Marble Column Of Artemis At Sardis

Standing over fifty-eight feet high is the Marble Column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis, known as one of the seven wonders of the world. The marble column that stands tall at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is different from the rest found at the site of the temple because the capital is slightly smaller than the rest. This indicates that it did not belong to the outer colonnade. The columns at the Temple of Artemis are found to be ionic orders, being one of the three different types of orders of classical architecture. An ionic order is a small, thin column characterized by its use of volutes, typically stand on a base separating the shaft from the platform. Another sign of an ionic column is the use of egg-and-dart on the cap. “The
As Richter stated, this ionic column is iconic for its carving and preciseness. Alike most other columns from its time, they used marble to construct the masterpiece that we know as the Marble Column today. The gathering and transport of marble was costly and effortful, and typically constituted the primary cost of building a temple. The use of marble shows that the artists who created the columns were aiming for a classy and appropriate setting. It also proves that it was constructed around the Greek Hellenistic period. When building a column meant to last many years and hold great value to its whole, a lot of thought and effort is mandatory. The intricate shapes and designs displayed throughout the work show the talent and _________. The precise carvings on the body of the column show true craftsmanship and _____. The height of the column also proves that the Greeks wanted to present the temple by displaying magnificently large
The inscription of cuneiform proclaims “Beasts of the mountains and seas which I had fashioned out of fine white limestone and alabaster, I had set in its gates. I made the palace fittingly imposing” (Benzel 90). The text continues, describing King Ashurnasirpal’s deeds which proves how he would express politics through art. The winged lion from the scene of the citadel, symbolizes “cosmic powers” in the ancient Near East. Assyrians typically had massive stone statues guarding the entrances and doorways to their palaces making the depictions of these winged creatures customary. These beasts, commonly found in ancient Near Eastern art, illustrated supernatural spirits that would be either harmful or protective. The function of the Lamassu was to “protect the king from evil and to impress all those who entered” (90). These creatures represent more than just the protection of the king but also the divineness that they exhibit. The human heads are crowned and have horned caps, the headgear of deities in the ancient Near East. From the humanistic features that lie on their faces to their styled beards, they powerfully portray King Ashurnasirpal how he is depicted throughout the walls of the palace. The Assyrian sculptors who created the lion