Choose a prehistoric religion or belief system and give one example of an artifact or icon associated with that religion/belief system. What significance is believed to be attached to this object? Include information about the object (i.e. when discovered, where, age, photo).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Venus of Willendorf: A Symbol of Fertility and Prehistoric Religion
Introduction
Throughout history, humans have sought to understand and connect with the divine. Even in prehistoric times, our ancestors developed religious beliefs and rituals to make sense of the world around them. One such example is the Venus of Willendorf, an artifact from the Paleolithic era that sheds light on the early religious practices and beliefs of our ancient ancestors.
Thesis Statement
The Venus of Willendorf, discovered in 1908 in Austria, is a prehistoric figurine that is believed to represent fertility and motherhood, making it a significant icon associated with the ancient belief system of Paleolithic peoples.
The Venus of Willendorf: Artifact Description and Significance
Discovery: The Venus of Willendorf was discovered on August 7, 1908, by archaeologist Josef Szombathy during excavations near the village of Willendorf in Austria.
Location: The artifact is currently housed in the Natural History Museum in Vienna, where it continues to captivate visitors with its enigmatic beauty.
Age: The figurine dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period, specifically between 28,000 and 25,000 BCE, making it approximately 30,000 years old.
Physical Description: Carved from limestone, the Venus of Willendorf stands at just over 4 inches tall. It depicts a woman with exaggerated features, such as large breasts, a rounded belly, and wide hips. The face is absent, with only small carved lines indicating eyes and a suggestion of hair. The figure is also adorned with intricate patterns, possibly representing clothing or jewelry.
Symbolism: Scholars believe that the Venus of Willendorf served as a symbol of fertility and motherhood within the prehistoric belief system. The exaggerated body parts relating to fertility – the breasts, belly, and hips – suggest that the figurine was created to honor and celebrate the life-giving powers of women.
Cult or Ritual Object: Due to its small size and intricate craftsmanship, it is inferred that the figurine was likely used as a portable cult or ritual object by ancient societies. It might have been carried or used during religious ceremonies or rites associated with fertility and childbirth.
The Venus of Willendorf
Conclusion
The Venus of Willendorf provides a fascinating glimpse into the religious beliefs and practices of Paleolithic peoples. This small yet powerful artifact serves as a testament to the importance placed on fertility and motherhood within these ancient societies. As we study and appreciate this iconic figurine, we gain a deeper understanding of our human ancestors’ spiritual connection to the natural world and their reverence for the life-giving forces that sustain us all.
