I have long been a fan of ancient art. I love the textures, the forms, the depth of history. I am sharing here a brief visual tour of a few examples, along with recent work inspired by these and other ancient forms...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncgj4hOGijFoteqwUd0VND1Gvdy4qo5S1Z1sQvy4HfVupWokVaLk04O-PXhJBp12-Smxp3tJrrWsJ2XLorIDUFbOXtysRmSOEpgrkE98wkemIkM4r2Ak1fS9DMh7Nh63z8eQFUkZfA1Py/s1600/efc6a2ecd1210ce5bc44e3020c0d6243.jpg) |
"DOGU", discovered in remains of Aomori. Jomon-era. BC.3,500 - BC.2,500. Aomori Japan. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyichiFBpt9X8w8VrQnEQSJuxtw9UHO_VMGhIa4UN_0uSV8xwYkazuQcnt9g3PaBZ86TDb2cO-Nq6bEIPV-_gxS3CjjkMwDI6CH5OTWP6WnbOe3FNX1ahx85yoXtvxrj5oYkZ-DXMdz-3/s1600/6c4c1bdb65b9b8f712e920404f844a81.jpg) |
Female-effigy ceramic burial urn, Northern Andes, Columbia,
South America, 1,000–1,500 AD. 23 x 40" in circumference |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh-6YHJUE6pHB9QYr56wn5io-os6RCV-YJ1gTOzM7KtM8Y7H1sc03XdFT-Rjv4ATyCAr6gm8hnNvHgvn4PhDAF2K1koGwx6ktYXybyzGDbxQmCyaeshnl67fzrVZvhq6OgUJOsD9pQn7q/s1600/89505f5524819e2a17892088c174d2ac.jpg) |
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey’s stunning Gobekli Tepe
upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ4QwJ4sQEo2OTxt8jXLqA4j3uhJRg5F9O-4EScUvb2GYUr_nFNx2WfdBOTvpmJy5pgfiS5cIC-Xz4GnoTtU5vrOi18uaTXpt1no3VELEMziP71DjHDom8tHh0J5-eLS2Rt9h7vyCBQHd/s1600/6d2c7c05b5f0a1c1733ce597ecfd11d9.jpg) |
12th- 9th centuries BC- Female Figure, possibly
from Las Bocas, in what will later be Mexico. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqL0iBxFYIcYQonvvovQwBlcY2oFgajvNihb4C6tsAKGoBvEviJShzldpwUAJCBG2gsPnoOapdtneUbVPRngxTuio-Ifh9eiG6Xc62ZvRhJgmbOUiFa4GnqgIChAg6JcKseP2Xc2mRlJT/s1600/83e2abe76f8bc1b33c3b2e2ae03f598d.jpg) |
Neolithic Figure - 3500 BC |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1bpe6fyeNIPkRP5NSGXk2ED3iaKMtJvDh1SxtSe4nawHIqaRYczAEzH3nfktCd1BYGeAVq4f80n7Q9cJorSZHagRpx8cd5XelTbMRXNB8Qm0wBwdTdA547L_skZiqcFBpiyzQw3mmTbn/s1600/87fca1c3e84e8e03ba70452b0cf83b91.jpg) |
Ancient Yemeni goddess figurine. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoUnKa1E5PKmcm7mirbyL-i2Flg7_rzCho4xpIhRR8p0tFkUom1OxzqODiGDu0QRUBX6bkXr-fppEUyGPn1GtfrcwJzHLthtmJJykvo7GHANjYPVBGIGyr1qGtmdPz8RqdgL5IpsbPkt1/s1600/37d9ac702924a5a3aab7334caad7fc16.jpg) |
Goddess Figure Pakistan (made) Date: circa 2nd century BCE (made) This particular piece
was recovered by Colonel D.H. Gordon from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTOtAeH5zQakg6xR_t0tUHR8RIoPY0VkzNI9QpZ_mKTDQo0b3CycqgngFp2NexIS96_Xgj4nPHzhtN1QrcElrOwdgMYxlMpASHDZv7ERsZnRAWsPpPtooism25tst0V1DOWywL5jQUQTE/s1600/692e7e551fb592050db1af48db61c39b.jpg) |
Female figurine (Psi-type), clay, Mycenaean, Late Helladic III B-C period 1300-1150 BC |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOdmaNtdr_3aSX2La0QS4I0vP3t8KbhHkUZHv2OsFF8po7fV72-LLWoARG0zU8BFDMBrSOqwTWVnSHc4wgWv2mVhJmCmp3ZYxTjE2kraJ-rpQd1FBWuhyphenhyphenS-DT4u38btRCR4cP8ZPmCXC3/s1600/10916312_986428364702482_1004192238043060746_o.jpg) |
Photos taken by Linda Landig in a museum in Oaxaca. They were all discovered in the
tombs in Monte Alban. Monte Alban is located on a leveled out mountain top
at 6,400' elevation. It was a Zapotec holy site. The burial city for the noble.
