Ancient Art

December 3, 2020

“Sistine Chapel of the Ancients”: Researchers Discover Thousands of Ice Age Rock Paintings in the Amazon

Deep within the dense Amazon rainforest in modern-day Colombia, early human settlers of the region had recorded their surroundings in rock art. Now, an 8-mile stretch of cliff decorated with thousands of drawings has been discovered deep in the remote site known as Serranía de la Lindosa. The collection of detailed illustrations dates back to between 11,800 years and 12,600 ago—just as the world was warming out of the Ice Age.

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April 17, 2020

Classical White Marble Sculptures Were Actually Painted But Lost Color Over Time

Marble sculpture is a cornerstone of art history. The ancient Greeks left a legacy of transformative sculptural works that reached for unprecedented naturalism in Hellenistic gems such as Venus de Milo and Nike of Samothrace. This was succeeded by the ancient Romans, who copied their major works and created portrait busts and equestrian statues of major historical figures. At the time of their completion, however, these ancient masterpieces looked remarkably different.

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October 6, 2019

How This 30,000-Year-Old Figurine Continues to Captivate Today

Throughout history, countless creatives have found inspiration in Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Derived from Aphrodite, a prominent deity in ancient Greek mythology, Venus was central to Roman worship—and, in turn, to art of the time. While the 2nd-century-BCE Venus de Milo is perhaps the most well-known sculpture of the goddess, it is not the oldest; in fact, that honor goes to the Venus of Willendorf, a piece that predates the myth itself by over 20,000 years.

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January 9, 2019

All About ‘Laocoön and His Sons’: A Marble Masterpiece From the Hellenistic Period

During ancient Greece's Hellenistic Period, sculptors took their classical craft to new levels. Renowned for expressive figures that appear to be in motion, this era saw the creation of three of the world's most famous marble sculptures: The Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Laocoön and His Sons. Since its 16th century excavation, Laocoön and His Sons has attracted archaeologists and art lovers alike.

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