As I read the first chapter, the first thing that caught my attention was Stonehenge. While not a traditional work of art like a painting or sketch, this strategically placed grouping of stones has always intrigued me. This sculpture dates back to 2550-1600 BC and is also ranked among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Kleiner, 2013) The 45-50 ton rocks create a circle, with various rocks placed on top of each other. The tall vertical rock is titled monolith and the horizontal rock is the lintel, which supports the vertical rocks and creates an opening. (Kleiner, 2013) What is interesting is that this technique is still used in modern construction and is called the post-and-lintel system. The word henge defines the arrangement of stones in a circle, hence the name Stonehenge. (Kleiner, 2013) What is most interesting is the size of the stones themselves. Each is about 17 feet tall and weighs nearly fifty tons. Historically these are called megaliths (i.e. large stones). The stones are made up of roughly cut sandstone and bluestones, which are volcanic rocks. The great mystery of this large sculpture is how the Neolithic people built this trilithon, which is a construction of three stones. Historians predict that construction occurred in phases over the centuries before and after 2000 BC (Kleiner, 2013) As for the purpose of this large rock formation, archaeologists have determined that it served as a solar calendar. I chose this particular piece purely because I find it so interesting. It depicts a great sense of mystery about how they managed to successfully build it and the purpose it served the Neolithic individuals. Chapter Two Ancient Greece is very...... middle of paper... eyes are not looked at simply; instead they look completely to its left side. The large sculpture emphasized his position as absolute ruler. (Kleiner, 2013)The various art forms in Prehistory and Early Civilizations, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire are decidedly unique when compared to each other. In the period of Prehistory and Early Civilizations, art seemed to tell stories through painting and symbols. The sculptures were not as complex compared to the Roman Empire, where sculptures were made with such great detail. Although the Greeks borrowed ideas from Mesopotamia and Egypt, a distinctive architecture emerged with vast columns and large sculptures. Stonehenge, Kritios Bay and the portrait of Constantine from the Basilica Nova are just an example of how various art forms have changed over the ages.