6 Historical Canopies

6 HISTORICAL CANOPIES Since the beginning of recorded history canopies have been a crucial element of daily life and architectural design which is often over looked. From Ancient Egypt to China and the great Ming Dynasty, back to Berlin and everywhere in-between canopies have been used, in art, design, architecture and even religion and culture. 2500 BC EGYPTIANROYAL BOAT The Nile was a vital during the time of the Ancient Egyptian due to it providing essentíal shipping for goods, transportation, fishing as well as enjoyment. Boats were a part of the mythology and religion. Funeral Boats (or a model) were placed in the graves of the dead to take them on the journey to the heavens. The dead would be on the boat under a canopy. 415 BC GREEK TEMPLE THE TEMPLE OF HEPHAESTUS, LOCATED IN THE NORTH WEST SIDE OF ON ATHENS IN AGORA. HEPHAESTUS IS THE GREEK GOD FOR BLACKSMITHS, CRAFTSMEN’S, SCULPTORS, ARTISANS, METALS, METALLURGY, FIRE AND VOLCANOES. THE LEGEND IS THAT AS THE GOD OF BLACKSMITHS HE MADE THE WEAPONS FOR ALL THE GODS IN OLYMPUS. 126 AD ROME PANTHEON COMMISSIONED BY MARCUS AGRIPPA IT WAS A TEMPLE TO ALL THE GODS IN ANCIENT ROME BETWEEN THE REIGN OF AUGUSTUS AND THEN° REBUILT BY THE EMPEROR HADRIAN. WHO IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR BUILDING HADRIAN'S WALL. WITHIN PANTHEON THE DOME IS ALMOST 2000 YEARS OLD AND IS STILL THE LARGEST UNREINFORCED CONCRETE DOME IN THE WORLD. 1420 AD CHINA FORBIDDEN CITY 視 券 THE FORBIDDEN CITY WAS BUILT IN 1420 DURING THE MING DYNASTY, LOCATED IN THE CENTRE OF BEIJING IT IS NOW A MUSEUM BUT WAS ONCE THE IMPERIAL PALACE AND HOME OF THE EMPERORS. THE ENTIRE SITE CONSISTS OF 980 BUILDING OVER 180 ACRES. IT WAS CALLED THE FORBIDDEN CITY AS ONLY THE EMPEROR, HIS COURT AND FAMILY WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER. 1781 THE NIGHTMARE HENRY FUSELI THE NIGHTMARE IS AN OIL PAINTING BY THE SWISS ARTIST HENRY FUSELI AND IS CONSIDERED HIS BEST PIECE OF WORK. THE PIECE SHOWS A WOMEN DREAMING WHILE ASLEEP ON HER CANOPY BED AND THE CONTENT OF HER NIGHTMARE. IN THE IMAGE THE CREATURE ON THE WOMEN IS AN INCUBUS AND A HORSE. 1791 BERLIN - BRANDENBURG GATES THE BRANDENBURG GATES WAS THE FORMER CITY GATES AND WAS LATER TURNED INTO A SYMBOL OF TRIUMPH. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GERMAN LANDMARKS. clovis canopies www.clovis-canopies.co.uk TELEPHONE: 0845 619 6986 | FAX: 01622 873903 EMAIL: [email protected] ADDRESS: Branbridges Road | East Peckham | Tonbridge Kent | TNI2 5HH