Olmec colossal heads

Examples of Olmec colossal heads in the following topics:

• Colossal Heads of the Olmec

  • The Olmec culture of the Gulf Coast of Mexico produced the first major Mesoamerican art, and is particularly known for the creation of colossal stone heads.
  • While Olmec figurines are found abundantly in sites throughout the Formative period, monumental works of basalt sculpture, including colossal heads, altars, and seated figures are the most recognizable feature of Olmec culture.
  • The colossal heads range in height from 5 to 12 feet.
  • The discovery of a colossal head at Tres Zapotes in the nineteenth century spurred the first archaeological investigations of Olmec culture by Matthew Stirling in 1938.
  • It is believed that the Olmec colossal heads are depictions of powerful rulers.

• The Olmec

  • The most striking art left behind by this culture are the Olmec colossal heads.
  • The discovery of a colossal head at Tres Zapotes in the 19th century spurred the first archaeological investigations of Olmec culture by Matthew Stirling in 1938.
  • Most colossal heads were sculpted from spherical boulders, but two from San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán were re-carved from massive stone thrones.
  • An additional monument, at Takalik Abaj in Guatemala, is a throne that may have been carved from a colossal head.
  • This sculpture is typical of the colossal heads of the Olmec.

• Cultures of Mesoamerica

  • The Olmec civilization, which flourished from 1200–400 BCE, defines the Pre-Classical period; the Olmecs are generally considered the forerunner of all later Mesoamerica cultures including the Maya and Aztecs.
  • Made from basalt rock from the Tuxtla mountains to the north, the Olmec used this rock to create altars, stelae, and colossal heads.
  • Each colossal head is rendered as a distinct individual and are thought to resemble different Olmec rulers.
  • Each ruler's personality is represented in the distinct headdress that adorns each sculpture's head.
  • Heads like this one made from basalt boulders weighed anywhere between 6 and 50 tons.

• The Maya People

  • It contained a masonry fragment strongly resembling a head in the distinctive Olmec style.
  • During this period, the Olmec culture reached its zenith, centered around the capital of La Venta in modern-day Tabasco near the early Maya centers.
  • Speakers of a Mixe–Zoquean language, the Olmec are generally recognized as the first true civilization in the Americas.
  • Their capital city of La Venta contains extensive earthworks and stone monuments, including several of the distinctive Olmec stone heads.
  • Several words entered Mayan from a Mixe–Zoquean language, presumably due to Olmec influence.

• Dur Sharrukin

  • The colossal bull statue was uncovered outside the throne room.
  • Human-headed winged bull (shedu), found during Botta's excavation.

• Sculpture of the New Kingdom

  • In the famous sculptures outside the main temple at Abu Simbel, Ramses II (1303–1213 BCE) is depicted in a row of four colossal statues.
  • This art is characterized by a sense of movement and activity in images, with figures having raised heads, many figures overlapping, and many scenes full and crowded.

• The Assyrian Culture

  • A statue of Ashurnasirpal II was found in an excellent state of preservation, as were colossal winged man-headed lions, each guarding the palace entrance.
  • The colossal bull statue (above) was uncovered outside the throne room.
  • Some of the principal doorways were flanked by colossal stone-door figures that included many winged lions or bulls with the heads of men.

• Teotihuacan

  • Archaeological excavation of this temple's earlier-phase tableros and a stairway balustrade have revealed painted heads of the Feathered Serpent, the goggle-eyed Rain or Storm God, and reliefs of aquatic shells and snails.
  • The flat, angular, abstract style, typical of Teotihuacan art, is in marked contrast to the curvilinear style of Olmec art.

• Art of the Maya

  • Strong cultural influences stemming from the Olmec tradition and from Teotihuacan contributed to the development of the Maya city center and the culture's Classic artistic tradition.
  • He holds across his chest a double-headed serpent bar, symbol of the sky and of his absolute power.

• Sculpture in Mesopotamia

  • The Assyrians produced very little sculpture in the round with the exception of colossal guardian figures, usually lions and winged beasts, that flanked fortified royal gateways.
  • Uruk Head, also known as the Mask of Warka (c. 3000 BCE)
  • The eyes and eyebrows on this Uruk marble head are hollow to accommodate the original inlay.
  • The lapis lazuli, shell, red limestone decoration, and the head of the bull are original.
  • The bull's head is covered with gold.