For this essay I will use what I consider to be the proper elements to compare two sculptures. Knowing these sculptures originated in different times and places and in all probability had different uses I will attempt to find a common ground for them to stand or rather set on. As a student of archaeology there is more to a work of art than art itself. It will be the art that binds them and the function which will most likely illuminate their greatest differences.
The Statue of Memi and Sabu is described by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) (2015) as, “Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, ca. 2575–2465 b.c., Egyptian; Probably from Giza, Painted limestone; H. 24 3/8 in. (62 cm).” The statue is made of limestone and has a very light color. Limestone was cheaper and more readily available which is why the common Egyptians used it. It depicts a man and a woman standing next to each other embracing. There is writing which suggests the statue which describes the man and woman to likely be husband and wife. They are standing together in what seems to be equality. The statue was used in non-royal tomb. According to the MMA (2015), the statue held the spirits of Memi and Sabu. I have heard it said many times of ancient Egypt that the spirit resides in the stone. The statue was …show more content…
Visually the statues both have a very close proportion to actual people. There are similarities with the shape of the eyes and the fingers. The textures of the hair on the Egyptian statue and the texture on the hair or headband of the neo-Sumerian statue look a lot alike. Both types of stone were used in both periods by both peoples. They contrast though in function. Egyptian statues have a spiritual function while the neo-Sumerian statue is more like a marker stone. I think this shows there where borrowed styles between the two cultures but the functions would indicate the spiritual aspects of each culture remained
The Statue of Memi and Sabu is described by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) (2015) as, “Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, ca. 2575–2465 b.c., Egyptian; Probably from Giza, Painted limestone; H. 24 3/8 in. (62 cm).” The statue is made of limestone and has a very light color. Limestone was cheaper and more readily available which is why the common Egyptians used it. It depicts a man and a woman standing next to each other embracing. There is writing which suggests the statue which describes the man and woman to likely be husband and wife. They are standing together in what seems to be equality. The statue was used in non-royal tomb. According to the MMA (2015), the statue held the spirits of Memi and Sabu. I have heard it said many times of ancient Egypt that the spirit resides in the stone. The statue was …show more content…
Visually the statues both have a very close proportion to actual people. There are similarities with the shape of the eyes and the fingers. The textures of the hair on the Egyptian statue and the texture on the hair or headband of the neo-Sumerian statue look a lot alike. Both types of stone were used in both periods by both peoples. They contrast though in function. Egyptian statues have a spiritual function while the neo-Sumerian statue is more like a marker stone. I think this shows there where borrowed styles between the two cultures but the functions would indicate the spiritual aspects of each culture remained