The following works of art all depict the human body: Woman of Willendorf (Paleolithic, 28,000-25,000 BCE), Pharaoh Menkaure and Queen Khamerernebty (Egypt, 2490-2472 BCE), and the dying warriors of the east and west pediments of the Temple of Aphaia (archaic in Classical Greece, 480 and 490 BCE, respectfully). The general ideas these characters can be associated with, coupled with their smaller details, together demonstrate how cultural ideals regarding body image change and develop over time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned'?Get the original essayThe Woman of Willendorf, sometimes called 'Naked Woman', is one of the oldest works of art discovered. It measures eleven centimeters and is made of limestone. We know very little about it and can't draw any big conclusions (even though we have "assigned" meaning to it to fill in those gaps). A few other figurines from the Last Ice Age have been discovered, and these were also of women, emphasizing curvature and breasts. The Woman of Willendorf has been associated with fertility, given the name Venus, goddess of love and fertility. The figurine has no facial details. We do, however, have extremely exaggerated breasts and stomach, as well as vulva detail. This could certainly lead us to think that fertility is indeed the symbol here. What does this indicate? Perhaps robust women were more fertile and had the idealized height. Perhaps a woman's main goal was only fertility. Perhaps taller women were considered healthy. We don't have much to go on, but this is where we can more or less begin to consider the history of human sculpture. The Egyptian statue of Pharaoh Menkaure and Queen Khamerernebty offers us a representation of a man and a woman of large size at the time of the Pyramids. Menkaure and her queen stand side by side, in sandstone, emerging forward with their two left feet outward (most female figures would not, indicating that Queen Khamerernebty may in fact be the queen- mother of Menkaure.) They look forward and their almost stoic faces give an impression of "other world": they are in movement, entering eternity, and we watch them in all their beauty. Menkaure has a very detailed face that looks unique. He has smooth skin, without imperfections and a resistant structure: he is quite the image of youth. He wears a traditional pharaoh's helmet, the royal beard in place and holds the ceremonial clothes - he has a normal pharaoh's stature and this work of art celebrates him. Her queen is beautifully constructed. She has a mature body with breasts visible through her tight clothing and, again, a detailed and unique face. These figures are beautiful and we look at them in amazement, but they're not exactly idealized like typical royal artwork. These are individuals, placed in these roles. We can compare this Egyptian art to the artworks of earlier periods: we developed ideals, artistic styles based on the literal trends of Egyptian culture and, furthermore, different meanings and purposes of the artwork: This sculpture would function as a piece to ensure the rebirth of the king during his afterlife. The dying warriors of the east and west pediments of the Temple of Aphaia give us insight into the evolution of Greek sculpture in particular. In 490 BCE, the.