Ancient Visual Languages
Ancient Visual Languages
In the early 3000 B.C.E. civilianization had to come up with ways to communicate by
using visual art. These ways helped early civilianizations communicate with people from
different countries. Also, visual art was a form of entertainment in certain countries such as,
Egypt. In the Southern countries they would use these visual arts as a way of counting and
trading certain items. Due to differences in cultures and time periods, there are different styles as
well as formats. The four main styles over the centuries are; pictography, ideogram, cuneiform,
and hieroglyphics. The major contrasting elements between those four are the uses, meanings of
symbols, and the materials used to create them.
One of the main differences between cuneiform, pictograph, and hieroglyphics are the
material and minerals used to create them. Hieroglyphics were engraved in either black basalt
slabs or papyrus paper (Ayiter,Elif). Unlike the others, Egyptians made their own paper to write
the hieroglyphics on. This paper was made by, peeling the stem off the papyrus reeds and
slicing the inner core into thin pieces" (Ayiter,Elif). Next the wet strips of the reed were placed
into a wooden frame on top of each, and another layer was placed on the top. Going through
those steps, made a unique paper called papyrus. Papyrus was the first form of paper
(Ayiter,Elif). Unlike hieroglyphics, cuneiform were made on clay, due to the fact it was ready to
use (Ayiter,Elif). The early civilianization also used clay because it was recyclable and durable.
The clay was sometimes formed to make, "cones, balls, prisms, and other shapes," depending on
the purpose (Ayiter,Elif). Someone would press down on to the tip of the reed stylus into the
clay, and start drawing along the object to make the symbol. A special tool was made to make
the wedge-shaped" look on the strokes (Ayiter,Elif). On the other hand, the pictographs were
made on caves walls, alcoves, and sandstone that was smoothed" (Lee). The pictograph added
more color to them compared to the other styles. Colors such as red were created by hematite
and red iron oxide" (Glen Canyon Natural History Association). The white was made from white
clay and charcoal was used to make black. These "minerals were mixed with a vehicle and a
binding agent of some kind to help them cling to the rock" (Glen Canyon Natural History
Association). Some of the pictograph were done by finger painting, or by a fiber like brush made
from yucca plant (Glen Canyon Natural History Association). All cultures used different
materials and styles that fit their particular needs and resources.
The second main difference between Ideograms, hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and
pictographs are they reasons why they were invented. Ideograms were pictures that represented a
particular idea. The main reason for ideograms was so that people, who do not speak the same
language could still understand. In some countries these are still used today. For an example, a
picture of an airplane would represent that there is an airport nearby. This idea would help
people from different countries better understand where things are in other countries
(Ayiter,Elif). While the Egyptians used hieroglyphics for entertainment, and as more of an art.
Hieroglyphics were a combination of logographic and alphabetic elements (Ayiter,Elif).
Pictographs were invented for a way to communicate, it was considered to be an "alogous to
individual words in natural language"(Glen Canyon Natural History Association). Unlike
ideographs, pictographs, and hieroglyphics; cuneiform was invent to keep records or trades. In
Southern Iraq, their population was growing and their society became really into the trading
companies (Lawerence,Lo). Which led them to coming up with the cuneiform to create a form of
accounting. Not only did cuneiform help them with receiving resources, but also
withdistributing. Due to the different reason for them, they all also have different styles and
meanings.
In the early civilianization, visual languages were invented to communicate and express
ideas. Also they were used as a form of receipt in some countries. The four major visual
languages are; pictographs, cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and ideograms. In contrast, those four have
different meanings, reasons for being used and completely different minerals used. While
hieroglyphics were made on a specially made papyrus paper, cuneiform was made on simple
clay. They used clay, because it was reused able and easy to come by. Cuneiform was often
made into shapes, while pictographs were usually drawn on rocks or cave walls. Pictographs
were more like sentences, while ideograms were pictures of an idea. Cuneiform was made for
accounting and keeping track of trades, kind of like a receipt. While hieroglyphics were usually
made of imaginary or real elements, that are simple or complex. These differences assisted the
people in each unique culture in many crucial ways.
designmylife.org
Pictograph (painted rock) showing a sun and geometric patterns.
parks.ca.gov
The Quarry Masonic Forum -Hieroglyphics Cracked 1000 Years Earlier.
tamrin.proboards.com
ACCORDING TO LANGUAGE HISTORY, IMAGES WERE USED AS LANGUAGE DURING ANCIENT TIME.
A MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION. THIS IS WHAT WE CALLED "ANCIENT VISUAL LANGUAGE"
In the early 3000 B.C.E. civilianization had to come up with ways to communicate by using visual art. These
ways helped early civilianizations communicate with people from different countries. Also, visual art was a form
of entertainment in certain countries such as, Egypt. In the Southern countries they would use these visual arts
as a way of counting and trading certain items. Due to differences in cultures and time periods, there are
different styles as well as formats. The four main styles over the centuries are; pictography, ideogram,
cuneiform, and hieroglyphics. The major contrasting elements between those four are the uses, meanings of
symbols, and the materials used to create them.
SCULPTURE/REBULTO
Sculptures were used as a means of communication depicting the LIFE AND HISTORY of the PAST. Since
there are no photograph and newspaper they develop a way of communication in order to preserve the history.
It was a practice to make a sculpture of GREAT PERSONALITIES in history to remind us what have been
happening in the PAST.
Reference: SECULAR HISTORY