writing - Mfas3
WRITING
Discover writing that is thousands of years old! Travel around the Museum
A R T C O N N E C T I O N S > Recommended for ages 7 and up
in Gallery 110 in the Art of the Ancient World.
Cuneiform
and find words and alphabets from ancient civilizations. Start reading
Gallery 110 Visit the Ancient Near East Gallery, 110, to find one of the earliest known forms of written communication, cuneiform, which means wedge-shaped. It was usually written on clay tablets by pressing a blunt reed into wet clay, creating letters formed of wedges. Clay was easier and cheaper to use than stone, so cuneiform writing carved into stone is highly prized. A chisel was probably used to create wedge shapes in stone. Look in the gallery for the large winged genius (protective spirit) pictured on the left.
> Can you find the wedge-shaped marks carved in this stone relief?
> Think about what the writing might say. (The label near the relief translates the cuneiform.)
Libation Bowl
Gallery 113
Find this Libation Bowl (above) in the Greek Art Gallery, 113. Look on the outside lip of the phiale (bowl) for incised Greek letters. This bowl is about 2,600 years old and made of solid gold!
> Can you find letters on this bowl that look like letters in your own alphabet?
> How are some of these letters different from Find a second winged genius with cuneiform in this gallery. In the case next to it you can find a barrel cylinder, an example of cuneiform written in clay.
> How is the cuneiform on the cylinder barrel similar to the writing on the winged geniuses? > How is it different?
your alphabet?
> Copy the letters you see to compare. Only the richest families of ancient Greece could afford a valuable treasure like this libation bowl. The inscription reads, “The sons of Kypselos dedicated [this bowl] from Heraclea.” It was used to make offerings to the gods. LEFT: RELIEF OF A WINGED GENIUS, NEAR EASTERN, MESOPOTAMIAN, ASSYRIAN, NEO-ASSYRIAN PERIOD, REIGN OF ASHURNASIRPAL II, 883–859 BC. GYPSUM. CHARLES AMOS CUMMINGS FUND, 1935. ABOVE: LIBATION BOWL (PHIALE MESOMPHALOS), GREEK, ORIENTALIZING PERIOD, ABOUT 625–600 BC. GOLD. FRANCIS BARTLETT DONATION OF 1912.
WRITING ART CONNECTIONS > Recommended for ages 7 and up
Sarcophagus
Made possible by Arthur R. Hilsinger and Barbara J. Janson.
W
Gallery 109
Writing of pictures or lines Writing is is aa series series of pictures or lines Travel to the Egyptian Funerary Arts Gallery, 109. Look for this giant sarcophagus
Travel Funerary Arts gallery 109). Look for this on the in first floor (room of General Kheperre (kepper-ray). hieroglyphs on the general’s Travel to to the the Egyptian Egyptian Funerary Arts galleryInscribed 109) on the first floor (room . Look for this
giant sarcophagus of General (kepper-ray). Inscribed in hieroglyphs on the general’s shoulderKheperre are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs signs that represent giant sarcophagus of General Kheperre (kepper-ray). Inscribed in are hieroglyphs on the general’s shoulder are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs are signsThere thatwere represent the500 sounds that the sounds that make up the Egyptian language. more than shoulder are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs are signs that represent the sounds that make up the Egyptian language. There were over 500 commonly used hieroglyphic commonly used hieroglyphic characters. Egyptians wrote hieroglyphs on make up the Egyptian language. There were over 500 commonly used hieroglyphic characters. They were used for writing on monuments and for religious texts. monuments and religious texts. characters. They were used for writing on monuments and for religious texts. Use this key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval) on the right. Use the key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval). Use the key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval).
a B DF G H I K L M N P Q R S s T W II
sign SIGN sign sound sound sound
m m m
aaa
bbb
d dd
f ff
g gg
n nn
p pp
k kk
r rr
s ss
hhh
s ss
ii i
kk k
l ll
t oo or w y ooororww yy tt oo
Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre? Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre?
> Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre?
