Page 68 - The Art & Architecture of the Ancient Orient_Neat

THE EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD
space-filling plants arc a part of a homogeneous linear design, equal in value to the ani­
mals. But even in the Third Early Dynastic Period so strongly marked a contrast be­
tween figures and background is rare. On the whole the figures appear modelled against
utral smooth background. The elaboration of plasticity increases the volume of the
a nc
figures. The lion’s head seen from the front or from above shows a splendid and massive
mane. Even the faces of heroes and bull-men become broader as well as more plastic. At
the same time the friezes grow more crowded; the older well-spaced groups of three or
five figures, symmetrically arranged (Figure 14, A and b), become rare, and most figures
are put as upright as possible while crossing others (Figure i6a; Plate 40A). This cross
movement of figures becomes, in fact, the main device of composition and is handled

ifu'. MM, V

Figure 16. Seal impressions of die third Early Dynastic period

with virtuosity, hi the best examples the fantastic world of play and struggle remains a
compelling vision; but it no longer bears analysis. The earlier designs had, for all their
ingenious interlacings, remained variations of a recognizable theme, the defence of
herbivores against beasts of prey. The relations between the individual figures, their
character as aggressor or victim of attack, were never obscured. But in the wild melee of
t le later seals erstwliile allies may become antagonists if it suits the draughtsman’s con­
venience. Both sides are, moreover, strengthened; the stag and the leopard are added to
t c cast of figures, no doubt to counteract the monotony which the exclusive use of the
criss crossing shapes would otherwise produce. For the same reason animals - mostly
victims - arc often inverted, hi the usual frieze of crossing animals all the formal interest
cs in t ic upper half of the design, the lower part merely consisting of legs, which may
C C c8ant y sPaccd, as in plate 40B, but remain rather dull (Figure i6a). The placing of
nC or more of the animals upside down (Plate 40A) corrects that shortcoming. The
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