Stone Carving History

Ancient Egyptians

• Starting in approximately 3000 B.C., Egyptians carved stone into religious and political monuments, statues and obelisks. These ranged from monumental architectural achievements such as Abu Simbel or the Sphinx in Giza to small figurines called ushabti found in many tombs and pyramids.

Ancient Greece and Rome

• The ancient Greeks used marble and other stone to construct monuments such as the Parthenon and the Oracle at Delphi, as well as life-like statues of humans. Romans continued these traditions, utilizing similar techniques to decorate columns, construct monumental architecture and portray the beauty of the human body.

The Assyrians

• The ancient Assyrians lived in modern-day Iraq during the 9th century B.C. They carved ornate gates, monuments and walls with images of lions and winged guardians.

India

• India, along with much of southeast Asia, is home to a long history of stone carving that focuses on ornate figures and evocative imagery. Figures are curvaceous and engaging in activities rather than standing posed, and gods are portrayed with animal or supernatural features.

The Aztecs and Maya

• Both the Aztecs and Maya had strong traditions of stone carving, making them the best examples of ancient stone carving in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, much of Aztec and Mayan history is understood because of the rock carvings they left after Spanish conquistadors destroyed written records.