Why are humans depicted in paintings from ancient civilizations like different than now? Weren’t there artists who could paint realistic paintings?

Question

Weren’t there artists at that time who could draw humans for what they actually looked like. For instance, look at the paintings of kings from the 17th Century or before.

In: Other

Answer 1

My history teacher taught me that ancient Egyptians realized how perspective worked, but that the way in which they depicted people, where both eyes, arms, legs, etc. were visible at all times, was because it was necessary to depict all of those parts as a sort of blueprint. Presumably the perceived risks could be that incomplete bodies would be given to those depicted in the afterlife. As such, it could have been a practical choice rather than an artistic one or one of limitation.