History of Interior Design 1 — Persian and Egyptian Architecture and Art

Flashcards covering Persian imperial practices, major Persian sites and features, and Egyptian domestic and monumental architecture, art, and symbolism as described in the notes.

What practice did the Persian Empire pioneer in administration regarding subject cultures?

It recognized and tolerated the diverse cultures, religions, and political systems of its subjects.

Which Persian capital was founded by Cyrus the Great and featured a spacious royal complex?

Pasargadae.

What type of religious structures were central to Persian Zoroastrianism and maintained by the Magi?

Fire Temples.

What is the earliest example of the Persian fourfold garden design?

The Parsagadae Gardens, arranged with waterways forming a grid for a peaceful space.

Describe the Tomb of Cyrus the Great.

A white limestone structure with a gabled roof on a six-step plinth; reputedly housed a golden sarcophagus and treasures; earthquake-resistant.

What city did Darius the Great found in 518 BCE that became Persia's capital?

Persepolis.

What is the Apadana Palace?

The largest building at Persepolis; an audience hall for tribute ceremonies; hypostyle design with 72 columns and animal capitals.

What was the Hall of a Hundred Columns used for and who built it?

Second-largest building; throne hall for receptions of military commanders and imperial representatives; completed by Artaxerxes I and later became an imperial museum.

Who conquered the Achaemenid Empire and is often called its last monarch?

Alexander the Great.

What is a key characteristic of ancient Egyptian monumental architecture compared to domestic forms?

Monumental structures dedicated to kings and gods; few domestic examples remain due to impermanent materials.

What materials and construction method were common for Egyptian houses?

Sunbaked bricks with flat walls and roofs; columns; post-and-beam construction.

Describe a typical Egyptian village house layout.

Three main rooms, a yard, open-air kitchen, underground storage, wall niches for household gods; multifunctional rooms; roofs used for storage, sleeping, and ventilation.

What centered the layout of Egyptian estate houses?

An open courtyard; public rooms faced the cooler north; private areas were secluded.

List the common furnishings found in Egyptian households.

Stools (low, square); chairs were rare; small wooden tables; beds; storage chests; furniture often had animal-leg designs.

What is Mastaba in Egyptian tomb architecture?

Old Kingdom tomb with vertical shafts to underground burial chambers; west-facing false door for the ka.

What is the Step Pyramid at Saqqara?

Built for Pharaoh Djoser; first known stone building; first pyramid type (step pyramid).

What is notable about the pyramids of Meidum and the Bent Pyramid?

Meidum was an early smooth-sided attempt; Bent Pyramid changed angle midway to avoid prior failure.

Name the pyramids at Giza and who designed the Great Pyramid.

Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerenus); Great Pyramid designed by Hemiunu.

What is the Great Sphinx and its association?

Carved from a single limestone outcrop; associated with Khafre's pyramid; first colossal statue; lion body with king’s head.

Where are rock-cut tombs commonly found and why were they used?

Carved directly from cliffs, from the Middle Kingdom to the New Kingdom, notably in the Valley of the Kings; to protect burials from tomb raiders.

What is the difference between Cult temples and Mortuary temples?

Cult temples venerate the gods; mortuary temples adjoin tombs and provided offerings to the deceased.

What is an Obelisk and its typical setting?

A festival monument that stands in pairs before pylons; tapering sides with hieroglyphs; cap often metal-covered.

What is a Pylon in Egyptian temples?

Monumental trapezoidal gateway decorated with reliefs; often flanked by colossi and obelisks.

What is a Peristyle Courtyard?

Open, walled courtyard after the pylons; public access during festivals; transitional space to sacred areas.

What is a Hypostyle Hall?

Roofed hall with a central clerestory-lit aisle; access limited to priests and Pharaoh; richly decorated columns with papyrus and lotus capitals.

What is a Sanctuary in Egyptian temples?

The holiest temple area; only for high priests and Pharaoh; contains the Naos shrine with the deity’s statue.

What are Sacred Lakes and their purpose?

Lakes in temples used for ritual purification by priests.

List the gods mentioned in the Sacred Lakes section.

Amun, Horus, Osiris, Isis, Ptah, Ra, Set, Sobek, Hathor, Anubis.

What is the Law of Frontality in Egyptian art?

Rigid, symmetrical, frontal poses; faces straight ahead; bodies upright; left foot often forward.

What characterizes the Amarna Period in Egyptian art?

Naturalistic and dynamic style with expressive movement; less idealized portraits.

What is Composite Perspective in Egyptian relief sculpture?

Heads, waists, and feet in profile; eyes and shoulders shown frontally; narratives arranged in registers; Horror vacui.

What are Bas-relief, Sunken relief, Outline relief, and High-relief?

Bas-relief: figures project slightly; Sunken relief: background protrudes; Outline relief: outlines only; High-relief: figures project more.

What is the Rosetta Stone used for?

Decoding hieroglyphics.

Name some common Egyptian symbols and their meanings.

Lotus (sun, creation, rebirth); Ankh (life); Djed (stability); Was (power); Scarab (rebirth); Eye of Ra (watchfulness); Shen (infinity); Uraeus (royal authority); Hekha/Nekhakha (crook and flail); Deshret/Hedjet/Pshent (crown symbols).

What does the blue crown (Khepresh) symbolize in Egyptian royal depictions?

A blue crown worn by the king in battle, invoking the power of the Nile and the heavens.

What do Deshret, Hedjet, and Pshent represent?

Deshret is the Red Crown of Lower Egypt; Hedjet is the White Crown of Upper Egypt; Pshent is the Red-and-White Double Crown symbolizing a unified Egypt.