The earlier Aegean cultures began around 3000 b.c.e. The first culture called the Cycladic culture. The Cycladic culture was centered on a group of small islands in the Aegean. Researchers do not really know anything about the people who made the art found from the Cycladic culture. A popular piece of artwork found from this culture were nude female figures. These figures were simplified resemblances of the female body that contained abstract and geometric lines, shapes, and projections. The Statuette of a Women which can be found in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was just over two feet tall. However, some of their sculptures were life size. These sculptures were made of marble and found around burials. Because of the location the sculptures were found, it has been inferred that the figures were used for rituals and related or a fertility or female deity. I found these figures to be very different from the previous sculptures I learned about like the Female Figure from …show more content…
The Mycenaean culture was formed around the city of Mycenae around the times of 1600 and 1100 b.c.e. Similar to the Egyptians and Minoans, Mycenaean culture is known for its palaces and temples. Like the Egyptians, the Mycenaeans also had elaborate burial customs and tombs. It is obvious that this culture had a lot of contact with the Egyptians and share similar styles and tastes. One of the reasons for this contract was for the gold that the Mycenaeans got from Egypt and Nubia. The Mycenaeans were known for their outstanding goldsmiths. Because of their large amounts of gold their burial sites have several gold objects. A specific piece of artwork is the Ryton. It is a drinking cup made of gold from Mycenae. It stands eight inches high and was made around 1550 b.c.e. The cup is the shape of a lion’s head. The sides of the lion’s head appear simple and very smooth while the front pays a lot of attention to