Reading Comprehension 2

Hersey's belief of sacrifice is very valid, due to the fact that during this time the Greek culture was based off of polytheistic ideas, and sacrifices were a part of their traditional worship. In fact a building during this time period could be considered a ritual sacrifice to the gods based on its sole purpose. For example the Parthenon was a sacrifice to Athena because its sole purpose was to glorify her triumph over Poseidon. Hersey often notes that many architectural elements had different significances and Greek words and definitions in order to describe them. Some of the Greek terminology that Hersey describes, are the terms “trachelion and hypotrachelion” which come from the Greek word for "throat," and the volutes that are at the top of Ionic and Corinthian capitals can almost represent hair or horns that would be seen on a person or animal. In ancient Greek rituals some of these areas were very important on the body, in a sacrifice if it were a human or animal sacrifice. Hersey gives the reader several examples and details to support his theory however it is not enough to solidly conclude that he was right.
In today’s society it’s easy to find what we want and need through the Internet, however a tool like this has mentally crippled people in a way. The reason I say this is because it’s so easy to just find one source and call it a day. This often causes people to stop searching for true facts and just go with the first thing they fin, which in all fairness I too am guilty of at times. In the case of the character of Carson in McCaulays Motel of the Mysteries, Carson misinterprets the objects he encounters because he doesn't know anything about the culture of the lost civilization he has found, and only relies on the objects themselves as his only information source. I believe that this is giving us an example of what people often do today by using the Internet as their only source of research, which is how things can become confusing. I guess its still good to have books and newspapers after all.

In ancient Egypt one of the main tasks for a ruler was to build a grave before his death that was great in scale and structure. The pyramids at Giza, which were constructed for pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, are displays of power, wealth, status, and greatness. Their massiveness and soaring verticality emphasizes the pharaoh's dominant position over his subjects and the land. However it is not until the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, or the fourth dynasty that we see a shift in tomb design. The queen’s tomb speaks a more simplistic language with the use of echoes and strong centers in the multiple entrances. Built into the side of the cliff it also embraces the surrounding landscape rather than towering over it like the pyramids before it. One of the other important differences in how the structures were built were the genders of the rulers. The tomb that was built by the queen can be argued to represent the female gender because of the multiple openings, and in ancient Egypt one of the main tasks for the women were to multiply or reproduce and be the caretaker of the house while the man worked.



In examining Egyptian and Greek architecture some of the structures they contain like temples are similar. Two of these temples that could be compared are the Egyptian Hypostyle Hall and the Greek Parthenon in Athens. From what we know the differences between design ideology Greeks and Egyptians are vast. However we do see some similarities in temple design between these two cultures. One of the most noticeable similarities is the use large of columns surrounding the perimeter of the temples. While the Egyptian columns of the Hypostyle hall contained a stylized papyrus capital, the Greek columns around the Parthenon had more of a Doric order. the Egyptians and the Greeks both seemed to have a sense of axial progression in the structuring of these temples as well showing that their ideas of worship had similarities also.


Egyptian tombs were created on a large and massive scale. This was to represent the idea that the afterlife lasted forever and so would the tombs that held the body, in comparison to the furniture, which was built light for easy everyday usage. Although the furniture was built out of well crafted materials for that time, that was simply the Egyptian culture. However the furniture probably was not made to last as long because according to the Egyptians life was the beginning of the afterlife. I mean after all once a persons dead there not coming back, why not make the tomb better than the house they live in daily. (Sarcasm)

The two urns contain drawings of men who could possibly be rulers that have a dominant role over women. On both urns, the male figure is seated on a throne while female figures appear to be serving him. On the first urn, a woman is shown handing the male his sword and shield. Men in this time were seen as powerful warriors, which makes it ironic that the goddess Athena is associated with battle. These images reflect a male dominated culture. In the reading Harwood stated that, "Males possess independence, wealth, ownership, and education. Women, on the other hand, are their fathers' or husbands' property, being restricted by law, politics, custom, and family relationships. Their main duties are to bear children and tend the family household. Few women artists are known, and nothing by those acknowledged survives" (Harwood, 64). This is simply evidence of the culture during that time and I believe that these urns simply bare the record of that society.