Essay On Mesopotamia And Egypt

When we think of Mesopotamia or Egypt we can automatically assume that these two civilizations were of prominence to today’s society. Mesopotamia and Egypt were two very different civilizations with very different values, beliefs, norms and even Religions. Yet both artistic styles and interests were somewhat similar and composed of common materials and resources used to make certain sculptures and paintings. Both civilizations contributed greatly to our art advancements and made it possible for us to better advance over the years with the use of their techniques and style. Mesopotamia is considered to be one of the first human civilizations. It is located in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern Iraq). Mesopotamian …show more content…
Egyptians were very similar, yet very different from the Mesopotamians. They viewed their lives optimistically and experienced great advantages from the Nile River. Egyptians were very unique when it came to making art, they had an elegant style and exquisite architecture skills that enhanced many works of art that to this very day can never be replaced or forgotten. They strongly believed in the afterlife as well, but their view on this afterlife was different from others for they believed it was just a continuation of the life they had already known and that it would only be greater and more prosperous, while others like the Mesopotamians believed it was sort of an escape from …show more content…
The life they had known was a suffrage for the deities and that the life to come was almost like a reward and completely different from the lives they had already known (Connor, 167). Egyptians emphasized on geometric shapes, outlining, color and chiaroscuro, they built many pyramids and tombs for the dead in order to experience an afterlife in comfort and to have their possessions with them. A famous piece of work was the “Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun” it’s beautifully done with much detail, style and the use of complementary colors. This is the funerary mask of the young Egyptian ruler, Tutankhamun, the emblems on the forehead the vulture and cobra and on the shoulders falcon heads were symbols of the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt of divine ruler ship. It was patterned with blue glass and gold and was composed of semiprecious stones, the stripes used to portray this work of art was to establish the abstract look as well as the geometrical position Egyptians often took. Only the Pharaoh was able to wear this Mask, it was designed and made especially for him to wear, with a royal head cloth called the “nemes”. Another famous piece of work done by the Egyptians was “The Palette of Narmer”, The Palette of Narmer is decorated on the front and back with low relief