Essay 2

Essay #2A

Title: Knowledge and Immortality

Question: Using specific art references and passages from Genesis and the story in the bible of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and specifically their choice to eat the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; What similarities do you see, pertaining to immortality and knowledge that is also found in Egyptian art.

Part I

Summary: What I experienced in answering this question is that I see both the story of Adam and Eve and Egyptian Art being very similar to each other when they both pursue something that they don't have whether its knowledge or immortality. I feel that the Egyptians art represents immortality in a way because it lives on after they die.

Reason: The reason I think this question was asked was for us to understand the similarities the story of Adam and Eve have with Egyptian art pertaining to knowledge and immortality.

Purpose: The purpose for this question in my opinion is for us to better understand desires and how their present in every day life and also how immortality is not necessarily living forever but it lives through art and how knowledge is such a big part of our lives and both have always been around in our society.

Direction: Humans are naturally tempted towards something they do not have so the direction I took in answering this question was how the story of Adam and Eve compares to Egyptian art because I knew that they both had desires.

Impressions: The Egyptians desire for completeness represents them to live on forever and you see this in their art. The story of Adam and Eve is so similar because their desire for knowledge is taken away for immortality and this impressed me.

Part II

Adam and Eve just as god were immortal beings. God created “man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1.27) He set them both into the Garden of Eden telling them that they may eat freely out of every tree except for one which was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But of course they fell into temptation so the serpent of the garden offered them a fruit of the tree of the knowledge and good and evil that would offer knowledge. They could not resist. After eating the fruit their eyes opened and just like the gods they gained knowledge of the good and evil. Both Immortality and knowledge cant exist in humanity because this is a godlike power. I think humans want to pursue both of these desires because of power and a sense of completeness.

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3:1 to 3:7)

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” (Genesis 3:16 to 3:17 and Genesis 3:22)

The Egyptians as a society always showed the desire for knowledge and immortality in their art. Similar to Adam and Eve both idolized gods and goddesses whether for knowledge or immortality. The Egyptians also were so obsessed with death hoping immortality in their after life. “Death was to be feared only by those who lived in such a way to disrupt that harmony. Upright souls could be confident that their spirits would live on eternally.”(Art History, pg. 50, Marilyn Stokstad) The dead would be represented in their artwork to ensure this afterlife in a positive way. They desired completeness to make sure they had peace in their afterlife. "Life was short in the ancient times. Few people could expect to live beyond their twenties. All hoped to escape the 'Eater' and live on eternally in the company of the gods." (Art History, pg. 125, Marilyn Stokstad) Compared to Adam and Eve who desired knowledge the ancient Egyptians desired strongly for immortality which they had to have a sense of “completeness” before entering the afterlife. This represents their work also because every piece had to be detailed, and complete in order to be fully ready for afterlife. This art would live on forever and this would be admired for the future in their human society. This represents the humanity's desire for immortality and knowledge. Immortality and knowledge might not be with us physically but they live on spiritually.