Originally contucted about 500 BC. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8NHTIWJ0AtmSZ-kNUAhtRGeV6KMIOSOWTqXwRW6074o5mJaMXKQIKDBwn479squACc1Pj4MwR85nzYyX_2qe3Pn789u7JbvH4YIBnHHsWOeXZfLvsGhGm0iPPSmHflTOYlLeIewEGLFs/s1600/10931031_986429504702368_220682954216086336_o.jpg) |
Photos taken by Linda Landig in a museum in Oaxaca.
More work from the Monte Alban site. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHEmpekZOGjuKMBkR6RCm6aq_tx0unmzChYKKlKF0GJt-NK212O1PLPHznLdBOKo-hKYtXVVVOHtvEiQ4M_8yK9ZUicVWlVJRY_mfQU5PJ-oe5uAOmvjD8FOtQIv4pyVlSqcRL3334SJq/s1600/11022554_10152888980278922_8296930127474878322_o.jpg) |
Photo by Niky Sayers of Egyptian faience beads at the British Museum. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMijJ1Jhx7S-yqTCQ5h_Nekj6xnnlYbGRtkh8UfIE-y-c2MAx8hz5HDN4x5l25BPS_48-_MowOO2QED_xJ0WLaGP4iDsRn73TFnF3IhDpYM5VE4Umvv8nWEx5zl61asE_2xFUEBW97EI9/s1600/11058435_10152889139878922_7017700306661629240_o.jpg) |
Photo by Niky Sayers of Aztec carvings at the British Museum. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocvkQ9iFEe8RGV_1Px5vNkzBUMmzC6mXcHvdppd07H0L6pZoOa616BUxXNa0D390o0K8qpFpGsC2wfm7Vu3jZP474gn23Rbkl4lnJyIsaTud_eNNCgxYaf3fO0ZcW97c9OWlLGyoZcH9s/s1600/a836878e966cc4e38517c48bd700a300.jpg) |
BC.3,500 - BC.2,500. Japanese ceramic figurine "DOGU".
Jomon period. Excavation place / Nagano Japan. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyowVs3fFpU8lBZOvjsbWYv3zEC1oiTt0DyJonqE_t2dfhC7UylxeB4a3VZzBPOBPUSSQOdCF6C923B4TphGbUKqG2L1v7VOvTwnwbTrm-e1y-C_KTvkqUWiQ66nZZpLlLnXSeUAEn6gqn/s1600/c02207b970b845cb8ebf703e38f11601.jpg) |
Female Figure / 300 BCE-400 CE / Mexico, Mesoamerica, Michoacan /
Chupicuaro Culture / Ceramic, pigment / The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJ7V53HHdepmp4uTe-RS_3l5X7C3UUgEJoEqyruVz6IKHTlhoM_rP_ksjtYCHR8tzdYDlJv9kRcLnBwceD_miolImhReuj5OhjVYAKyA_rsnn0-mREV8THuCdyiLYe4QO1m9EPGKQeK7w/s1600/e48ef59099f859022accc24739460c61.jpg) |
Cradle of Civilization Goddess Hattusa (Ḫa-at-tu-ša, read “Ḫattuša”)
was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGzcgU2axDhrU-DHwMlIeIrTt_exuB7gFAQ8ZAfP0zhRhlRLkia3zl0g9s3s6owcPUZ8ZPPgJF3qa5lOvedx-MHM8jJYWIAorCS-GTxkWNYflQJtPbgYqsRoI7KZmLF2_qz_IT5c5gzYD/s1600/eb9a9febf14f932deb2e62f0ab1c14b6.jpg) |
Deep Vessel with Handles Middle Jōmon period (ca. 3500–2500 B.C.).
Japan (Source: The Metropolitan Museum) .
