ART
ARH 141 Essay Topics Fall 2022
First Choose one of the three topics below:
A. Egypt
Begin your essay by describing the Egyptian sarcophagus and contemporary coffin you chose.
Be sure to include the materials used to create the object and the style and iconography of the
imagery on the sarcophagus.
Next, assess the cultural context of the object. Because of the ancient Egyptian belief that the ka,
or life spirit, of the pharaohs could live on after death, their remains were housed in elaborate
coffins and tombs. We also bury our dead in coffins and at times large tomb structures. How are
they like and unlike Egyptian Old, Middle, and New Kingdom burials?
B. Greece
Begin your essay by describing the Greek statue of Aphrodite and the contemporary female
image you chose. Be sure to include the materials used to create the statue(s)/image(s) and the
style of and iconography included in the female depictions.
Next, assess the cultural context of the object. Statues like those of Aphrodite represents the Late
Classical and Hellenistic ideal of female beauty. How lifelike is it? How does it compare to
ideals of female beauty prevalent today? What is the same? What has changed? Make specific
comparisons between the Greek statue and a contemporary idealization of female beauty to make
your points.
C. Rome
Begin your essay by comparing a fresco portrait of a married couple from Pompeii with posed
portraits of couples that you might see today. Focus the media used in each example, the styles
of the figure portrayals, the relationship between the marriage partners, and on their relationship
with you as a viewer. What is the same today? What has changed? Make specific comparisons
between the Pompeiian and contemporary works to make your points.
