Select And Complete One Of The Following Assignment O 217570

Selectandcompleteone Of the Following Assignment Optionsoption Afor T

Select and complete one of the following assignment options: Option A. For this assignment, choose two works of architecture to compare, or two other types of art for comparison. Select two different civilizations from the list, and then select a representative work of art or architecture for each: Ancient Mesopotamian cultures (Sumeria, Babylon, Assyria), Ancient Egyptian civilization, River Valley societies in India and China, Classical Greece, or Classical Rome. Write a 350- to 700-word essay comparing the two selected works, including the following:

• The time period in which each work was created
• The geographic region where each work was created
• The name of the artist or architect, if known
• The purpose each work was intended to serve
• A visual description of each work, applying the principles and elements of design
• A description of the similarities and differences between these works
• How the cultural values of the civilizations that created them are reflected in the works
• How the works function in our culture today

Format your assignment consistent with APA guidelines, including a title page, introduction, and conclusion. Use legitimate scholarly references (excluding Wikipedia, dictionaries, encyclopedias, or About.com), citing 3-5 credible sources, including a reference page. Submit your assignment using the Assignment Files tab above.

Paper For Above instruction

The comparison of ancient artworks provides profound insights into the cultural, artistic, and social values of past civilizations. For this essay, we will compare two representative works: the Egyptian Great Pyramid of Giza and the Greek Parthenon. These iconic structures exemplify the distinct philosophies, religious beliefs, and artistic priorities of their respective cultures while also revealing how their purposes resonate in contemporary society.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt’s Old Kingdom, around 2580–2560 BCE. It is located on the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Egypt. Traditionally attributed to the architect Hemon, although in reality, it was the work of a skilled team of artisans and laborers commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu (Lehner, 1997). The pyramid served as a tomb, reflecting the Egyptian belief in the afterlife and the divine status of pharaohs. Its massive scale, precise geometric form, and use of limestone and granite exemplify Egyptian engineering prowess and religious symbolism, such as the pyramid's shape representing the rays of the sun god Ra (Wilkinson, 2000).

The Parthenon, built between 447 and 432 BCE during Athens’ Golden Age, is located on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Attributed to architects Ictinus and Callicrates and sculptor Phidias, it symbolizes Athenian democracy and reverence for the goddess Athena (Neils, 2005). Unlike the pyramid’s funerary purpose, the Parthenon served as a temple and a monument to civic pride. Its Doric architectural style, use of marble, and detailed sculptural decoration reflect Greek ideals of harmony, proportion, and beauty grounded in rationality and humanism (Hurwit, 1999).

Visually, the Great Pyramid is a massive, geometric structure with a smooth façade, designed for stability and eternity. The emphasis is on monumental scale and precise alignment with cardinal points, symbolizing divine order. In contrast, the Parthenon features a harmonious rectangular plan with proportionate columns and a frieze depicting mythological scenes. Its decorative sculptures articulate Greek values of human achievement and divine connection (Neils, 2005).

Both works reveal their cultures’ core values: the Egyptian pyramids embody religious devotion, the belief in life after death, and the pharaoh’s divine authority. Meanwhile, the Parthenon epitomizes Athenian ideals of civic pride, rationality, and aesthetic harmony. Despite their differing functions—tomb versus temple—they both served as symbols of cultural identity and power, meant to inspire awe and demonstrate divine or civic legitimacy.

Today, these structures continue to influence modern architecture and public consciousness. The pyramid’s geometric clarity informs contemporary memorials and pyramidal monuments, while the Parthenon’s emphasis on proportion and harmony underpins the neoclassical architectural movement (Kostof, 1995). Both symbolize enduring human aspirations for grandeur, spiritual meaning, and cultural expression.

In conclusion, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Parthenon reflect the unique values and beliefs of their civilizations through their design, purpose, and enduring legacy. Their study offers valuable insights into how ancient societies articulated their identity and ideals, which continues to resonate in modern cultural and architectural discourse.

References

• Hurwit, J. M. (1999). The Acropolis in the Age of Pericles. University of California Press.
• Kostof, S. (1995). The Architect’s Past. Thames and Hudson.
• Lehner, M. (1997). The Complete Pyramids. Thames and Hudson.
• Neils, J. (2005). The Parthenon: From Antiquity to the Present. Cambridge University Press.
• Wilkinson, R. (2000). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson.