Ancient Art Podcast

Too often the 18th Dynasty "Heretic King" Akhenaten (r. ca. 1353-1336 BC) is labeled the world's first monotheist, proselytizing the one true god Aten, the solar disk. But was he truly a monotheist or is there something deeper going on here? Episode 40 explores this question, continuing the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions. We examine the pros and cons to the argument, looking at historic, literary, and artistic evidence. As an added bonus, we compare passages of the "Great Hymn to Aten" to the Bible's Psalm 104. Explore more at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Too often the 18th Dynasty "Heretic King" Akhenaten (r. ca. 1353-1336 BC) is labeled the world's first monotheist, proselytizing the one true god Aten, the solar disk. But was he truly a monotheist or is there something deeper going on here? Episode 40 explores this question, continuing the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions. We examine the pros and cons to the argument, looking at historic, literary, and artistic evidence. As an added bonus, we compare passages of the "Great Hymn to Aten" to the Bible's Psalm 104. Explore more at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

We learn that the Ancient Egyptians surrounded themselves in death with idyllic scenes from everyday life. Are these truly scenes from daily life or is there more to it than that? Episode 39 delves deeper into the meaning and symbolism behind tomb decoration. We compare private and royal tombs, examining the evidence of what is and isn't represented. Included in this episode are Theban Tomb 36 (TT36), the 12th Dynasty tomb of Djehutihotep, a nod to the "hotep-di-nisw" and Book of the Dead, and we'll revisit our old friend Nebamun. Explore more at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

