The Lion Funerary Monument: Guarding Souls and Looking Fierce
The lion, particularly the male lion, is one of the most universally recognized animal symbols in Greek Culture. Lions were featured heavily in Ancient Greek mythology, art, and literature. The Greek's believed the lion represented power, wealth, protection, and high morals. It's popularity and ability to ward off evil, make this symbolic creature a perfect grave guardian. The Greek's often used this animal as a central ornament for mass communal graves of those who fell in battle. The nobility the lion symbolizes make this animal an appropriate grave guardian to memorialize the deceased. The Greek funerary monuments often portrayed the accomplishments of the dead in some way. By using lions as a grave guardian, we are to understand the virtuous nature of
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Monumental earth mounds, rectangular tombs, and marble stelai and statues were erected to mark a person's final resting place. Greeks often provided the dead with carefully carved stones, such as the Lion Funerary Monument, to remind the living of who the deceased were and protect their memories after death. Remembrance of the dead was important to Greeks. They considered it their civic and religious duty to honor the deeds of the deceased. The Greeks maintained that the dead must be remembered in order for their souls to continue to exist in the afterlife.
The Lion Funerary Monument, although it has been removed from the grave of the person/people it was protecting, is still doing it's job today. The monument's main function, to honor and provide remembrance for the deceased, is still being accomplished. Through study of the Greek Funerary Monument's symbolism and history, we are able to remember the dead's essence and what type of people they could have been. The Lion Funerary Monument is an excellent example of the Greek's Idealized views of the Lion and their burial beliefs.
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For this reason, the ancient Greeks believed that it was very important to give a deceased loved one of a proper burial. If a proper burial was not performed, the soul of the person would be doomed to walk the land of the living for eternity. An example of this is seen when Patroclus’ fellow warriors fought to retrieve his body for Achilles after he was killed by Zeus and Hector, because they knew that Achilles loved Patroclus like a brother. Atrides yelled, “Ajax! Hurry, my friend, this way--fight for dead Patroclus!
In the ancient Egyptian culture, the belief was that there was a life force and spirit inside of the body, known as the ‘Ka’. Therefore, mummification was performed as a ritual to preserve the physical features of the body as well as to protect its inner spirit, mainly to ensure that the ‘Ka’ could recognize the body where it may dwell in the eternal life. Thus, the funerary psychology of ancient Egyptians was that death did not bring an end to living, but instead was only an escape from the physical human life and a gateway to immortal being. Due to the fact that a being’s life span was short in ancient times, people’s main hopes rested in their afterlives, where they would be with the gods (Stockstad 121).
The Romans believed in the afterlife and most scenes, for those who could afford it, was a reflection of this type of belief system. Using the Endymion sarcophagus as an example, it was made during the Mid–Imperial period during the time of Severan Dynasty, and in the early 3rd century AD. The Endymion sarcophagus is created, in lenos form, out of marble and was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Rogers fund 1947. Across the front of the Endymion sarcophagus we have the mythos of Endymion. Like the Badminton Sarcophagus, the facing scene depicts the conquering of death in the cycle of immortality and eternal sleep. In the middle of the sarcophagus we have Endymion, the most beautiful of men, being visited by a Selene who
The grandeur with which Egyptians regarded their funerary customs does not come without explanation. They delighted in tying the occurrences of the natural world with supernatural dogma, and their burial practices exemplified this deluge of religion. A special deity was even attributed to cemeteries and embalmers: Anubis (Fiero, 46). Due to this deep sense of religion, a fixation with the afterlife developed within their culture. The Egyptian afterlife, however, is not synonymous of heave, but, rather, of The Field of Reeds, a continuation of one’s life in Egypt meant “to secure and perpetuate in the afterlife the ‘good life’ enjoyed on earth” (Mark 1; “Life in Ancient Egypt” 1). The pursuit of this sacred rest-place prompted the arousal of intricate Egyptian funeral rituals.
Afterlife to the Greeks back then was far more important and sacred than living life itself. Everything they did while they were alive was to please the many gods they worshipped. They built temples for their Gods, made statues to symbolize their Gods, and had a different God to explain things that we now say are an act of mother nature. It may seem rather foolish to us when we study their beliefs and compare them to modern day beliefs. I am sure the Greeks would have considered us to be heathens and put us to death for our ways and beliefs.
