Hailey Kritstiansen
Ciaston
ART 111
5.6.2016
What Is Scared
Sacred, a word that has so many different influences, or meanings on so many different people. It is a word that has changed over time, much like the human race. The idea of something being sacred comes from it having a connection to the divine, finding sacristy could be through location, influence, or execution of art. Prehistoric and ancient Egyptian humankind believed in tributes, artistic work, and stories as sacred because of the connection they gave to the divine. There have been countless images, and artwork that humankind has found to be sacred, the Hall of Bulls, in Lascaux is an example of sacred art for prehistoric humankind. Through small passages, great rooms became opened within the cave. The large rooms, with the calcified rock became the canvas on which these prehistoric people expressed their culture, language, warnings, and according to some sources, gave praise to the divine. One reason why I believe these paintings were considered sacred is because, according to Mary Beth Looney, in an article for smart history explained that these paintings were not placed randomly and without cause, “Given the large scale of many of the animal images, we can presume that the artists worked deliberately— carefully plotting out a particular form before completing outlines, or adding color” (Looney).
Now, that alone does not prove these paintings to be considered Sacred, however with the theory posed by a priest, Henri Breuil, the meaning of the art begins to take on an even more sacred meaning. According to Breuil, these images played a role in what he described as “hunting magic”, and that these paintings were used as a way to overpower their prey through rituals and the artwork. Something is considered sacred when there is a belief that through it, you will be more connected to the divine. Through rituals such as these the prehistoric humans who lived at this time were, most likely, using these paintings as not only tribute, but as a way for others who came through to see their stories, experiences, and their acknowledgments to the divine.
Sacred for the Prehistoric people of the world, meant traveling outside of their daily lives in order to show their respect to the divine. For many years Stonehenge remained one of the earths many mysteries. Stonehenge is dated to have been created around 1848 BCE, before writing, as we know, existed (Spencer). Christopher Spencer believes Stonehenge was more than simply that of a glorious structure, or meeting place. According to Spencers research as portrayed in, Stonehenge Decoded, he believed that not only was Stonehenge a sacred structure, but it was also reserved for the dead (Spencer). Throughout Spencer’s research he found that Stonehenge was just the starting point for one of the largest ceremonies that the Prehistoric People would take part it. Spencer was able to uncover a key point in unraveling the mystery behind Stonehenge. Not far from Stonehenge, Spencer and his team were able to uncover the largest settlement of prehistoric settlers yet recorded, however there was no farm land, or agricultural plots anywhere around this settlement. We know that for the people living in the prehistoric era that agriculture was one of the cornerstones of their society. This implies that these people attended some type of sacred festival that was outside of their normal day to day life. Stonehenge represents what is sacred, and how important certain events were to these settlers, dating back to 1848 BCE.
Sacred related to the divine, it was a way for people to escape their daily lives through mythology, architecture, and art. For the Egyptian’s it was slightly different. Much of their most sacred rituals, artwork, and imagery was never meant to be seen (). It was strictly for the divine, whether that be the royal family, or the gods. Everything the Old Kingdom constructed, was constructed was with the intent of maintaining the, “concept of continuity into eternity”, as explained in Andrea’s Overview of Egyptian Art. According to Smart History, through the construction of three-dimensional art, the Egyptian’s aimed to, “reproduce the real-world— statuary of gods… to convey an idealized version” (Calvert). These artworks were sometimes made for the masses, since many were reserved for the deiced elite, and royals.
It is through art, mythology, and architecture, the idea of what is Sacred could be found through what connects us to the divine, outside of our daily lives. This is evident in the cave paintings of Lascaux, where the paintings resembled the idea of “Hunting Magic”, a tribute to the animals they had to hunt for survival, a cyclical cycle, a connection to everything, but most importantly to the Divine. In the Myth of the Buffalo Dance, this story is considered sacred because it represents the relationship between animals, and mankind, through the art of mythology and story telling. The girl must marry the buffalo in exchange for her family and her tribe to have food, and when she tries to go back on it, her father is left dead. It is the classic mythological story that connects us with what is sacred, leaving the words themselves to take on a sacred meaning. This sacred myth, reminds the listener of the relationship between the animals and the tribe, it keeps the respect for the divine, and the powers at will to maintain the come and go, and the rise and fall.
Prehistoric era people, as well as the Egyptians regarded much in their life as Sacred, and communicated that, without the need of pen or paper. They explained great mythologies which connected themselves with their ancestors as well as the divine. They created hieroglyphics which acted as a way to to account, and look back on previous life, and experience. These people reserved sacred meetings, locations, and artwork for special holidays saved for the divine, sacristy allowed them an escape from their daily lives and a connection to what they held dearest.