Hieroglyphs often work like a modern-day rebus, a picture puzzle.
rebus Hieroglyphs work like a modern-day a picture Hieroglyphs oftenoften work like a modern-day rebus, a picture puzzle., The picturespuzzle. The pictures in a rebus don’t represent the objects they show, but pictures in a rebus don’tthey represent they when show, but inThe a rebus don’t represent the objects show, butthe the objects sound it makes the sound it makes when read aloud. For example, a picture of a thealoud. sound makesa when aloud. read Foritexample, picture read of a knot wouldFor meanexample, “not.” Drawaapicture picture of a knot would mean “not.” Draw a picture of a bee and to the right of ofknot a beewould and to the right “not.” of the bee, drawaapicture leaf. Sound the two mean Draw of out a bee andpictures to the right of the bee, draw a leaf. Sound out the two pictures aloud – “belief.” aloud: “belief.” the bee, draw a leaf. Sound out the two pictures aloud – “belief.” > Can you a rebus for thefor saying “to be “to or not Canthink you of think of a rebus the saying be to or be?” not to be?”
Can you think of a rebus for the saying “to be or not to be?”
(Hint: (Hint: Two bee knot bee.) Twooar bee oartwo knot two bee.)
(Hint: Two bee oar knot two bee.)
After After your your visit: visit: Create Create your your own own picture picture puzzle puzzle
Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations. short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations. LEFT: LID OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF GENERAL KHEPERRE, EGYPTIAN, LATE PERIOD, DYNASTY 26, REIGN OF AMASIS, 570–526 BC. GRAYWACKE. HARVARD UNIVERSITY—BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS EXPEDITION, 1930. ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. © 2013 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.
Lid of the sarcophagus of General Kheperre, Egyptian, Late Period, Dynasty 26, reign of Amasis, 570–526 B.C. Graywacke. Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, 1930.
After your visit C R E AT E Y O U R O W N PICTURE PUZZLE
u
Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations.
L
For information on MFA family programs For information on MFA family programs and materials, please call Education at and materials, please call Education at 617-369-3300 or visit mfa.org 617-369-3300 or visit mfa.org
Discover writing that is thousands of years old! Travel around the Museum
A R T C O N N E C T I O N S > Recommended for ages 7 and up
in Gallery 110 in the Art of the Ancient World.
Cuneiform
and find words and alphabets from ancient civilizations. Start reading
Gallery 110 Visit the Ancient Near East Gallery, 110, to find one of the earliest known forms of written communication, cuneiform, which means wedge-shaped. It was usually written on clay tablets by pressing a blunt reed into wet clay, creating letters formed of wedges. Clay was easier and cheaper to use than stone, so cuneiform writing carved into stone is highly prized. A chisel was probably used to create wedge shapes in stone. Look in the gallery for the large winged genius (protective spirit) pictured on the left.
> Can you find the wedge-shaped marks carved in this stone relief?
> Think about what the writing might say. (The label near the relief translates the cuneiform.)
Libation Bowl
Gallery 113
Find this Libation Bowl (above) in the Greek Art Gallery, 113. Look on the outside lip of the phiale (bowl) for incised Greek letters. This bowl is about 2,600 years old and made of solid gold!
> Can you find letters on this bowl that look like letters in your own alphabet?
> How are some of these letters different from Find a second winged genius with cuneiform in this gallery. In the case next to it you can find a barrel cylinder, an example of cuneiform written in clay.
> How is the cuneiform on the cylinder barrel similar to the writing on the winged geniuses? > How is it different?
your alphabet?
> Copy the letters you see to compare. Only the richest families of ancient Greece could afford a valuable treasure like this libation bowl. The inscription reads, “The sons of Kypselos dedicated [this bowl] from Heraclea.” It was used to make offerings to the gods. LEFT: RELIEF OF A WINGED GENIUS, NEAR EASTERN, MESOPOTAMIAN, ASSYRIAN, NEO-ASSYRIAN PERIOD, REIGN OF ASHURNASIRPAL II, 883–859 BC. GYPSUM. CHARLES AMOS CUMMINGS FUND, 1935. ABOVE: LIBATION BOWL (PHIALE MESOMPHALOS), GREEK, ORIENTALIZING PERIOD, ABOUT 625–600 BC. GOLD. FRANCIS BARTLETT DONATION OF 1912.