We learn that the Ancient Egyptians surrounded themselves in death with idyllic scenes from everyday life. Are these truly scenes from daily life or is there more to it than that? Episode 39 delves deeper into the meaning and symbolism behind tomb decoration. We compare private and royal tombs, examining the evidence of what is and isn't represented. Included in this episode are Theban Tomb 36 (TT36), the 12th Dynasty tomb of Djehutihotep, a nod to the "hotep-di-nisw" and Book of the Dead, and we'll revisit our old friend Nebamun. Explore more at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Episode 38 sets the story straight about the misconception that the Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with death. We delve into the Ancient Egyptian concept of Heaven, unearth some ancient grave goods, and take a close hard look at the themes and subjects decorating the walls of Ancient Egyptian tombs. The evidence reveals a culture obsessed not with death, but with life! Included in this episode are the famous wall paintings from the New Kingdom tomb of Nebamun, now in the British Museum, the solar boat of King Khufu at Giza, and a roundup of "shabti" figurines from the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Episode 38 sets the story straight about the misconception that the Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with death. We delve into the Ancient Egyptian concept of Heaven, unearth some ancient grave goods, and take a close hard look at the themes and subjects decorating the walls of Ancient Egyptian tombs. The evidence reveals a culture obsessed not with death, but with life! Included in this episode are the famous wall paintings from the New Kingdom tomb of Nebamun, now in the British Museum, the solar boat of King Khufu at Giza, and a roundup of "shabti" figurines from the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Coming in at number 8 in the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 37 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the age-old myth that the "Pyramids were Built by Slaves." From the tomes of ancient literature to the annals of modern media, the myth that slaves built the pyramids just can't seem to die. In this episode, we explore the ancient literary sources for the confusion, including The Bible, Herodotus, and Josephus. But current excavations on the Giza plateau tell a very different story. What can we learn from the graves of the pyramid builders? Who were they and what were their lives like? Where did they live? Is there a Lost City of the Pyramid Builders? Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Coming in at number 8 in the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 37 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the age-old myth that the "Pyramids were Built by Slaves." From the tomes of ancient literature to the annals of modern media, the myth that slaves built the pyramids just can't seem to die. In this episode, we explore the ancient literary sources for the confusion, including The Bible, Herodotus, and Josephus. But current excavations on the Giza plateau tell a very different story. What can we learn from the graves of the pyramid builders? Who were they and what were their lives like? Where did they live? Is there a Lost City of the Pyramid Builders? Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Number 9 in our countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 36 of the Ancient Art Podcast exposes the Orion Mystery, or the Orion Correlation Theory, the belief that the Ancient Egyptians were mapping out the heavens on earth. Do the pyramids of Giza correspond to the belt of the constellation Orion? Were hollow shafts in the Great Pyramid of Khufu designed to point to certain celestial bodies? Did generation after generation of pyramid-building Pharaoh follow a grand master plan for placing heaven on earth? Is the pyramid conceived as a stairway to heaven for the deceased king ... a sort of "stargate?" Were the Ancient Egyptians descendants of a much earlier long-dead Atlantean civilization, whose ancient mysteries were preserved in the stones of the pyramids? Get out your tinfoil hats, because we're in for a ride! Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Number 9 in our countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 36 of the Ancient Art Podcast exposes the Orion Mystery, or the Orion Correlation Theory, the belief that the Ancient Egyptians were mapping out the heavens on earth. Do the pyramids of Giza correspond to the belt of the constellation Orion? Were hollow shafts in the Great Pyramid of Khufu designed to point to certain celestial bodies? Did generation after generation of pyramid-building Pharaoh follow a grand master plan for placing heaven on earth? Is the pyramid conceived as a stairway to heaven for the deceased king ... a sort of "stargate?" Were the Ancient Egyptians descendants of a much earlier long-dead Atlantean civilization, whose ancient mysteries were preserved in the stones of the pyramids? Get out your tinfoil hats, because we're in for a ride! Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Number 10 in our countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 35 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the truth behind the claim that the lotus flower in Ancient Egypt was used as an intoxicant, psychotropic stimulant, or form of sexual enhancement. We'll look at Ancient Egyptian medical texts and the latest scientific studies. We also briefly recap the symbolism of the lotus flower in Ancient Egyptian art, including works from the Art Institute of Chicago and the the magnificent wall paintings from the tomb of Nebamun at the British Museum. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Number 10 in our countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions, episode 35 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the truth behind the claim that the lotus flower in Ancient Egypt was used as an intoxicant, psychotropic stimulant, or form of sexual enhancement. We'll look at Ancient Egyptian medical texts and the latest scientific studies. We also briefly recap the symbolism of the lotus flower in Ancient Egyptian art, including works from the Art Institute of Chicago and the the magnificent wall paintings from the tomb of Nebamun at the British Museum. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the complete Top 10 list. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Enchanted riders, ghostly horses, and tortured souls round out this Halloween edition of the Ancient Art Podcast. The Art Institute of Chicago's new Weston Wing of Japanese Art showcases wonderful works from Japanese prehistory through present day. We wrap our head around the 5th and 6th century earthenware haniwa tomb figures of Japan's Kofun era, including a particularly magnificent clay horse. An interesting passage from an ancient text reveals there's more than meets the eye to these figurines. We see what's at stake in some ghoulish Japanese ghost stories. And the haunting Edo period woodblock prints of the series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" (Hyaku Monogatari) by the master printmaker Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) contributes to the creepiness. Lastly, we put the nail in the coffin with a nod to modern horror cinema. Light some candles and snuggle up for our most horrific episode yet! Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://www.facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Enchanted riders, ghostly horses, and tortured souls round out this Halloween edition of the Ancient Art Podcast. The Art Institute of Chicago's new Weston Wing of Japanese Art showcases wonderful works from Japanese prehistory through present day. We wrap our head around the 5th and 6th century earthenware haniwa tomb figures of Japan's Kofun era, including a particularly magnificent clay horse. An interesting passage from an ancient text reveals there's more than meets the eye to these figurines. We see what's at stake in some ghoulish Japanese ghost stories. And the haunting Edo period woodblock prints of the series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" (Hyaku Monogatari) by the master printmaker Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) contributes to the creepiness. Lastly, we put the nail in the coffin with a nod to modern horror cinema. Light some candles and snuggle up for our most horrific episode yet! Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://www.facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Learn all about the beloved elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesha in episode 33 of the Ancient Art Podcast. We explore the annual festival celebrating his birth, Ganesha Chaturthi, and discover how he happened to get that elephant head. Plus we investigate why, oh, why he’s missing a tusk! We look closely at a few magnificent sculptures of Ganesha at the Art Institute of Chicago and conclude with an exploration of the contemporary art installation Public Notice 3 by Jitish Kallat on view through January 2, 2011, which juxtaposes Swami Vivekananda’s September 11, 1893 speech in Chicago on religious tolerance with the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. See all episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://www.facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.