Sculpture and art are things that human beings have used to express themselves for millennia. Ancient works of art can still be found today, all over the world – from cave paintings like those in Indonesia which are a staggering 35,000 years old as well as ancient monuments such as the famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
Art and sculpture is something which has endured despite our technological advances. It is something that we all enjoy still – with sculptures like this wildlife sculpture by www.gillparker.com still being sought after by art and wildlife lovers alike.
When looking at these ancient artworks, it is clear that ancient humans, despite the many thousands of years between us, were similar to us in many ways. It also helps us to unravel mysteries about those times, and is invaluable to architects and historians when it comes to piecing together how the ancient people once lived.
These fascinating pieces of art can be found all over the world – giving us snapshots of ancient civilisations that have long since perished. Here are a few beautiful and intriguing ancient artworks…
The Terracotta Army – This outstanding piece of art is over 2000 years old but was discovered fairly recently. In 1974, some local farmers in Xi’ an China were digging a well when they discovered the first of many sculptures of ancient Chinese soldiers. The area was only a mile from the tomb of the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang, and soon many more sculptures were found. In fact, the emperor was buried with around 8000 soldier sculptures, as well as hundreds of horses and chariots to guard him in the afterlife. This is now a UNESCO world heritage site and a popular tourist attraction.
The Venus de Milo – This famous sculpture can now be found in the Louvre in Paris and is one of the most famous sculptures of ancient Greece. It dates back to around 130 BC and is believed to be a representation of the Greek Goddess of Love Aphrodite. It was carved by the artist Alexandros and was discovered on the small island of Milos in the 19th Century by a peasant. When found it was in two pieces but was put back together and presented to the ruler of France at the time, Louis XVIII. He then donated it to the Louvre where it remains to this day.
The Bust of Nefertiti – This stunning sculpture is an ancient Egyptian masterpiece. It was created around 1345 BC and is one of the most famous ancient Egyptian works of art. Representing the wife of the pharaoh Akhenaten, it was discovered in 1912 during an excavation in Tell el Amarna. Although this beautiful statue made Queen Nefertiti one of the most famous figures of ancient Egypt, her body has never been found. The sculpture can be seen now at the Neues museum Berlin.