Acts such as death in battle or childbirth were seen as accomplishments, and would be allowed at tomb stone to be remembered by all. The individual desire to die for the state reflects the values and ethics within the combatant society and outright devotion the society had for the spartan state. The kings, as stated by Plutarch, had elaborate funerals and special burial rites such as compelling the people to attend the funeral, communal displays of grief and praise for the dead king. The differing rituals reflects the kings higher status within the society, however if a king died in battle a statue made of him, mirroring the individual desire to die for the state that had been enforced through the social values and ethics. Religion was valued to the Spartans as it was believed it would allow for the state to prosper, which was the crucial aspect of the Spartan society.
Through the means of commemorating and remembering those of prestige and importance, tombs and sarcophagi are produced of these individuals. This funerary manner and distinctive burial practice was initiated Etruscan culture and it developed through the means of cremation and inhumation in earns. The concept of placing the remains of individuals in elaborate, thought out spaces was a valuable attribute of these people. The Etruscan objective of creating the best possible outcome in the afterlife dictated the way in which individuals ornamented and became portrayed in their tombs. Presen...
How the Greeks revered their gods. In ancient times, the Greeks had absolute and undeniable respect for their gods. They demonstrated their admiration by putting in place many rituals and celebrations to reverence the gods that they loved and feared in order to ensure harmony with them. In particular, the focus will be on the religious beliefs of the Greeks, including prayer and sacrifice, as well as on festivals and the arts, such as the ancient Olympic games and theatre.
Monumental architecture in Pharaonic Egypt is represented primarily by the funerary complexes of the pharaohs. The principal function of these elaborate complexes was to ensure that the pharaohs, who were exalted as living gods, would attain the afterlife they desired. This required that two basic conditions be fulfilled: the body had to be preserved from disturbance or destruction; and the material needs of the body and the ka had to be met (Edwards 20). Pharaonic burial complexes were also centers of worship for the god-king interred there and were designed to exalt his memory and deeds.
The Egyptians often included lions to symbolize strength, leadership, loyalty, and war. The top of the palette also includes a human face with bull horns. This was done in attempt to represent the gods the ancient Egyptians believed in. These gods are associated with power, masculinity, and fertility.
The Greeks believed the deities provided the city protection and allowed them to be successful in their endeavors while in time of war. Phidias, a master bronze worker, was commissioned to create the sculpture of Athena Parthenos, the goddess of wisdom to show tribute to the gods by creating a large scale sculpture in Acropolis. The Acropolis was the most important site in the city of Athens, and was well recognized as the hilltop of protection. It is also the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture as well as the symbol of the city of Athens. Some of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground.
The book also emphasizes the ephemeral nature of human beings, which suggests how mortals should decide on living their lives honorably for good remembrance, by focusing on the value of burial with the burial of Hector given a special attention. Moreover, the interest in burial is a reflection of the values ancient Greek culture treasured and has been passed to several generations. The aspect stresses the necessity for proper send off as a requirement for a peaceful
A memorable monument is a historical structure that represents a significant person or event. They are designed to show the importance of either the person or event. Monuments are intended to last forever so the subject will never be forgotten to society. The factors that should be considered when creating a memorable monument are that the subject must be powerful and meaningful to society and the design should resemble the significance of the subject. These factors help communicate the magnitude of the individual or group’s sacrifice, as well as honor moments of great achievement in history.
Growing up is unavoidable. No matter how much one tries to hold on to it its inevitable in one way or another we all grow up and mature. The elements used to support this idea are many different ones. The theme for "The Secret Lion” is loss of innocence or childhood; basically the main idea is growing up. This is the case with Alberto Alvaro Rios’s “The Secret Lion.” The whole story revolves around the twelve year old narrator whose name is unknown. But what we do know is that the character is going through changes that he doesn’t quite understand and it takes some time to assimilate.
Monuments are a symbol of a significant time in history. Monuments represent life, death, success, and struggle just to name a few. They have become as important to society as the events they represent. They bring history alive to new generations and memories to those who experience them firsthand. Monuments create a bridge between generations. Many parents feel a certain indescribable joyfulness when they see the look in their child’s eyes they had went they viewed the same monument.