There were no pyramids in ancient Greece. The Greeks did not write with hieroglyphs, worship Egyptian gods, or perform the same elaborate mummification rituals as Egypt. However, in the art of the Greeks, specifically the sculpting of the human form, there is compelling evidence of Egyptian influence.
Egyptian Sculpture Characteristics: The Mentuemhet Example
Egyptian artisans had a very specific way of positioning the human form in a sculpture. For example, when examining the statue Mentuemhet from Egypt’s Late Period, several distinct characteristics can be identified.
First, one notices the upright stance. The head is held high and the shoulders are straight with well-balanced posture. The statue’s arms drape down to the side of the torso with the fists clenched, giving an impression of controlled determination.
The legs and feet are firmly planted, specifically with the left foot placed in front of the other.
Comparing Egyptian and Greek Sculptures: Anavysos Kouros
When comparing the Egyptian style of Mentuemhet with the Greek sculpture Anavysos Kouros, an echo of some of the same themes is evident.
Again, the head is held high with the eyes looking determinedly straight ahead. The Greek kouros’ arms are also at its side in the same manner as the Egyptian statue. The hands are even clenched slightly into fists, again echoing the Egyptian influence.
When looking at the legs of the kouros, the similarity is there again — the feet are planted firmly on the ground with the left foot forward in relation to the other.
Distinctive Styles: Greek Naturalism vs. Egyptian Formalism
Though these similarities show evidence of Egypt’s influence on the art of the Greeks, the Greek work differs significantly in style and context.
The style of the Anavysos Kouros is considerably more naturalistic than its Egyptian counterpart. For example, the kouros is more anatomically correct. The figure’s musculature is far more defined, as are the facial features.
Another obvious feature that sets the kouros apart from the Egyptian sculpture is the lack of clothing on the Greek piece.
The Influence of Greek Culture and Competition on Sculpture
Why was the Greek Anavysos Kouros far more naturalistic in style than the Egyptian Mentuemhet? It may be due to the competitive nature so prevalent in Greek culture.
Henry Sayre writes, “Sculptors must have competed against one another in their attempts to realize the human form.” (Sayre 125). This spirit of competition permeated nearly every aspect of Greek life, from competing city-states to athletic contests on Mount Olympus.
Competition pushed individuals to value the virtue in being the best version of themselves. That same value evidently inspired the sculptor of the Anavysos Kouros to build upon an Egyptian-influenced tradition and reach for new heights of style.
Works Cited
- Sayre, Henry M. The Humanities, Volume I, Culture, Continuity, and Change, 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2019.
