Sunday 16 July 2017

Ancient Statues

Definitives issued 1914-1922
The mysterious Great Sphinx of Giza, in Arabic Abū al-Haul, which translates as The Terrifying One believed to have been created circa 2558–2532 BC. Photographs of the Sphinx from all its giant angles can be seen here.   A mythical creature with the head of a man and the body of a lion. So what about seeing some lions
1950s: Official Stamps
which at 7ft (2.15m) are small in comparison to the sphinx but this once stood on a tall pillar in Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) and this polished sandstone capitol is now in the museum there.  It is the most important of many lion columns that were put up by Ashoka and the most elaborate, there are four lions which symbolise the four noble truths of Buddhism.  Today it is also a national emblem of India
1984: Parthenon Marbles
Next we have a human statue although not quite for this is Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest or more particularly wine, but also madness, vegetation and the theatre
1959: Ancient Greek Theatre
where this fellow would perform because this 3rd Century statuette portrays an actor.

An entry to Sunday Stamps II theme - Statues or Monuments -  at See It On A Postcard
 
    

4 comments:

FinnBadger said...

Great collection - the Egyptian Sphinx stamp is superb.

violet s said...

You have taken us back several thousand years with these selections.
I can see myself almost dismissing the Indian stamp - but then with enlargement you can really see the intricate details.

Mail Adventures said...

Of course...One must to look in Greece, for statues!
Love your selection today, as usual.

Bob Scotney said...

Great sphinx. Ihave a whole series of the India stamp design.