The painting background shows the emptiness of space in which the Big Bang explosion is illustrated posterior to the gates of humankind in the upper center. The creation of humankind is shown on the top of the gates of humankind as the first rise of humankind and thinking human being is seen right below this, representing this characteristic of our species. The first rise of humankind is shown at the gates of humankind in both male and female form. Both sides of the gates of humankind include human ancestors ranging from the Ardipithecus and Australopithecus species to more recent ancestors from the Homo species.
The center piece of this painting is the oldest human structure in known existence named “Gobekli Tepe”, which dates back 11,000 years. This early Neolithic sanctuary includes colossal stones carved by prehistoric people who had not yet crafted metal tools. There are two tall pillars in the center of the formation. The entrance of the temple has columns above on which animal figures were carved by the people who formed the edifice. In addition there are “Proto-writings” on the front of the entrance columns that predated definite writing which initiated the start of recorded history. The construction material is made of stones, as seen in the painting. There is a dried animal skin hanging from the stone wall on the right front side.
The pathway coming from the “Gates of Humankind” to the gathering place illustrates a human family bonding as the child is holding the hands of both parents. The male on the left is holding a spear as a tool with his right hand while the female on the left holding a baby on her left side. The pathway has T shaped stone columns on both sides, each showing wild animal engravings representative of human accomplishments of the Second Rise of Humankind.
One of the characteristics of “The Second Rise of Humankind” is the first agricultural revolution where humankind way of living is changed from hunter-gatherer to farming. This is depicted behind Gobekli Tepe at the left upper corner where a grower is busy with farmland. Also, just to the right of Gobekli Tepe, one sees a farmer carrying crops on his shoulder.
The most center and upfront figure shows a human who has mastered making tools, as he is creating sharp tools with stones in his hands. Behind him is a hunter who is dragging a mountain goat to his friends who are waiting for him by the fire, as portrayed on the left front side of the painting. The most left side of the painting illustrates a female human caring for her child under the tree. The most right and front part of the painting shows two hunters cooking their prey by a fire near water which is also essential for their survival.
The left upper side of the painting shows a nebula, a blown up star that had formed atomic matter. The right upper side of the painting shows a black hole emitting immense radiation. Below the black hole on the right side of the painting, one sees the planet Saturn, and there is planet Earth that is seen amongst the Saturn rings on the left upper corner of the Saturn’s ring. This is how spacecraft Cassini depicted planet Earth behind Saturn.
