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Ancient aesthetics

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Ancient aesthetics

The School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio, 1509. Plato and Aristotle .[1]  

Aesthetics is defined as the perception of art, design or beauty.[2] To arrive at this perception, there is a process of individual analysis, perception and imagination. [3] Perceptions is an individuals neurophysiological processes by which they are made aware of an external stimuli and perceive it. [4] Therefore, aesthetics is highly subjective and will differ from one individual or culture to the next. [5]

Aesthetics is derived from the Greek word "aisthetikos" which is defined by perception of the senses. [6] There are several varying definitions or interpretations of aesthetics.[7] Aesthetics can also be used as a synonym to define taste or style, artistic activities like rhetoric, tone, harmony, painting, composition art or music.[8]. Additionally, aesthetics can be used to reference to the superficial nature of something. [7]

Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato partook in the rhetorical debate of aesthetic principle as its own individual branch of philosophy. [9]The parameters of art and beauty, that define aesthetics, were initially inspired by ancient thought as presented by philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.[9] As a philosophy, aesthetics was developed as a branch in 18th CE[9] Germany by Emmanuel Kant.[8] Ancient civilizations provide connections to modern conceptions of aesthetic. ancient aesthetics can be used to define themes of modern aesthetic ideals in ancient thought[10].

Ancient civilization

Ancient is defined a time in early history that has been identified as the dawn of the oldest known civilizations. [11]

Ancient history is the study of life and events during this period in early history.

Civilizations that fall under classification of "ancient" are: Ancient Greece (800 B.C. and 500 B.C,) The Incas (1438 A.D – 1532 A.D,)[12] The Aztecs (1345 A.D – 1521 A.D),[12] The Romans (550 BC – 465 B.C,) [12] the Persians (550 BC – 465 B.C),[12] Chinese civilization (1600 BCE-1046 BCE,) [12] Mayan civilization (2600 BC-900 A.D,)[12] Ancient Egypt (3100 BCE-2686 BCE), [12] Indus Valley civilization (3300 BC -1900 BC)[12] and Mesopotamia (3500 BC -500 BC.) [12]

Ancient Greek aesthetics

Ancient or archaic Greece is classified as the time period between 800 B.C. and 500 B.C.[13]

Beauty

Beauty[14] in ancient Greece (800-300 BCE) was referred to as κάλλος.[14] The history of ancient Greek aesthetics spans centuries.Philosophical theories of beauty through this era fall under categories of proportion, functionality and the Form.[9]

Greeks Gods

Bronze Zeus or Poseidon. Athens, Greece.[15]

Influence of beauty was derived from their Gods.[9] Greek gods were believed to take a divine human form and inspired their perception of divine beauty. Temples were created in Greece to worship these gods and were filled with life-like images of them. [16]

Their gods were believed to take a divine human form and inspired their perception of divine beauty. Temples were created in Greece to worship these gods and were filled with life-like images of them. [17]

Form

Ancient Greeks were fixated on the aesthetic form of the human body.[18] This ideal was captured through the art of this era. [17]Sculptures were inspired initially by the monumental art of the Ancient Egyptians.[18] Sculptures were perceived to be at their peak of aesthetics when the human form was captured in a unique way and emphasizing a divine or godlike quality. Proportion, poise and perfection of the human form were the artistic and aesthetic ideals.[19] Stone and bronze monuments are iconic of this civilization. [19]

Ancient Egyptian aesthetics

Beauty

Ancient Egyptian Art and Beauty[20]

Ancient Egyptians of both sexes regarded physical beauty with the utmost importance and performed beauty rituals to enhance their appearance. [21] Artifacts have been found to support ancient Egyptian beauty ideals. [22]Human beauty was enhanced through archaic forms of makeup. This includes copper and silver handheld mirrors and combs. Makeup was creating using siltstones palettes to grind minerals like green malachite or kohl.[22] There is also evidence that human hair was used to create hair extensions and wigs.[22] Jewellery was also used to enhance appearance, including a string of beads and carnelian pendants in the shape of poppy heads. [22]

The afterlife and tombs

The Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife. Tombs were created for the dead and decorated with the highest form of their aesthetic principles.[23] Mummy masks and coffins were painted with emphasized eyes, lined with dramatic black outlines. [22]

References

  1. ^ Raphael (1509date QS:P571,+1509-00-00T00:00:00Z/9), Crooped of The "School of Athens", retrieved 2018-11-15 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Aesthetics | philosophy". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  3. ^ "Aesthetics | philosophy". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  4. ^ "perception | Definition of perception in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  5. ^ Koren, Leonard (2010). Which Aesthetics" Do You Mean? Ten Definitions. Point Reyes, California: Imperfect Publishing. pp. 1–58.
  6. ^ "Aesthetics - By Branch / Doctrine - The Basics of Philosophy". www.philosophybasics.com. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  7. ^ a b Shelley, James (2017), Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), "The Concept of the Aesthetic", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2017 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2018-11-15
  8. ^ a b "Greek and Roman Aesthetics - Classics - Oxford Bibliographies - obo". Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  9. ^ a b c d e Celkyte, Aiste. "Ancient Aesthetics". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved October 20, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "Greek and Roman Aesthetics - Classics - Oxford Bibliographies - obo". Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  11. ^ "Definition of ANCIENT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "List of ancient civilizations". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  13. ^ "Ancient Greece". HISTORY. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  14. ^ a b "Beauty", Wikipedia, 2018-10-07, retrieved 2018-11-12
  15. ^ "User:Jebulon - Wikimedia Commons". commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  16. ^ "How Art Made the World . Episodes . More Human than Human . Ancient Greece and the Naked Body | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  17. ^ a b "How Art Made the World . Episodes . More Human than Human . Ancient Greece and the Naked Body | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  18. ^ a b "How Art Made the World . Episodes . More Human than Human . Ancient Greece and the Naked Body | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  19. ^ a b "Ancient Greek Sculpture". Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  20. ^ "User:Estere13 - Wikimedia Commons". commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  21. ^ "BBC - History: Egyptians". Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  22. ^ a b c d e Sooke, Alastair. "How ancient Egypt shaped our idea of beauty". Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  23. ^ "How Art Made the World . Episodes . More Human than Human . Egyptian Need for Order | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
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