Aesop’s and other’s Influence on Western Art
The ancient art of Astragalus has been attributed to the knowledge of the ancients of Egypt. The ancients of Egypt had proven astrology to be quite useful to them. The art of astrology in the early civilizations of Egypt and India is reflected in their architectural works such as the Pyramids of Giza, the colossal temples of Akbarabad and the temples in south India. The ancient civilizations of the east were also known for their astrological knowledge much earlier to the their western counter parts..
The ancients had devised a system of sun signs and stars, which gave them a distinct advantage over the other cultures of the time. Ancient Egyptians were known to use the knowledge of stars and sun signs to forecast events in the future. By studying the rising and setting of the sun along with its movement through the constellations they were able to predict certain weather conditions. A string of constellations, known as the zodiac, was further studied using astrology to map out the seasons on earth.
Another form of knowledge which can be attributed to the ancients of Egypt and India is the art of numerology. Numerology deals with the study of numbers. The ancients knew that a person’s life could be accounted for by studying his sun sign and stellar birth chart. This information was used to determine the time and place of birth. Other than being an important tool in Astrology, numerology is still widely used today.
Not all works of art actually reflect astrology though. Astragalus was a famous painter who is also well known for his teachings on logic, dialectical thinking, mathematics and the soul or consciousness. He is said to have made several mystical paintings which were based on the ideas of Democritus. Astragalus was born in Athens, Greece in the third century BC and was one of the most prolific and respected ancient Greek philosophers. His works on logic and dialectical thinking are still used today as fundamental pieces of material for those wanting to understand the workings of the human mind.
The term “Aristotle” means “the master”. A number of artists in various cultures, such as Egyptian art, Chinese art and Indian art, credit Aristotle as having created their works of art. However, some scholars dispute this claim. Aristotle did play a significant role in developing the concepts of artistic beauty in the Greco-Roman and Greek worlds. But he was, in actuality, just as much a product of his times as any of his other contemporaries.
In the second century BC, another Greek artist named Statius (who is likely to have been born in Rome during the First Century AD) began writing about Aesop’s fables. He is also believed to have introduced the first theatrical play when he wrote about the Sophist. Though Statius’ works on Aesop’s fables are considered classic, some scholars argue that they fall far short of the standards set by the ancient authors. It was not until the Renaissance that western scholars began appreciating Aesop’s genuine contributions to the art world. The true nature of Aesop’s work, including his knowledge of the human mind, and therefore his knowledge of how to create art works were soon appreciated by the European Renaissance era, bringing Aesop’s work into its rightful place alongside the other great classic works of classical Greece and Rome.
By the time of Pope Sixtus IV in the sixteenth century, there had been many Aesop’s fables translated into Latin, thus bringing the classic story to the attention of the Catholic Church. Aesop’s work became even more popular with the French Revolution, when it was used to support the clergy in their crusade against the Hundred Years War. In addition to this, the work of Aesop was utilized in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and natural sciences. Aesop’s work has been used to explain a variety of physical phenomena, ranging from the causes of diseases to the best way to prepare for a new season of gardening.
Aesop’s knowledge of the mind, soul and body has also inspired a number of modern artists and musicians. The works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and others can be seen around the world as a result of their own interpretation of the story. Aesop’s influence on the art world cannot be overlooked.
