Were Cavemen Painting For Their Gods?

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-23-2005

[Lazamataz]

You can see her gotch.

[Lazamataz]

(smile)

[Sam Cree]

She's probably a Saints fan.

[dog breath]

I have always believed that these were sacred images since most cultures that did rock paintings into historical times felt that way. While the religious significance of the images is lost to us, the fact that they were done with great difficulty is not. The most common religion found in hunting societies is a form of shamanism. Shamanism often works much like witchcraft, where intent gives objects their power. The images may of worked like a spell giving the shaman power over the images. Later with the invention of writing, magic often is worked with just a name or words written with sacred intent. Some may represent mythical figures and others may represent desired results. Many shamanistic beliefs involved journeys into the underworld to obtain what was needed for the tribe. A descent into the bowels of the earth to work your most sacred magic seems like it would have great power, both for the shaman and the tribe.

[Old Professer]

Much nonsense has been published about "shamans", hallucinations and the like, but these fantasies tell us a great deal about the theorists and nothing about the Ice Age artists.

It is a poor author who heeds not his own caution.

[blam]

"You can see her gotch."

LOL. The controversal item is on her head. Humans weren't suppose to be weaving clothing at that time. Her cap looks woven, doesn't it?

[blam]

"Anthropology. According to University of Illinois archaeologist, Olga Soffer, the earliest-known headwear may be represented by a woven cap worn by an Upper Paleolithic figurine (the Venus of Willendorf) from Austria (Wong 2000). Venus figurines date back to ca. 27,000 years ago. (N.B.: Others have interpreted the impressions on Venus's head as coifed hair.)"

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

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[SlowBoat407]

There is a cave in El Juyo, Spain, in which a rock with a natural fissure in it has been carved on one side in the figure of a cat, and on the other in the figure of a man. I believe that the people who did that, and who made the cave paintings were in such awe of the world around them, and of the mysteries of even their own being, that they dealt with it the only way they could - artistically. It is recognition, acknowledgment, whatever you want to call it, but why would they do it if they didn't have an inkling already that there was something beyond themselves, greater than themselves?

[Major_Risktaker]

"24,000-22,000 BCE" - must stand for Before Consuming Everything.

How About:

"24,000-22,000 BCE" - must stand for Before Creatures Evolved.

Man freezing in a cave wishing for food.

[SunkenCiv]

Cretan Mythology
WebArchive
www.good.co.uk/oneworld/minoan.html [original is a dead link]

Robert Graves mentions in his book The White Goddess that an Aurignacian cave painting at Cogul in Spain depicts a similar ceremony or ritual. The scene shows a young man naked, apart form a pair of leather buskins, surrounded by nine witches with conical hats. Next to them is a black pig or boar which no doubt represents the Dark Goddess synonymous with the Moirae or Fates and running away is a young fawn with another rider on its back representing the escaping soul of the doomed victim. The entire scene parallels the myth of Perseus, his encounter with the Graeae and his decapitation of the Gorgon Medusa apart from the more obvious patriarchal revisions.

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Women and Animals: Rock Shelter Painting, Cogul, Lerida, Spain, c. 4000-3000 BC (BCE), Museo Arqueologico, Barcelona

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[nopardons]

bttt

[ValerieUSA]

Black conical hats ...

[UCANSEE2]

Her cap looks woven, doesn't it?

That's her FRO, man.

[dsc]

"Venus of Willendorf"

They had McDonald's back then? Or is it possible to get fat without habitually pigging out on junkfood?

[Textide]

Ancient ghetto?

[Drammach]

The article / writer does not take into account the possibility that the paintings, engravings, statuary, etc.. were teaching or memory aids, meant to assist in maintaining the oral tradition..
The important points in the history of a tribe or region may be depicted in this art..
Likewise, certain important principles in performance of the hunt may likewise be portrayed, and these symbols and drawings used to communicate those principles to the neophyte hunters..
In a way, they are the first written language, precursor to pictographs and heiroglyphics..

[blam]

"Black conical hats ..."

Remember that some of the female "Mummies Of Urumchi' wore tall pointed hats.

[Bellflower]

I am not understanding the picture. Is that a modern picture drawn over old etchings to give us an idea of their art or is that actually an ancient picture? It seems like a very good rendition of the animal if it is suppose to be "primitive". Also the rock that the picture is on is in the shape of an the animal. Is this part of the art form? Did they shape the rock to draw the animal on it or draw the animal on a rock that seemed in the shape of the animal to draw attention to the fact? Also what are the etchings behind the picture? Are they the original art or what as they do not look like an animal at all to me?

[Republicanprofessor]

Please add me to your ping list (so I can catch these articles in a more timely manner.)

Thanks.