The Role of Imagination The Role of Imagination in The Shape Combinations of Old Syrian Cylinder Seals Case Study : Intermediate Era 1350-1100 BC

Abstract

Imagination affects the arts from ancient times to contemporary arts. Its influence was manifested in the structure of artistic shapes in the ancient Syrian cylinder seals through the shape combinations that appeared according to modifications and reductions of shapes in nature, in addition to the emergence of new innovative shapes and the emergence of composite beings. These new shapes correspond to the level of human mental

cognition in that period, but it posed a mysterious puzzle to the recipient in terms of form and how to form it according to the goals of its completion.

Because of the aesthetic need that led to the emergence of such shapes, these shape combinations were able to form an aesthetic value that lasted later throughout the ages. The key factor was the process of imagination that revealed how the artist thought at that time, where the ancient artist was looking for an alternative to realistic shape to represent his ideas and beliefs, and his techniques and urgent need took a step away from the familiar realistic form to show the role of imagination mainly in changing the structure and composition of shapes.