PALEOLITHIC

Late years of the Old Stone Age.

MESOLITHIC
Middle Stone Age
 NEOLITHIC
Late years of the Old Stone Age.
paleos=old and lithos=stone
Henri Breuil
“hunting magic.”
overpower their prey involved creating images of it during rituals designed
to ensure a successful hunt.
Halls of Bulls found in a cave in Lascaux, France
Josef Szombathy - 1908
Austria
The “Venus of Willendorf.” This figure is a highly abstracted woman from
highlighted body parts associated with fertility.
The representation may show the importance of taking care of these body
parts for procreation and consequently the survival of species.
Wiltshire, England
The purpose of this fascinating edifice remains a mystery up to this day age.
Some regard it as a temple while others see it as complex calendar the
tracked the movements of both the Sun and Moon. Others ascribe some
magical element to it by associating it with Merlin the Magician from King
Arthurs’s story.
Ancient observatory
Respect and veneration for animals was fundamental in all their traditions.
They were given important status throughout the ancient Egyptians’ life
and afterlife. Therefore, any appearance of the animal in their lives is in
itself of religious importance, and often the worship of the animals was very
direct, to the point where pets were found mummified and buried with their
owners.
The ancient Egyptians were very sensitive to the characteristics of the
animals: Anubis, who was a jackal (dog) weighed the heart of the dead for
Osiris; any dog owner today will tell you that dogs can see the true heart
and intent of a person. Bastet, who was a cat, was an important and infinite
source of power throughout the ancient Egyptian religion: she was seen as
the protector of home and hearth, and the goddess of fertility – the
ancient Egyptians saw that cats were tender and protective of their young.
The gods (almost 80) were represented as humans, animals or a
combination of human and animal form. The ancient Egyptians also believed
that many of their gods and goddesses were reincarnated on earth as
animals, and honored these animals in and around Ancient Egyptian
temples, through daily rituals and annual festivals. They offered them food,
drink and clothing. In temples, the high priests would watch over the statues
being washed, perfumed and dressed in clothes and jewelry three times a
day.
Osiris is the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld and Judge of the Dead,
brother-husband to Isis, and one of the most important gods of ancient
Egypt. The name `Osiris' is the Latinized form of the Egyptian Usir which is
interpreted as 'powerful' or 'mighty'.
Nebu is the Egyptian symbol for gold. It depicts a golden collar with the ends
hanging off the sides and seven spines dangling from the middle. Ancient
Egyptians believed that gold was an indestructible and heavenly metal.
The Ancient Egyptians wore jewelry to show their wealth and also because
they believed it made them more attractive to the Gods. They wore rings,
ear-rings, bracelets, decorated buttons, necklaces, neck collars and
pendants. Only the very rich could afford jewelry made of gold and precious
stones.
Sphinx of Giza or just the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx,
a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human.
Historians interpret this mixed form as a symbolic joining of a lion's strength
and dominance to a king's intelligence.
Lion: Strength, leadership, royalty, ferocity, war, healing, beauty.
Falcon: Royalty, protection, strength
Ibis: Knowledge, part of the soul,
Vulture: eternity; monarchy, leadership
Snake: danger and cure
The snake had mixed popularity in Egypt because snakes caused the danger
and the cure to the venom.
CObra: Justice, fertility, protection, royalty
BUll: Power, masculinity, fertility, regeneration
Cat: Protector, defender, fertility, offspring, childbirth.