The two pieces under comparison are Stonehenge and Step Pyramid, both of which are megalithic, meaning large stone architecture. To illustrate the two ancient monuments one must compare their similarities while keeping in mind to contrast the differences. The main difference is that Stonehenge is from England, coming from the time of prehistory, whereas the Step Pyramid comes from Egypt, during the ancient Egyptian art period. There are many similarities in materials used, composition and the purpose behind these monuments.
One can evidently apply various iconographic interpretations but they are mainly for funerary and death burials, similar to a modern day cemetery. While many connections relate these two enchantingly bold works, the design speaks for itself in a very dramatic way through the oversized formations and geometric measurements. Moreover, any tourist observing either of these pieces of architecture know that both majestic and magical feelings fill their minds when encountering a megalithic structure.
Further, the mystery lies behind the background stories of the people, practices, landscapes, and religions going on at the time of both these sacred naturalistic monuments. Throughout this essay one can compare the Stonehenge and Step Pyramid by analyzing the features they share as well as distinguishing differences, along with discuss why they are similar, using methods of art history learned throughout the course. Notably, from 2900-1500 BCE Stonehenge existed in England during the Prehistoric art time period. Prehistory means of or relating to the time or a period prior to recorded history.
The megalithic structure of Stonehenge has attracted many curious people to its site; the location that has rustled the most imagination from the public eyes is Stonehenge, found on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. The material used in early stages was bluestone, but later came to be sandstone. This piece of architecture is composed of three stones, two up right in a vertical direction followed by one on top horizontally. The middle lintel is twenty-four feet high, fifteen feet long and three feet wide. The circle surrounding the ring of lintels is one hundred and six feet in diameter.
These beautiful monumental pieces of architecture were created by the English civilization. For instance, megalithic structures have specific aspects of iconography which are known as the visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study or interpretation. They emphasize the role of death and burial as crucial, public performances. Based on this interpretation, the ceremony of burial is viewed as a sacred theatrical performance with deceased and grave goods were usually viewed as props, the monument is viewed as a stage, while the mourners or celebrants were perceived as actors.
The whole event proceeded following an unprinted script with a story following both a plot and a narrative. Sacred refers to anything devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose. This megalithic monument in Europe was built as a cemetery that houses cremation burials. The henge is an outer circle with a diameter of one hundred and six feet of grey sandstone uprights, which is roughly thirteen feet tall. The uprights in the circle are capped with long continuous lintels. A ditch with built up embankments surrounds the circle. Within the circle of grey sandstone are blue stones.
The centre is shaped like a horseshoe and contains a grouping of five sets of stones standing upright that are topped with lintels. The middle one is the tallest and rises to twenty-four feet with a long and thick lintel. Today, these Stonehenge are located in Salisbury Plain, in Southern England. The heritage designation is that of a cultural designation in 1986 as a World Heritage site. “These prehistoric stone circles are a striking reminder of the architectural, engineering, social, and spiritual sophistication of Britain’s Neolithic people. It is believed that Stonehenge is the site of ceremonies associated to both death and burials. This theory has comes from evidence looking at both the stone circles but more importantly at the nearby sites dating from the time periods that Stonehenge mainly used. The Step Pyramid and Sham Buildings, Funerary Complex of Djoser is known as a funerary structure that was built as a place to make sure that those who were deceased moved effectively to the afterlife.
Bodies were preserved by mummification and placed in burial chambers. Specifically, funerary architecture is known to be manufactured by cultures whose faith and belief regarding the afterlife is materialistic and mainly by individuals who wish to perpetuate and personify their historical significance they were architectonically designed structures built above the contemporary ground level for the purpose of burial. The structure also had a large room for mourners to gather and offer prayers to their deceased loved ones.
