the “black smith’s (Igun Ematon) and Ivory and wood carvers …show more content…
The Benin kingdom known throughout Africa as a regional powerhouse in the fifteenth century (Royal Arts of West Africa Kingdom, Kathleen Berzock, pg. 6)”. Under the leadership of a certain Oba King called Oba Ewuare The Great, he is claimed as the one responsible for most of the fascinating improvements throughout the Benin Kingdom. From Kingship of ruling all the way to having influence to the royal rituals that included altars and shrines that were paramount in having the power to protect and renew the Benin kingdom. The vast history of the Benin kingdom can be argued to be if not the greatest kingdom to exist in West Africa which is due to their powerful altars and shrines. The Benin Kingdom consisting of so many populations of peoples can also be argued due to is vast majority of unique and different population within the kingdom, have the best sculptures known throughout Africa, and within the Western Hemisphere. The lost wax casting method, the artist uses a wax model over a clay core, once the clay has set it is heated to melt away the wax. At last the molten metal is poured into the clay mold that would leave behind hard clay that is then chipped away once it has cooled down, leaving behind the beautiful sculptures such as an Edo Alter Head of an Oba/Oba King, Ife heads, Plaques, terracotta’s, Benin attendants, warriors and alter pieces. Benin’s ivory and wood carvers use similar tools, and techniques, when shaving a tusk or wood block using adzes and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Document 2 describes the court of Ghana being held in a domed pavilion. This is an example of the building and Architecture techniques of this African culture. In order to build an impressive domes this culture must have had advanced technology and the ability to move materials . This building also shows the relationship between government and art. The artisan work is used to make this building look prestigous and important.…

    • 1378 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Chinua Achebe explores the idea of the impact of foreign cultures and religions on the Igbo customs along with the deterioration of their religion and culture in his novel, Things Fall Apart. Using literary elements such as symbolism, personification, and imagery. Throughout the novel, the Igbo culture uses many symbols for items to represent sacred beings in their culture. After analyzing the book over again, it’s prevalent Achebe included symbols relevant to both the theme and the tribal culture; “The drums were still beating, persistent and unchanging.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    African Art Features

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The bulk of the traditional sculptures in African art constitute wooden products-figurines, masks, etc. In this unit response, I would like to explain the following common features. The common features are that the main focus is on the human figure and the art of static objects are transformed into moving objects (e.g. mask). African figurines are mostly images of various spirits, ancestors or certain historical persons and gods.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Kleiner’s analysis of African art before the 1800s, caves such as the Apollo 11 come from Africa and are assumed to be some of the oldest paintings currently discovered, showing the diversity of the continent itself. The works are difficult to date and decipher meaning, although some of the best work comes from the Benin Kingdom. Assumed to be established in the 13th century, most of its power rose along the 16th century. The kingship was considered sacred and presented artworks dedicated to honor oba,his family, and his ancestors. As represented with works such as the cast-brass royal shrine depicting oba twice as the head of the Benin culture, the figures suggested they were portable hand altars to celebrate achievement on battlefield and peacetime purposes.…

    • 1270 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benin Culture

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The need to memorialize and commemorate people and events has been a timeless tradition among humans and the lost Kingdom of Benin is no different. Created in the years, circa 1550-1650, one of over 900 plaques made to honor the Oba and record the events of the Court of Benin, this particular plaque, labeled Oba and attendants is a strong example of the craftsmanship and skill of the people of Benin. Through the use of various techniques, such as hierarchical scale and symbolism, the plaque tells an intricately detailed story of the events and ideals of the court. The brass plaque is a single piece of cast brass that is 18 ½ x 14 ½ x 4 in. The technology that is required for this plaque demonstrates the advanced nature of the Benin people and the specialization that could exist in their complex society.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Majestic Oba Greek Art

