Creating art with such real interpretations was so important back in the day since it was the only records that they had. They couldn't really write any history books, and their form of writing was mainly hieroglyphs, which is small little pictures representing an object or word. So creating art so realistic back then was so important, because that would be one way of kinda telling the story of something major, but also it was the only form to show what people looked like. They also had no cameras or any other way of keeping an image or freezing a memory in time so to say.
The role of an artist has changed greatly I believe over time. Back in the day it was their role for them to create these images to save and treasure, but slowly their roles have changed. They have grew and developed to form many other art forms and changed to the artist preferences. In modern time the role of an artist is more of to bring joy and light into the public's world, their world, and/or color and beauty. Art still sometimes tells a story, but its more of what the artist wants it to tell. Of course their role is also to provide pictures for text books and such if the pictures aren't being taken with a camera.
dont use this for edgenuity it will give you a zero because it's stupid, but you might be able to use it for something else, or form your own ideas with it. Hope it helped .