In what parts of the caves where cave paintings found? Why?
inner recesses of caves; theories suggest that the prehistoric people attributed magical properties to the images they created.
What figures appear in cave paintings? What do hands symbolize?
Humans mainly appear as images of hands. Some theories say that cave paintings may have been a way of communicating with others, while other theories hold a religious or ceremonial purpose to them.
Twisted Perspective
A convention of representation in which part of a figure is shown in profile and another part of the same figure is shown frontally. It lacks a background and baselines (like a doodle)
Why was the find of the Chauvet Cave so important?
The paintings were the oldest to date. This was surprising because most scholars believed that the artists of the Paleolithic Age became more sophisticated in their techniques as time progressed.
Describe the "Venus of Willendorf". Why was its purpose? What was it made of?
-It was the most famous Paleolithic sculpture.
-Four Inches in length
-exaggerated aspects of female fertility while hiding facial features.
Why did Neolithic communities need extra security?
Because of its increase in wealth
Describe the town and planning of Catal Huyuk.
Required large local authorities to plan future development.
-first example of predetermined urban planning
-the town had no streets
-the homes and shrines lacked doors. Homes and shrines were placed one next to another and residents/worshippers had to en
Describe the "Seated Goddess of Catal Huyuk". What was its purpose?
-more detailed sculptures
-faces of the female figures are no longer obscured.
megalith
A large stone that forms a prehistoric monument.
trilithon
basic single post and lintel form
cromlech
An arrangement of huge stones in a circle; also called a henge.
henge
a circular area enclosed by stones or wood posts set up by Neolithic peoples. It is usually bounded by a ditch and raised embankment.
Describe "Stonehenge". What was its purpose? How do we know this?
-one of many megalithic structures in Europe and the world.
-has been debate and mythology associated with Stonehenge, but most scholars believe it was a great solar calendar or astronomical observatory of some kind.
Where did writing develop? What was the need for having a written language and what did it look like?
-Developed from The Sumerians
-Urban center and economies developed, so they needed a way to keep record.
-Began recording transactions on pictographs
What is a ziggurat? How were they built? How did they reflect their beliefs in gods?
-a series of platforms
-built with mud-brick and timber reinforcement {lacked stone}
-These platforms were a way to approach their celestial-dwelling god who protected the city's welfare.
What is the purpose of votive statues? Why were their eyes important?
the expressiveness of these statuettes marks the departure from earlier sculpture such as the Venus of Willendorf.
-the eyes capture the devotion of perpetual worship, which is the strongest theory of the creation.
What is lapis lazuli?
A rich, azure-blue stone
Describe the "Standard of Ur". How does the back differ from the front?
The Standard of Ur presents six registers (a series of superimposed rows in a pictorial narrative) in two sets of three. One side depicts scenes of war, while the other shows peacetime activities such as banqueting and harvesting.
Describe the "Victory Stele of Naram-Sin". How is the king portrayed?
-stands nearly seven feet tall
-The absolute power and position of the king pours forth
and dominates the scene in hierarchical scale. He stands tall, weapons in hand, vanquishing the last of his enemies
Who was Gudea? How was his portrayal different from others?
ruler of the Sumerian city of Lagash
-he created many votive statues of himself, all created from diorite or dolerite.
Describe the "Code of Hammurabi". What was its importance? What was the name of the God?
-unified series of laws
-reduced the conflicting legal systems of the region
-approaches the throne of the god Shamash.
Who built the "Palace of Sargon II"? How did this complex differ from others?
The Assyrians- differed bc they did have greater access to quantities of stone for sculpture than the other groups we have studied (being farther to the North), and they used this material to represent and record the strength of their king and nation.
What were lamassus? Where could one find them? What were their purposes?
-supernatural winged human-headed bulls with a four-tier headdress, signified a deity.
-found in the entrance of the palace
-they "guarded" the entrance to the royal throne room and served as symbols of the king's divine right to rule to visitors.
What did the reliefs in the "Palace of Sargon II" depict?
the expressions of the human figures as typically impassive in contrast to the animals who are portrayed as some of the most powerful in the history of art.
What were the Persian columns capped with?
-capped with paired bulls which served as brackets for the roof-beams.
How do we know that immortality and/or the after-life are important for the Egyptians?
The structures of everyday life were made from simple materials and almost nothing of them survive, but Egyptian tombs and temples from stone (often times to immense proportions) were constructed for immortality.
What are hieroglyphics? How did scholars translate Egyptian hieroglyphics? What did they record?
system of writing developed by the Egyptians. French scholars discovered a rosetta stone which contained a text on the slab written in 3 languages including greek. the scholars were then able to translate the greek form. Most recorded praises to gods or k
How were the mastabas and step pyramids built?
both built with sloping sides
sham structures
dummy" buildings -usually filled with sand or rubble, intended for the ka.
drummed
where the column is composed of stacked cylindrical segments as opposed to being cut from one stone
fluted
closely spaced parallel grooves
capital
unfluted columns with a head
bell capital
unfluted columns with a head
engaged
attached to the wall rather than freestanding to help support the weight of the ceiling.
in situ
in place
colossus
very large statue
Describe the Pyramids of Giza. How do they portray Egyptian art?
order (perfection of form), stability (conveying mighty power of the Egyptian kings), perpetuity (built to last) and an obsession with immortality (built for the afterlife).
the Sphinx
statue protecting the pyramid of Khafre depicted with the head of the king and the body of a lion
Compare and contrast how a pharaoh may be portrayed versus a scribe. Why is there a difference?
Portraits of the kings conveyed their power and authority; the scribes were considered a low position in the Egyptian court hierarchy so their portraits are some of the most real.
colonnaded terraces
a row of columns which support some sort of ceiling
obelisks
...
hypostyle hall
was covered and crowded with columns.
impost blocks
supported lintels, rested on columns.
clerestory
was created when the center section of the rood was raised in a temple.
How did the art of the Amarna period reflect the revolution created by King Akhenaton?
With all the religious and cultural upheavals of the time.
How was the pharaoh portrayed during the Amarna period?
naturalistic and not idealistically
Who was King Tutankhamen? Why was he significant?
an 8 year old king who died ten years later .his tomb was discovered unplundered. Found were staggering amounts of gold, precious stones, and other treasures that have created the mystique.
List the characteristics of the Cycladic sculptures?
smooth contours and delicate proportions ,numerous female figurines , range in sizes, musician men, geometric shapes.
Describe the Knossos Palace.
contained a large, open courtyard around which were built mansions and villas of varying sizes, some with multiple stories.
How do Minoan columns differ from Egyptian columns?
They were typically originally made of wood and painted.
Describe the Minoan frescos. What characteristics do we see in them?
Painting was done while the plaster was still wet; thin silhouette, large eyes, and action
Describe the "Snake Goddess".
fluid and its lines are rhythmic, so unlike the stiff, angular sculptures of the Egyptians, the thin waist and elegant dress
How do we know that the Helladics/ Mycenaeans were a warrior race?
The palace of Mycenae reveals its defensive position and plan
Describe the Lion Gate and its importance.
It's considered the first royal symbol in Western civilization, over the gate to the palace where many scholars believe Western civilization had its origin.