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages

    INTERPRETATION 1. What do you think the work is about? In my opinion, this is a dynamic medium because it draws you into its great artistic splendor while at the same time providing a visual history lesson about why it was made. 2.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the Edo world view, the head is considered to symbolize a man's knowledge, authority, success, and family leadership. The burden of providing for his family and seeing them through times of trouble is often described as being "on his head." Each new king or “Oba” of the Nigerian kingdom of Benin memorialized his father with a portrait cast in brass, made by craftsmen of the brass fraternity. The oba is often called a "Great Head," accentuating the head of the living leader as having the responsibility over the Benin kingdom. This head may have been made for the funeral of the king Ozolua or his son Esigye himself in 1551.The idealized naturalism of this work depicts the king at the prime of his life.…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Benin Empire

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The source types is a scholarly journal. Benin Empire which is located in Western Africa in the country was now known as Nigerian near the south-west. The establishments of iron technology which was the basis on their ability to make art. The great art was of the Benin Empire. The upcoming of the pre-colonial empire and how there was already a warrior kingdom by the 15th century.…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Benin Research Paper

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages

    They use other indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin art is the art from the Kingdom of Benin or Edo Empire (1440–1897)…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Brief Guide to the Department of Egyptian and Classical Art. 10: Marvin Lewis (2007). An Introduction to the Literature of Equatorial Guinea 11: Midant-Reynes, Béatrix. The Prehistory of Egypt: From the First Egyptians to the First…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Copper Masks

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The essay “Kings, Crowns, and Rights of Succession: Obalufon Arts at Ife and Other Yoruba Centers” by Suzanne Preston Blier argues that Copper mask said to represent Ife king Obalufon II is related to the succession of rulers and that its symbolism comes from Obalufon II’s time as a ruler as well as his deification (386). This article is effective because of its meticulous examination of the history of Obalufon II, Ife history and other works relating to the mask. Blier begins the essay by discussing Copper mask said to represent Ife king Obalufon II. She visually analyzes the mask before mentioning some theories that other scholars have constructed having to do with how the Yoruba people used it.…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Art In African Museum

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages

    African Art in Museums Africa is known for its larger cultural diversity and has many different types of beauty and art (one in the same). From the aesthetics view, African ideals of visual art are very different from the ideals in Europe and America. Most African artists have designed both ritual and everyday objects to be pleasing to the eye, colorful, and using many different designs. An example of art like this is the Male Chi Wara antelope headdress. If you were viewing this piece from a museum you would only think, “that’s a nice hat”, but you would never guess that it takes a huge part in African dance and expressing ones self.…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Ancestral Altar Tusks

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Benin ancestral altar tusks were carved out to figures, animals and motifs. In the center of this tusk are the oba (king) and his attendants. Benin was ruled by kings, called obas, who were absolute monarchs, considered to be of divine ancestry. The Oba is shown with the legs of a mudfish, emphasizing his divine powers of transformation and survival. Aspects of the mudfish appear several times around the tusk.…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the semester, when observing multiple forms of art; while all struck me to be beautiful, the one individual piece of work that I saw truly inspiring was the Bronze Head of Ife, which dated back to 600 A.D. This work inspired me because of how the art was way ahead of the time period in which it was created. The procedure to craft these bronze heads was complex in the way of casting the metal, and furthermore, it required large amounts of manual labor. This form of artwork was underrated at first, though as cultural and economic factors were introduced behind the Ife Head, the opinions quickly changes. At first sight, many viewers would think the art is unskilled and behind from the European forms of art. However, on the contrary,…

    • 1377 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    African empires, Kingdoms, and Cities have accomplished many important achievements over the many years they have existed. Many people normally think of the fulfillments made after the European arrival and colonization, but there were also some important and greater achievements before the European foreigners came. These accomplishments helped further the development Africa's empires. The Africans had many great achievements before the Europeans arrived, such as creating a successful trade center, organizing a strong government, and acquiring their one of a kind cultural arts.…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays