An analysis and comparison of an ancient Sumerian sculpture and one from the Hellenistic period.
The ‘Votive Statue of Eanatum’ is an example of a Sumerian sculpture that depicts a worshipper praying to a god, whereas the ‘Torso of Apollo’ (or Dionysus) is a very good example of a typical human sculpture of the Hellenistic period. This paper shows how the Sumerian and Greek sculptures differ artistically in some aspects due to the great time difference of their creation, yet they also seem to have several similar attributes. The paper also describes the historical settings in which the works of art were produced.
“After the death (323 BC) of Alexander the Great, his extensive empire was dissolved into many different kingdoms. This fragmentation was symbolic of the diversity and multiplicity of artistic tendencies in the Hellenistic period. It lasted up to 3 centuries, ending in 31 B.C. The variety of artistic directions makes a general statement about the sculpture of the period rather difficult. There was a tendency toward classicism; a tendency toward idealization, but also a tendency toward realism. The Hellenistic period was, above all, a period of eclecticism. Art still served a religious function or to glorify athletes, but sculpture and painting were also used to decorate the homes of the rich.”