Art: Primitive of the Mariner
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The concept of "Primitive Art of the Mariner" in a biblical context refers to the early and rudimentary artistic expressions and crafts associated with seafaring and maritime activities as depicted or implied in the Scriptures. While the Bible does not explicitly detail the artistic endeavors of mariners, it provides insights into the life and culture of ancient seafarers, which can be extrapolated to understand their artistic expressions.

Biblical Context and Seafaring

The Bible contains numerous references to the sea and those who navigate it. Mariners are often depicted as skilled and knowledgeable individuals, essential for trade and exploration. In Ezekiel 27, the prophet laments over the fall of Tyre, a prominent maritime city, highlighting the craftsmanship and artistry involved in shipbuilding: "They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you" (Ezekiel 27:5). This passage suggests a high level of artistry and skill in constructing vessels, which can be considered a form of primitive art.

Artistic Expressions in Maritime Culture

The art of the mariner in biblical times likely included the decoration of ships, the creation of navigational tools, and the crafting of items necessary for long voyages. The use of specific woods, metals, and textiles in shipbuilding and decoration points to an appreciation for beauty and functionality. The mariners' ability to create and maintain these vessels reflects an inherent artistic skill, even if not recognized as "art" in the modern sense.

Symbolism and Imagery

The sea itself is a powerful symbol in the Bible, often representing chaos, mystery, and the unknown. Mariners, as those who traverse these waters, are depicted as brave and resourceful. The imagery associated with the sea and seafaring can be seen as a form of primitive art, capturing the imagination and conveying deeper spiritual truths. In Psalm 107:23-24, the psalmist writes, "Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep" . This passage highlights the awe-inspiring nature of the sea and the divine artistry perceived by those who navigate it.

Cultural and Religious Significance

In the ancient Near East, maritime activities were crucial for trade and cultural exchange. The artistry of mariners contributed to the spread of ideas, goods, and religious beliefs. The Bible reflects this interconnectedness, as seen in the account of Jonah, where the mariners' actions and interactions with Jonah reveal a shared understanding of divine power and providence (Jonah 1:4-16).

Conclusion

While the Bible does not provide explicit examples of primitive art created by mariners, it offers a rich tapestry of references to seafaring life, shipbuilding, and the symbolic significance of the sea. These elements suggest an underlying appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship inherent in maritime culture, reflecting the broader biblical themes of creation, beauty, and divine order.
Nave's Topical Index
Ezekiel 27:8,9
The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were your mariners: your wise men, O Tyrus, that were in you, were your pilots.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

A Voice from the Hartley Colliery
... May God save thee now, and saved thou art beyond fear of perishing. ... Drag back to
the storm and the tempest, the mariner who has ... They were Primitive Methodists. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/a voice from the hartley.htm

Instability
... tell how one day, like the mariner, we mounted ... man's responsibility like the most
earnest Primitive Methodist ... my brother, recollect that thou art responsible to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/instability.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... Thou art good,' there is his essential goodness; and doest ... true religion more famous
in the primitive times, and ... the body is dead, as the mariner can subsist ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

Man's Chief End
... Thou art just in all that is brought upon us.' A ... The sufferings of the primitive
saints did honour to God ... fill the heart any more than the mariner's breath will ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 mans chief end.htm

section i.
... way, thus it was in the first and primitive Commonwealths, and ... Copy before him, yet
after all his art there will ... yet I have seen a prating Mariner, that could ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section i 2.htm

The Fourth Commandment
... 3) The primitive church had ... The mariner will not put to sea but on the Sabbath, and
so runs ... Holy and reverend is his name.' Psalm 111:9. Thou art of purer eyes ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 4 the fourth commandment.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... shall give their oracles shall be thy place.*** Marduk, it is thou who art our avenger! ...
it is set forth at some length in his work on La Langue primitive de la ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

Period iii. The Critical Period: AD 140 to AD 200
... of Holy Scripture, at least in fundamentals, as the authoritative primitive witness
to ... studied with still greater zeal the whole range of magic art, that he ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period iii the critical period .htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... coincides approximately with a fundamental revolution in the art of writing ... those
barbarous hieroglyphs which are attributed to the primitive inhabitants of the ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of ...
... 7) the mariner returns to the harbour he had left; the spendthrift youth, with ... lost,
must return to the safety which lies in the primitive, Apostolic Baptismal ...
/.../introduction chapter i the life and.htm

Resources
What should be the Christian perspective on nudity in art? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about art? | GotQuestions.org

What is a mime? Does the Bible say anything about miming? | GotQuestions.org

Art: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
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Related Terms

Moanest (3 Occurrences)

Composition (2 Occurrences)

Caring (23 Occurrences)

Skill (26 Occurrences)

Music (143 Occurrences)

Bloody (19 Occurrences)

Madest (18 Occurrences)

Melchisedek (11 Occurrences)

Persecutest (7 Occurrences)

Print (3 Occurrences)

Printing

Blended (5 Occurrences)

Craft (14 Occurrences)

Archery

Affrighted (60 Occurrences)

Comest (50 Occurrences)

Sayest (66 Occurrences)

Bowing (35 Occurrences)

Magician (5 Occurrences)

Speakest (30 Occurrences)

Questioned (57 Occurrences)

Agrapha

Kittim (8 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Design (84 Occurrences)

Melchiz'edek (9 Occurrences)

Printed (2 Occurrences)

Powerless (19 Occurrences)

Plenteous (16 Occurrences)

Presumption (5 Occurrences)

Physician (6 Occurrences)

Perfume-maker (3 Occurrences)

Perfumer (4 Occurrences)

Artist (1 Occurrence)

Abhorring (3 Occurrences)

Amal'ekite (3 Occurrences)

Affirmation (335 Occurrences)

Camest (27 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Standeth (111 Occurrences)

Splendour (32 Occurrences)

Sittest (15 Occurrences)

Sowed (20 Occurrences)

Acquitted (24 Occurrences)

Compassionate (22 Occurrences)

Ashurbanipal (1 Occurrence)

Countenance (67 Occurrences)

Magic (12 Occurrences)

Mayest (240 Occurrences)

Chalde'ans (74 Occurrences)

Bulwark (29 Occurrences)

Prayeth (28 Occurrences)

Makest (68 Occurrences)

Speaketh (367 Occurrences)

Pursuing (50 Occurrences)

Homage (51 Occurrences)

Answering (202 Occurrences)

Yea (867 Occurrences)

Athens (5 Occurrences)

Shouldest (79 Occurrences)

Shushan (19 Occurrences)

Hell (53 Occurrences)

Confess (65 Occurrences)

Youth (169 Occurrences)

Answereth (144 Occurrences)

Practise (52 Occurrences)

Priesthood (30 Occurrences)

Building (249 Occurrences)

Crafts (2 Occurrences)

Alone (232 Occurrences)

Melchisedec (10 Occurrences)

Constantly (47 Occurrences)

Pottery (11 Occurrences)

Begotten (77 Occurrences)

Visitest (5 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Kinsman-redeemer (3 Occurrences)

Son (25967 Occurrences)

Art: Primitive of the Goldsmith
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