Egyptian & Greek Art

     In this essay, I am going to briefly discuss the major difference and similarity between Egyptian and Greek figure sculptures by comparing the Egyptian statue of Khafre enthroned and Greek statue of David by Michelangelo.

     The Egyptian statue of Khafre that made from extremely hard dark stone that is brought 400 miles down the Nile river from royal quarries, which shows his importance and power as a pharaoh around 2520-2494 BC. It’s about 5 ft. 6 inches (sitting down position) with the 1 ft. base. Greek statue of David is a 17 ft. marble statue that is made around 1500's and it represents the biblical hero David who fought and killed the giant during his early age.

     Although both statue of Khafre and the statue of David were stone sculptures that depicted the ideal muscularity and power of each civilization, there are some significant and apparent differences observed in the forms, contents and symbolism of the two sculptures.  

     The Egyptian statue of Khafre is presented in frontal sitting position, with minimized facial expression and details of the pharaoh body, appears to be more geometric and symmetrical and it creates the effect of eternal stillness, appropriate for the timelessness of the afterlife. David, created much later than the statue of Khafre, is standing in contrapposto pose, one of the most iconic position used in Greek sculptures, with the additions of details of muscles, hairs and facial expressions, seems to be more realistic and natural compare to the statue of Khafre, and it shows the power and freedom. The statue of Khafre is clothed, siting straight and looking straight forward, it looks formal and solemn.  David, in comparison, standing is a more relaxed pose, with left arm on the shoulder, looking sideways, appears to be less geometric and more lifelike to Egyptian statue.