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuLXNevj4sz21c09GI_mKErFlcG9u2l5B6AaNhBA-8lVYO0tLd92qZXFNyROOAo3eAEFQtAoSrAu6dDsMrpw2kgTugXFJhYBuAMd3SsKHZK_VuBl3R4GaDAOK-HBuFuFDQ-JnA84NZ_jk/s1600/f2b3cf19ebae84cc92c69222e432da22.jpg) |
Bird-Headed Figure Whistle, 8th–9th century Mexico, Veracruz Ceramic. |
Recent work by me and a couple of my Art Jewelry Elements fellow bloggers, inspired by ancient art:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pIGqz_wU3nzGsWYfvqXsneYk_sCXnj3OQPffk4CloDulOa4X9oJbE6kHj9DXwVw7-k3xl_UhVgGzhjkk8rCzo8BuoTNygoXlHzLklWixu6M1FSXjQuJDqn0IZfM1bmmaQKjS4l_p4l6V/s1600/10363470_10205408931650454_6728874453737074718_o.jpg) |
Goddess figures by Jenny Davis-Reazor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2Vh7umzEM2q9mNFE3LTtJNAvi7INbXIwMczoltiQNraWZjm1xTdsQ3JwfrHZc76Zna3_uBh2bG4Du77QlomEAgAbTRkFiUIWQMxZ_wmlHrwo_T1RfezDqGftuquVUIDKZCLByPG2LyYm/s1600/11001525_10205408931570452_5598169535502600910_o.jpg) |
Goddess figures by Jenny Davis-Reazor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzKSfGuhS8_Q9yulH4O6hxmV5NxzA9AiyQDzJ1ly0M6BfGpPxHxmTsID_lyEAe_ldUfzukgEQwBs_UxHb0osTMwnSADeh_A7OSsQsARdtpl4K5NiS9nIf-FiWi0WtI_yY4EAfqszlaWWR/s1600/11026102_10205408860328671_5158076028564027218_o.jpg) |
Goddess figures by Jenny Davis-Reazor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEvcuSLL8FTg_WEOK351wBejSEWIChydW5vuK7n1VKEgUMZ_utn6-tz07HCdp-zPhhxDOycE2yBLn_8klx6GBSWkwEx_UKtpnUDU56muDT0lwGuDv4ai4WsqT5VTlGjf_JyAAj3vmbTbn/s1600/10835471_10205408931530451_3796718870506113729_o.jpg) |
Goddess figure in a jewelry piece by Jenny Davis-Reazor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUYWgRb1IwhsKS0SkEml42UFzyoHraQU4l805-i90M3hsz6NUEBAXg3dTiGR5owBEJ6XplQxpcmjBG3xEh_NnmSwaEXzZBzrcXdR-IPAGfXRDekUQ_3WHINPIq6kSGqfXFJ2i88AgpKXb/s1600/11018583_10206318307897985_3638143469633082944_n.jpg) |
Amulets by Diana Ptaszynski |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w4y5G_7IGwJUJlxzt7TvaUba51zMpCfb8LNjQT6X7D4J6xMKgSmabETCow4ToO82D6Yf4qrm6aKVUlsTSXPtCX7O_TYuLE9620h_qdmb9IfeGxAmbig8TBOVKsM8wWhKu_NoViX3K5kK/s1600/11081173_10206318308938011_476752338433789932_n.jpg) |
Amulets by Diana Ptaszynski |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-PQba3Wtgb3iLOjXKDNUZBurAodanN5wWRuePBAwfs8iP8h-XzH6rRka1VKKrJF7RKOx0irQZfZ2-a4PvjZL5dqSV6_Ag6FLRSptYOKIF4MisscLq5K_O765zGGZYWd4PMMfDg-IRP7o/s1600/IMG_4535.jpg) |
Bird forms by me (Karen Totten) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0b3vpdgq4ITjkVEvUZZJHj7XfGn3ziFC8qWGyRmKeHdNUtSk_Elo8SRn9OrQq-1RVTBfFPJB5ISSdIIsJQUewLIdja_sDJ6vB_rmGYclUMdk76YETkYGyhoU2k0-EbltHYWi02H8-_dl/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG) |
Goddess forms and other beads by me (Karen Totten) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRO0nEMN_Nk0Z2BvKRVe4aKyrI2SYUJqijDZuPiPpesVEaAPDToE2zr9nf7Ny9zuibkXsUMkmjHv-vzBH6xRF1WoTnMUIuF-yJLQBL2XeJvuEjPhAqxRSyhOcKNSkVrLq2VKEAq1zYAmr/s1600/IMG_2814.jpg) |
Goddess form by me (Karen Totten) |
I hope you enjoyed this little survey. :)
Karen Totten
Starry Road Studio
I love your goddess form! Interesting article and great photos. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy!
DeleteFascinating post, Karen! I especially like the Goddess Hattusa. Its almost contemporary looking - such clean lines!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, I love that one too! I also love the Japanese DOGU.
DeleteGreat post! I loved seeing the contemporary art inspired by the ancient art. All very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYes! I am always thrilled to share excitement and inspiration... nice to know Im not the only one, you know! Great reference post. I admit I was quizzing myself, trying to identify culture or region before reading the picture captions. Im such an art history geek.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer - I am an art history geek too!
DeleteThese are wonderful! I love the goddess pieces! You have captured the look and texture of ancient pieces.
ReplyDelete