1. Read the text and translate it into Ukrainian.
2. Answer the following questions:
1. What art were Celts artistic traditions overshadowed by?
2. Was Celtic art important to the evolution of western art?
3. What countries did Celts manage to occupy?
4. How does Celtic artistic heritage look like?
5. How does Celtic artistic style look like?
6. What meanings did Celtic patterns have?
7. What were knot designs used for?
8. Where have examples of fine Celtic metalwork been found?
9. Where is the Celtic influence seen?
10. Where was Celtic interlace featured in Britain and Ireland?
3. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following words and phrases:
artisan
to be overshadowed
widely influential
melting pot
to manage to
artistic heritage
to produce superbly crafted ornaments
quite distinct from
to form hypnotic patterns
to represent the motion of the sun
the degree of protection
offerings to the gods
contemporary
to yield
wide diffusion
enduring nature
wide variety
in detail
4. Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases:
багатство та різноманітність
впливовий
розширяти
художня спадщина
відмінний від
вплив стародавніх цивілізацій
істотно
формувати візерунки
вузловий дизайн
особливо ефективний
заплутаний
підношення богам
сучасний
велика кількість
особливо помітний
вагатися
вдивлятися на
5. Make up sentences of your own with the given words and phrases:
6. Match a line in A with a line in B.
A |
B |
to overshadow |
to take in, to assimilate |
diversity |
in a fundamental or basic way |
heritage |
a decorative design |
essentially |
thickly |
densely |
a natural liking ,taste, or inclination towards a person or thing |
pattern |
the state or quality of being different or varied |
to absorb |
to give forth or supply |
to yield |
to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain |
affinity |
something received from a predecessor |
to hesitate |
to render insignificant or less important in comparison |
7. Summarize the text in English. Unit 27 text
Calligraphers use their artistic skills to communicate the Word of God
The first books were written and illustrated by hand. Many of the most exquisite examples with detailed illustrations were designed for religious use, expressing the Word of God. Those who wrote these books, called calligraphers, were extremely accomplished and highly valued for the skills they developed.
For centuries, the art of calligraphy was one of the most important of all human skills. The ability to communicate through writing carried enormous power and influence. Small elite could read and even fewer could write. To have the ability to write beautifully was to have a very high status. Books were extremely rare, and with the development of the major religions, those rare books that contained the Word of God were considered to be sacred objects.
The codex, a precursor to the book, was made from specially prepared animal skins, known as vellum or parchment. Extremely expensive to create, the skin of a single animal, such as a sheep, provided just one double sheet of the codex, so a sizeable flock was required for a complete book. They were magnificently hand bound in leather, metal, ivory, and other precious materials and were often embellished with jewels, gold, and silver.
Decorations were added to the text to highlight the calligraphy. This helped the readers to find their way around the lengthy texts. In the case of the Bible, for example, the division of the text into chapters and verses did not appear until the thirteenth century, so the use of large, ornamental initials was extremely helpful. Similarly, in manuscripts of the Qu'ran, the earliest adornments were decorative markings, separating the verses. These were followed by designs at the head of individual Surahs (chapters), and to emphasize important passages.
Decorative calligraphy also stressed the importance of the individual letters and words placed on the page. These words were the basis of belief and the unifying factor in many religions. The aim of the calligrapher was to stress
9 Page from the Qu’ran
Artist unknown, c.910