WRITING ART CONNECTIONS > Recommended for ages 7 and up
Sarcophagus
Made possible by Arthur R. Hilsinger and Barbara J. Janson.
W
Gallery 109
Writing of pictures or lines Writing is is aa series series of pictures or lines Travel to the Egyptian Funerary Arts Gallery, 109. Look for this giant sarcophagus
Travel Funerary Arts gallery 109). Look for this on the in first floor (room of General Kheperre (kepper-ray). hieroglyphs on the general’s Travel to to the the Egyptian Egyptian Funerary Arts galleryInscribed 109) on the first floor (room . Look for this
giant sarcophagus of General (kepper-ray). Inscribed in hieroglyphs on the general’s shoulderKheperre are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs signs that represent giant sarcophagus of General Kheperre (kepper-ray). Inscribed in are hieroglyphs on the general’s shoulder are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs are signsThere thatwere represent the500 sounds that the sounds that make up the Egyptian language. more than shoulder are his name and military titles. Hieroglyphs are signs that represent the sounds that make up the Egyptian language. There were over 500 commonly used hieroglyphic commonly used hieroglyphic characters. Egyptians wrote hieroglyphs on make up the Egyptian language. There were over 500 commonly used hieroglyphic characters. They were used for writing on monuments and for religious texts. monuments and religious texts. characters. They were used for writing on monuments and for religious texts. Use this key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval) on the right. Use the key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval). Use the key to help you write hieroglyphic text in the cartouche (oval).
a B DF G H I K L M N P Q R S s T W II
sign SIGN sign sound sound sound
m m m
aaa
bbb
d dd
f ff
g gg
n nn
p pp
k kk
r rr
s ss
hhh
s ss
ii i
kk k
l ll
t oo or w y ooororww yy tt oo
Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre? Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre?
> Can you find some of these signs on General Kheperre?
Hieroglyphs often work like a modern-day rebus, a picture puzzle.
rebus Hieroglyphs work like a modern-day a picture Hieroglyphs oftenoften work like a modern-day rebus, a picture puzzle., The picturespuzzle. The pictures in a rebus don’t represent the objects they show, but pictures in a rebus don’tthey represent they when show, but inThe a rebus don’t represent the objects show, butthe the objects sound it makes the sound it makes when read aloud. For example, a picture of a thealoud. sound makesa when aloud. read Foritexample, picture read of a knot wouldFor meanexample, “not.” Drawaapicture picture of a knot would mean “not.” Draw a picture of a bee and to the right of ofknot a beewould and to the right “not.” of the bee, drawaapicture leaf. Sound the two mean Draw of out a bee andpictures to the right of the bee, draw a leaf. Sound out the two pictures aloud – “belief.” aloud: “belief.” the bee, draw a leaf. Sound out the two pictures aloud – “belief.” > Can you a rebus for thefor saying “to be “to or not Canthink you of think of a rebus the saying be to or be?” not to be?”
Can you think of a rebus for the saying “to be or not to be?”
(Hint: (Hint: Two bee knot bee.) Twooar bee oartwo knot two bee.)
(Hint: Two bee oar knot two bee.)
After After your your visit: visit: Create Create your your own own picture picture puzzle puzzle
Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations. short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations. LEFT: LID OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF GENERAL KHEPERRE, EGYPTIAN, LATE PERIOD, DYNASTY 26, REIGN OF AMASIS, 570–526 BC. GRAYWACKE. HARVARD UNIVERSITY—BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS EXPEDITION, 1930. ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. © 2013 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON.
Lid of the sarcophagus of General Kheperre, Egyptian, Late Period, Dynasty 26, reign of Amasis, 570–526 B.C. Graywacke. Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, 1930.
After your visit C R E AT E Y O U R O W N PICTURE PUZZLE
u
Think of words, letters, numbers, pictures, and symbols to create your own rebus. A picture of a deer could mean “dear” or the letter U could mean “you.” Start by writing a short story. Then, replace your words with different pictures or representations.
L
For information on MFA family programs For information on MFA family programs and materials, please call Education at and materials, please call Education at 617-369-3300 or visit mfa.org 617-369-3300 or visit mfa.org
