Hercules and Cacus (Bode Museum; Berlin)
    

Sculpter - Hercules and Cacus (Florence, Italy)

This is a sculpture in Florence, Italy that was sculpted in 1529 by Baccio Bandinelli (Hercules and Cacus, 1901). It shows the Roman Demi-god Hercules killing the fire-belching monster Cacus. The story states that Cacus stole eight of Hercules cattle and brought them back to his cave. Hercules called out to his cattle and eventually found the cave, although Cacus blocked off the cave and began breathing fire and smoke at him, Hercules managed to strangle Cacus and retrieve his cattle.

Bandinelli built this sculpture to commemorate the victory over the Medici and to also represent strength. Hercules posed as a dynastic symbol for the Medici family that projected the idea of courage and strength. The sculpture on the left was made of colored wax that takes place in the bode museum in Berlin. This sculpture was also portrayed on a street in Rome in a different position with the same message. Currently because this scene has been depicted as a sculpture in the street of Rome, I believe today this sculpture holds a statement of the strength and the courage the city will always hold. The contents relate to its form because the marble that was used represents a strong and stable structure similar to Hercules. 

Graffiti - Bull Heads with hooves (Temple in Kurru)

This temple graffiti shows two heads of cattle with hornes, elongated noses and a pair of front hooves (Graffito T12. Animal - Bull heads with hooves, 2019). There is also a possible alter of offering table to the right of the cattle heads. This is an ancient kush carving found at the Nile Valley of El Kurru in a sacred underground temple. It is said to be dates back to somewhere between 300 BCE - 300 CE when the Kush began this practice of graffiti and was ruled by the capital of Meroe. 

I believe this graffiti was a way for the creator to document the practices done in the temple similar to churches we have today or mark the sacred temple as an important territory. The graffiti was chiseled with hard stone because it was done on the wall. These symbols of ancient El-Kurru saw a ram as the local form of God Amun (Recently discovered ancient graffiti explored in new U-M Kelsey Museum of Archeology exibition, 2019). These symbols were seen in the past as supernatural beings because of the human shaped eyes on an anima head. Although it is assumed to be religious, it can also possibly be viewed as demonic. Currently this seems to be an archived artifact to date a time in history of the Kushnite's beliefs.

 

Graffiti - Human seated with staff or sceptor (Temple in Kurru)

This graffiti is a carving of a human sitting on a chair holding a staff or a scepter infront of him with both hands (Graffito T8. Human - Seated, possibly with staff or scepter, 2019). This sitting figure could be seen as a diety or a ruler. If it were to be assumed as a diety in the ancient times of Kurru, the figure would be believed to be Ptah, the patron diety of the Egyptian city of Memphis. This graffiti is believed to be dated back to 744-656 BCE during the Kushnite control over Egypt. 

I believe this carving was done to mark a territory because during the Kushnites control, the king installed stone carvings of Ptah inside the temple. I believe this graffiti would also have to be done with stone chisels. The carving seems to present a meaning of power that once held its place in the temple. Currently this seems to be an archived artifact to date a time in history of the Kushnite's beliefs. 

REFERENCES

Graffito T8. Human - Seated, possibly with staff or scepter. (2019). Graffiti as Devotion. University of Michigan. https://exhibitions.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu/graffiti-el-kurru/zoom_t08.php

Graffito T12. Animal - Bull heads with hooves. (2019). Graffiti as Devotion. University of Michigan. https://exhibitions.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu/graffiti-el-kurru/zoom_t12.php

Hercules and Cacus. (1901). Bode-Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hercules-and-cacus-baccio-bandinelli/_QFZaVrfSo6RAQ

Recently discovered ancient graffiti explored in new U-M Kelsey Museum of Archeology exibition. (2019). University of Michigan. https://arts.umich.edu/news-features/recently-discovered-ancient-graffiti-explored-in-new-u-m-kelsey-museum-of-archaeology-exhibition/